Population structure and impacts of the invasive exotic Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa on mangrove vegetation

ABSTRACT

Despite its biological richness, the mangrove forest has been severely degraded. Thereby, this study aimed to evaluate the population structure of T. populnea and its impacts on native mangrove vegetation. All individuals of T. populnea were counted, measuring the diameter at ground level, total height and the canopy radius. With these data, the absolute density, the spatial distribution pattern and the canopy area were calculated. On the other hand, the impacts of the invasive exotic on the mangrove vegetation were evaluated using Pielou’s equability, Jaccard’s similarity and abundance of native species. It was seen that T. populnea has a high population density and a self-regenerating population. In addition to having a well-developed canopy, each ontogenetic stage showed an aggregated distribution pattern. Furthermore, it is capable of causing negative impacts causing a decrease in the equability and abundance of native mangrove species, further to altering the floristic similarity of the sites it invades.

Keywords:
biological invasion; exotic invasive; mangrove