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- Title
A structural equation modeling-based approach to identify the determinants of Lantana camara invasion in the Terai Arc Landscape, India.
- Authors
Mondal, Tamali; Dasgupta, Soumya; Bhatt, Dinesh; Krishnamurthy, Ramesh
- Abstract
Biological invasion is regarded as one of the most important disturbance parameters and threats for sustaining biodiversity. Global warming, industrialization, and open niche created due to the expansion of development initiatives contribute to the successful spread of invasive species around the world. The contributions of various biotic and abiotic factors in different spatial scales are crucial for an invasive to establish in its invaded area. We assessed the spatial distribution of invasion by Lantana camara in the Corbett Tiger Reserve and Rajaji Tiger Reserve within the Terai Arc Landscape Complex. The presence locations of Lantana were assessed within 10 m × 10 m plots (n = 666), and information on habitat variables such as tree density, canopy cover, shrub density, shrub cover, and anthropogenic pressures were collected. We also synthesized information on climate and topography data of the region from global databases. Confirmatory factor analysis was done using the presence of Lantana as response variable and habitat, anthropogenic, climatic, and topographic variables as predictor variables. We found that for Rajaji Tiger Reserve, habitat and anthropogenic variables were the major influencing factors for Lantana invasion, whereas, for Corbett Tiger Reserve, climate and topography were the major determining factors. Mean diurnal temperature, precipitation of warmest quarter, lopping, and logging were the factors determining the Lantana invasion in the landscape. The influence of different factors affecting the invasion of Lantana differs between Rajaji Tiger reserve and Corbett Tiger Reserve. The result of the study will be helpful for formulating effective policy intervention to reduce the invasion of Lantana in these ecologically important tiger reserves.
- Subjects
INDIA; LANTANA camara; INDEPENDENT variables; CONFIRMATORY factor analysis; TIGERS; FOREST density; DATA logging
- Publication
Plant Ecology, 2024, Vol 225, Issue 5, p465
- ISSN
1385-0237
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11258-024-01399-5