Girmay, M.; Gebrehiwot, K.; Atinafe, E.; Tareke, Y.; Belay, B. The Study of Exotic and Invasive Plant Species in Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. J. Zool. Bot. Gard.2024, 5, 36-50.
Girmay, M.; Gebrehiwot, K.; Atinafe, E.; Tareke, Y.; Belay, B. The Study of Exotic and Invasive Plant Species in Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2024, 5, 36-50.
Girmay, M.; Gebrehiwot, K.; Atinafe, E.; Tareke, Y.; Belay, B. The Study of Exotic and Invasive Plant Species in Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. J. Zool. Bot. Gard.2024, 5, 36-50.
Girmay, M.; Gebrehiwot, K.; Atinafe, E.; Tareke, Y.; Belay, B. The Study of Exotic and Invasive Plant Species in Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2024, 5, 36-50.
Abstract
Gullele Botanic Garden was established to preserve and safeguard indigenous, rare, endemic and endangered plant species that have economic significance. A study was conducted to identify and map non-native plant species that exist in various land use types, including natural vegetation, plantation, roadside, and garden edges. The research involved placing plots at different distances in each land use type and collecting vegetation data with geo-location information for exotic and invasive species. The data was analyzed using Sorensen's similarity index to measure the similarity between plant communities. Invasive species were identified using ArcGIS, and descriptive statistical methods were employed to analyze the remaining data. The recorded a total of 80 plant species belonging to 70 genera in 44 families in the garden, with Fabaceae and Asteraceae having the most species. Acacia decurrens, Acacia melanoxylon, Cuscuta campestris, Galinsoga parviflora, Nerium oleander, and Cyathula uncinulata are the most prevalent invasive or potentially invasive species among the species that have been documented. These species are spreading quickly and may displace native plant species if not properly managed. The study found that roadside and garden edge land use types had the most diverse exotic plants, with Acacia decurrens, Nerium oleander, Acacia melanoxylon, Agave species, Cyathula uncinulata, and Eucalyptus species being the most dominant exotic species in the garden. The total density of exotic species was 2.36 plants/m2. The study provides valuable information for managing and conserving both native and exotic plant species in the garden.
Keywords
Ex-situ conservation; exotic species; Gullele; invasive species; native species
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Plant Sciences
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment:
Warmest Salutations to 'preprints.org' editors and Authors of 'The Study of Exotic and Invasive Plant Species in Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia'.Despite there are a plenty of studies related to indigenous, endangered and endemic species by various national and international researchers in the country, I it is difficult to find a study on the invasive species as well as the potential impacts (either positively or negatively) of the exotic species. This fall the policy makers in to a tricky in taking a pertinent management measures.I have read the above article. I was really enjoy and appreciated this will be good inception for the further study on this field and provide solid data to take appropriate management techniques in the study garden. Hopefully, this will be publish in this journal and be a reference for the scientific community.However, I have the following comments which needs to consider:- the sampling techniques both for woody and herbaceous species is similarly. any clarification?- The area of the garden is to extensive. did you think the sample plots are enough?- did you plant to study the Invasive species exclusively and provide a scientific way out on how to manage it in and out of the garden.Thanks,Looking forward the published manuscript.
Commenter:
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.