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153217

Impact of the invasive species Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griff. on the diversity and temporal changes of the native flora of the River Nile in Egypt

Article

Last updated: 22 Jan 2023

Subjects

-

Tags

10. Flora and ecology

Abstract

Invasive plant species are major drivers of biodiversity losses, particularly on islands that are vulnerable to invasions and extinction. The objective of this study was to document the vegetation structure and changes over time in two Nile Islands due to invasion by Vossia cuspidata (Hippo grass). One-hundred and one stands were assigned in three sites along the River Nile in Cairo, Egypt. Fifty-one associated species were recorded, belonging to 28 families. Annuals (Thereophytes) were the main life form in the area (51%) followed by helophytes (29%). Twelve vegetation groups were identified, representing the main communities in the studied stands. V. cuspidata was the dominant species and its maximum cover was recorded during the summer season. The lowest values for species diversity were recorded in open water, while the highest values were recorded in water edges and slopes of the riverbanks. There was up to 70% reduction in the cover of native species in the study area due to the invasion by V. cuspidata. Many native species were either disappeared or poorly recorded in the studied sites. Stem height and the cover of V. cuspidata in aquatic and riparian habitats lead to severe negative impacts on the growth and the diversity of native flora in the River Nile. Consequently, conservation of native flora through removing the invasive species should be a future priority along the River ecosystem.

DOI

10.21608/taec.2021.62873.1029

Keywords

Hippo grass, Phytosociology, Invasive plants, native species, River Nile

Authors

First Name

Emad

Last Name

Farahat

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Helwan University

Email

emad23_1999@yahoo.com

City

Helwan

Orcid

-

First Name

Waleed

Last Name

Mahmoud

MiddleName

F.

Affiliation

Botany and Microbiology Department, Cairo University, Egypt

Email

waleed.faiez@hotmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Gamal

Last Name

Fahmy

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Faculty of Science, Cairo University

Email

gfahmy@sci.cu.edu.eg

City

Giza

Orcid

-

First Name

Hussein

Last Name

Farrag

MiddleName

F.

Affiliation

Botany and Microbiology Department, Cairo University, Egypt

Email

hfarrag2012@hotmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Hossam

Last Name

Awad

MiddleName

E.

Affiliation

Botany and Microbiology Department, Cairo University, Egypt

Email

hossamawad88@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

41

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

22607

Issue Date

2021-03-01

Receive Date

2021-02-13

Publish Date

2021-03-01

Page Start

1

Page End

17

Print ISSN

1110-7413

Online ISSN

2357-044X

Link

https://taec.journals.ekb.eg/article_153217.html

Detail API

https://taec.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=153217

Order

1

Type

Original Article

Type Code

636

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Taeckholmia

Publication Link

https://taec.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

-

Details

Type

Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023