Biodiversity Impact Of Invasive Plants In Tropical Biodiversity Biology Essay

Biodiversity Impact Of Invasive Plants In tropic Biodiversity Biology EssayTropical z angiotensin-converting enzyme is the biodiversity baking hot spot (Briggs, 1996) about three-quarters of the worlds species argon confined to the tropic of the world (Wilson, 1992). Though equatorial forest ecosystems atomic number 18 more resistant to onslaught by alienate set outs than other biome (Edward, 2009), they are exceedingly threatening by invasive species ( connectedness for Tropical Biology and Conservation, biotropica, 2010). Invasive species are creating significant challenges to the management and conservation of the indigenous biodiversity. The dissemination of invasive industrial plant species occurred at ecosystem level, community level and at the species level (Meyer et al., 2004). At least one exotic species is present in almost all tropical areas (Usher 1991).Invasive plants alter the local surround more favourable to them but less favourable to the indispensable sp ecies (Hoffmann et al., 2004) and thus modified local ecosystem. biological invasion has become a considerable economic, social, and particularly bionomical problem of global impact (Cavalcante and Major, 2006). The substantial ecological impacts identified include reduction in autochthonic plant species rankness, abundance and alternation in ecological function (Vito rolek Walker, 1989 Adair Groves, 1998 Levine et al., 2003 Ogle, Reiners Gerow, 2003 Vila et al., 2006 Hejda, Pysek Jarosik, 2009 cited in Martin and Murray, 2010). Invasive plant species can covert the large area tropical vegetation to an exotic monoculture and greatly reduce the biodiversity, for example, the number of birds, mammals, tree seedlings were greatly reduced in Australia subsequently the invasion of the area by alien plant species (Braithwaite et al. 1989) and Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) forms large, monotypic expanses, with Asia reporting over 35 jillion acres affected (Garrity et al. 1997) .Invasive species are posing a serious threat to biodiversity (IUCN, 2000). The Millennium Ecosystem discernment (2005) has pointed that the impacts of invasive species on the tropical ecosystems are increasing rapidly. Similarly, recognizing the increasing issue of impact of invasive species, recipe on Biological Diversity, call on contracting parties to prevent the introduction of, control or egest invasive species that threaten ecosystems, habitats and species Article 8 (h).This systematic review attempt to summarises, appraise and communicate the resultsof the operational studies to address the impact of invasive plants on tropical biodiversity. This protocol will provide a priori range and allow scientific communities to comment on methodology and other relevant issues. Diverse studies are operational related to impact of invasive plant species on tropical biodiversity. Some studies suggest that invasion of native vegetation by the non native plants does not always lead t o decline in native biodiversity (e.g. sax Gaines, 2003 Sax, Kinlan Smith, 2005). Biological invasions have been the subject of intensive ecological re expect during the last two decades (Fine 2001). Comprehensive analyze have been done for many tropical forests e.g. the Hawaiian Islands (Fine, 2002) but some authors argues that the biological invasion research has generally ignored tropical forests ( Drake et al. 1989, Groves Burdon 1986, Williamson 1996 cited in Fine, 2002).In such contentious situation, it seems preferably reasonable to syntheses these studies to change the efficiency of the conservation efforts in preserving biodiversity of the tropical zone and develop a concrete turn up base on the impact of invasive species which will provide unbiased scientific evidence base to help decision-makers to try and implement necessary policy preventive to stop further invasion of the tropical biodiversity and identify areas where evidence is lacking to direct research a nd funding on more crucial agendas.Objective of the review primary questionWhat are the effects of invasive plants on biodiversity of the tropical zone?Table 1 commentary of components of the primary systematic review questionSubjectInterventionComparatorOutcomesBiodiversityin the tropical zone attack by invasive plant species in tropical zoneBiodiversity in forest, savannas or grassland before the invasion or any relevant or any relevantAny reported change in tropical biodiversity e.g.Species malodorousness, abundance of native plant species, tree densityMethods3.1. inquisition StrategyRelevant create and unpublished literature and selective learning will be collated by following strategy. Due to the resource constraints entirely English language literatures will be taken into consideration.3.1.1 Scope of searchI will use the following selective informationbase search to retrieve the literatures and dataISI Web of Knowledge recognition DirectWiley InterScienceCambridge Journa ltaxicab DirectCSA Biological Sciences Database (CSA/CIG)BIOTROPICAIn addition to grey literatures are searched in the website of relevant organization as listed in section 3.1.5 which helps to reveal important information about the tropical forestry and invasive species interaction. First searches are conducted on title, keyword and abstract basis and followed by bountiful text searches. Hits are then checked for the relevance.3.1.2 attempt scatheEffective and comprehensive list of related key words as described in the table -2 will be used to retrieve the literatures from the database specified higher up.Table 2 Search terms for reviewSubject termIntervention termcombine with ORANDcombine with ORTropic* biodiversitySpecies richnessInvas* plantnon native plantexotic plantalien plantintroduced plantSearch term combinationsTable 3 Search term combinations and no of hits chance upon word 1Key word 2Total hits(Topic search)Refined hits inWeb of scienceTropic* biodiversityANDInvas* plant54Tropic* biodiversityANDNon native plant32Tropic* biodiversityANDexotic plant74Tropic* biodiversityANDalien plant63Tropic* biodiversityANDnon-indigenous plant07Tropic* Species richnessANDInvas* plant38Tropic* Species richnessANDNon native plant30Tropic* Species richnessANDexotic plant60Tropic* Species richnessANDalien plant34Tropic* Species richnessANDnon-indigenous plant04tropical biodiversityAND(exotic plant) OR (invasive plant) OR(non native plant) OR (non indigenous plant)7,109425No of hits and the retrieval of relevant literature varies between the data base searches, in the above table hits obtained by web of science is mentioned as an example. The same search tem combination give quite different hit in another database search, for example, for the first search term tropic*biodiversity AND invas*plant Cab direct retrieved 56 articles.In addition to the web of science the search databases mentioned in section 3.1.1 have been used in the preparation of this protocol and wi ll also be used in final systematic review.3.1.3 specializer web sources will be conductedwww.conservationevidence.comwww.conserveOnline.orgwww.conservationevidence.orgwww.invasivespeciesinfo.gov3.1.4. Internet SearchThe internet will be searched using the search engines. The first70 hits for each search will be recorded and examined for relevance.www.google.comwww.scholar.google.comwww.scirus.comwww.scientific.thomsonwebplus.com3.1.5 Specialist agencies and organization data searchAt global levelFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)IUCN/Invasive species specials assemblyCABI- invasive species compendiumConvention on biological diversity (CBD)International Weed Science ordering (IWSS)UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC)Global Invasive Species Information meshing (GISIN)Global Invasive Species political platform (GISP)In addition to this regional level agencies and organization in tropical countries will also consulted.AsiaAssociation of South east Asian Nations , Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC)Invasive Alien Flora of IndiaWeed Science Society of JapanWeed Science Society of ChinaAsia-Pacific forest Invasive Species Network (APFISNAsia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN)AustraliaInvasive Species CouncilSouth AmericaInter-American Biodiversity Information Network IABN Invasive Information Network3.2. Study Inclusion criteriaThe relevant studies (articles, literatures, book sections) to be included in meta-analysis will be ground in hierarchical judgment by first scanning the article titles followed by key words, abstracts and full text. The relevancy is determined by criteria as described under. If the data presented in the studies are not irradiate and needed to take more detailed description original authors and their respective organization will be contracted. Kappa analysis will be carried out for repeatability. Disputes between two reviewers will be solved by third independent r eviewer.Geographical locationStudy area of the relevant studies should be within the tropical zone (23.438S to 137 23.438N).3.2.1. Relevant subjectsAny studies related to biodiversity changes in the tropical zone because of invasive plant species.3.2.2. Types of interventionInvasion of the tropical zone (forest land, agribusiness land, grass land or savannas) by invasive plant species3.2.3. Types of comparatorsAny relevant studies and studies comparing the biodiversity of the tropical zone assessing before and after the effect of invasive plant species3.2.4. Types of outcomesAny study which shows biodiversity change (indicators like relative species richness or abundance)3.2.5. Types of studiesAny study which describes qualitatively or quantitatively the effect of invasive plant species in the biodiversity (species richness, abundance) in forest land, grassland. Range land, agriculture land, savannas. Those studies which present comparison of before and after the invasion or the co mparison of the proportion of exotic species to native species will be included. Studies can be articles in peer reviewed journals, book chapters or grey literatures3.3. say-so effect modifier and reasons for heterogeneityDifferent edaphic, biotic, topographic and climatic condition which governs the vegetation type of the tropics such as soil shade, altitude, aspects, forest types and intensity of human disturbances which may respond to plant invasions in different ways affect the study outcomes. Furthermore, the biological characteristics of the invasive species also affect the study.3.4. Study quality assessmentThe searched articles, grey literatures and documents will be assesses according to the previously designed study inclusion criteria. These are then checked independently for harshness, reliability and applicability. A Quality assessment checklist is developed as shown below with the consultation of the review team and will be amended after stakeholders feedbacks. Inte rnal and external validity will be checked using a set of criteria.Table 4 Quality assessment checklist for checking validity, reliability and applicabilityVariablesYesNo1Target population and intervention defined2 stress representative3Experimental design/randomization4Base line information5Valid data collection6Description of confounding factors7Applicability of the research8Any biasesSource Adapted from class notes, 2010 and literature review3.5. Data extraction strategy soft and quantities information will be extracted from the studies included for the review. Information on invasive species, their effects on tropical biodiversity (species richness, abundance and competition) will be extracted in to a specially designed extraction form as shown in annex-1. Where data are available, data will be extracted as before and after data and other data will be extracted as appropriate.3.6. Data entailment and presentationData synthesis method will be determined by the availability of th e data and data type. The studies will be grouped according to the type of information available e.g. review article, original research. If sufficient quantitative information is available meta-analysis will be conducted to know the significance of the effect of invasive plant species to the tropical biodiversity. If in sufficient quantitative information is available qualitative analysis of evidence will be undertaken.