The spatial distribution of alien and invasive vascular plant species

112 Pages·2010·2.07 MB·English

The spatial distribution of alien and invasive vascular
plant species on sub-Antarctic Marion Island

by

Tshililo Ramaswiela

Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science (Botany) at Stellenbosch University

Department of Botany and Zoology

Faculty of Science

Supervisor: Prof. Steven L. Chown

Co-supervisor: Dr. Justine D. Shaw

December 2010
DECLARATION

By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained
therein is my own, original work, that I am the owner of the copyright thereof (unless to the
extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part
submitted it for obtaining any qualification.
Date: September 2010

Copyright © 2010 Stellenbosch University
All rights reserved
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ABSTRACT

The patterns of spread of non-indigenous species and the factors influencing their distribution
have been studied infrequently on Southern Ocean Islands, where the prevention and control
of biological invasions is a priority for conservation management. Owing to its remoteness
and relatively small size, sub-Antarctic Marion Island provides an ideal opportunity to
investigate the patterns of spread of invasive species and the factors likely influencing the
distribution of alien species. Therefore, this study provides a spatially explicit documentation
of the alien and invasive vascular plant species on Marion Island, the change in their
distribution patterns through time, an assessment of the correlates of the current distributions,
documentation of species rich areas, and provides recommendations for control based on
these data and life history data available for each species. To ensure comprehensive coverage
for the current estimate of distributions, a combination of a systematic (spatially explicit)
survey and an ad hoc data collection method was used to examine the abundance and
occupancy of each alien plant species across the island. The spatially explicit survey was used
to identify sampling sites on a ½ minute by ½ minute scale (926 m × 926 m) which resulted in
348 sites across the island, whereas 2356 additional presence records were added during the
ad hoc sampling. The residence time of each species was also estimated from the first records
reported in various literature. While it has been documented in many studies that residence
time is an important factor explaining species distribution, this study showed that distribution
of alien species on Marion Island is not explained by residence time. The alien plant species
on Marion Island differ markedly in their occupancy, distribution and rate of expansion.
Agrostis stolonifera, Cerastium fontanum, Poa annua and Sagina procumbens are all
expanding their ranges, whereas the range of Stellaria media appears to be contracting.
Cerastium fontanum is the most widespread species on Marion Island while Sagina
procumbens is the most abundant (number of records) and most rapidly expanding species on
both Marion and Prince Edward Islands. Generalized linear models demonstrated that altitude,
distance to human disturbed sites, and nearest neighbour presence are all significant and often
strong correlates of spatial variation in alien vascular plant species richness and individual
species presences on Marion Island. In particular, alien species richness on Marion Island
declines sharply with increasing elevation, and that the distribution of the most widespread
species is spatially aggregated. The surroundings of the Meteorological station and Mixed
Pickle hut exhibit high richness and a high likelihood of the presence of individual species.
None of the models developed for this study resulted in habitat type being significant
explanatory variable for the distribution of any of the alien plant species, although from the
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records alone it is clear that the salt spray vegetation type is avoided. Together with
assessments of the life history of the species, the current distribution data suggest that few
alien plant species can be easily eradicated. Most are already too widespread already for cost-
effective eradication. Moreover, given the current rate of spread of Agrostis stolonifera,
Cerastium fontanum, Poa annua and Sagina procumbens, and their apparent lack of habitat
preference, it seems likely that within the next few decades many lowland habitats will be
dominated by these species. By contrast, Rumex acestosella, Agrostis gigantea, Agropyron
repens, Juncus effusus, Luzula cf. multiflora and the newly established shrub species should
be the subject of control or eradication efforts. This thesis provides comprehensive baseline
data on alien vascular plant distributions as a benchmark for future assessments.

iii
OPSOMMING

Die verspreidingspatrone van uitheemse spesies en die faktore wat hulle verspreiding
beïnvloed is selde op Suidelike Oseaan Eilande bestudeer, waar die voorkoming en beheer
van biologiese indringing ‘n prioriteit is vir bewaringsbestuur. Te danke aan sy afgeleëndheid
en relatiewe klein grootte, voorsien sub-Antarktiese Marion Eiland ‘n ideale geleentheid om
die patrone van verspreiding van indringer spesies en die faktore wat moontlik die
verspreiding van uitheemse spesies beïnvloed te ondersoek. Daarom voorsien hierdie studie ‘n
ruimtelik eksplisiete dokumentering van die uitheemse en indringer vaatplant spesies op
Marion Eiland, die verandering in hulle verspreidingspatrone oor tyd, ‘n bepaling van die
korrelasies van die huidige verspreidings, dokumentering van spesiesryke areas, en voorsien
aanbevelings vir beheer gebasseer op hierdie data en die lewensloopdata beskikbaar vir elke
spesie. Om omvattende dekking vir die huidige skatting van vespreidings te verseker, is ‘n
kombinasie van sistematiese en ad hoc metodes gebruik om die talrykheid en besetting van
elke uitheemse spesie oor die eiland te ondersoek. Die ruimtelik eksplisiete opname is gebruik
om moniteringsplotte op ‘n ½ minuut by ½ minuut skaal (926 m × 926 m), met die resultaat
van 348 plotte oor die eiland, terwyl 2356 addisionele voorkomsrekords bygevoeg is tydens
die ad hoc versameling. Die verblyftyd van elke spesie is ook beraam vanaf die eerste rekords
in die literatuur. Terwyl dit aangeteken is dat verblyftyd ‘n belangrike faktor is om spesie
verspreiding te verduidelik, wys hierdie studie dat verspreiding van uitheemse spesies op
Marion Eiland nie verduidelik word deur verblyftyd nie. Die uitheemse spesies op Marion
Eiland verskil aansienlik in hulle besetting, verspreiding en tempo van uitbreiding. Agrostis
stolonifera, Cerastium fontanum, Poa annua en Sagina procumbens brei almal hulle areas uit,
terwyl die area van Stellaria media bleik te krimp. Cerastium fontanum is die mees
wydverspreide spesie op Marion Eiland, terwyl Sagina procumbens die oorvloedigste (aantal
rekords) en die vinnigste uitbreidende spesie is op beide Marion en Prince Edward Eiland.
Veralgemeende lineêre modelle het aangetoon dat hoogte, afstand na menslike versteurde
plotte, en naaste buurman teenwoordigheid almal betekenisvol is en gereeld sterk korreleer
met ruimtelike variasie in uitheemse vaatplant spesierykheid en individuele spesie voorkoms
op Marion Eiland. Uitheemse spesierykheid op Marion Eiland neem in besonder sterk af met
‘n toename in hoogte en die verspreiding van die mees wyduitgebreide spesies is ruimtelik
saamgesteld. Die omgewing om die Weerstasie en Mixed Pickle hut toon hoë rykheid en ‘n
hoë waarskynlikheid van die voorkoms van individuele spesies. Nie een van die modelle wat
vir hierdie studie ontwikkel is toon ‘n belangrikheid in habitat tipe as ‘n verduidelikbare
veranderlike vir die verspreiding van enige van die uitheemse plant spesies nie, alhoewel
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vanuit die rekords alleen is dit duidelik dat soutsproei plantegroei nie verkies word nie.
Tesame met ondersoeke oor die lewensloop van die spesies, stel die huidige verspreidingsdata
voor dat min uitheemse plant spesies maklik uitgeroei kan word. Die meeste is eenvoudig te
wydverspreid vir koste effektiewe uitroeiing. Voorts, gegewe die huidige tempo van
uitbreiding van Agrostis stolonifera, Cerastium fontanum, Poa annua en Sagina procumbens
en hulle skynbare gebrek aan habitat voorkeur, is dit hoogs waarskynlik dat baie van die
laerliggende habitatte binne die volgende paar dekades gedomineer sal word deur hierdie
spesies. In teenstelling, Rumex acestosella, Agrostis gigantea, Agropyron repens, Juncus
effusus, Luzula cf. multiflora en die nuutgevestigde struik spesie moet die fokus wees van
beheer/uitroeiing pogings. Hierdie tesis voorsien omvattende basislyn data oor uitheemse
vaatplantverspreidings as ‘n standaard vir toekomstige ondersoeke.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project was funded by the South African National Antarctic Programme of the National
Research Foundation (NRF – SANAP). Additional funding was provided by The Prince
Edward Islands book fund. Logistical support for the project on Marion Island was provided
by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). I thank the Marion 63
team for being my family during the period I spent on Marion Island. To Jacques Deere,
thanks for sending all sorts of items that I requested while I was on the island.

My gratitude goes to my supervisors, Dr. Justine D. Shaw and Prof. Steven L. Chown –
thanks for your constructive criticism, guidance, and above all, your faith in me. The
completion of this work would not have been possible without your support. Special thanks
go to Ethel Phiri and Dr. Peter le Roux for invaluable comments and assistance with statistical
analysis. Thanks to Dr. Dian Spear and Dr. Jesse Kalwij for providing useful assistance with
GIS. Erika Nortje, thank you for translating the abstract for this thesis to Afrikaans. I am also
grateful to Steven’s (C.I.B) research group for support throughout the writing up of this work.

I would also like to thank my fellow office mates Fulufhelo Mukhadi, Andrew Rogers and
Michelle Gibson for helping me in many ways. To Nomzamo Kunene, thanks for your
constant support, courage and for believing in my ability, thank you very much.

Last but not least, my gratitude goes to my family. To my parents, Abby and Grace
Ramaswiela, you stood by me during tough times. To my siblings, Thendo, Gabriel, Farisani,
Humbulani and Rofhiwa, you all inspire me.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration………………………………………………………...............................................i
Abstract………………………………………………………...................................................ii
Opsomming………………………………………………………............................................iv
Acknowledgements………………………………………………………................................vi
Table of contents………………………………………………………...................................vii

Chapter 1..............................................................................................................................1-22
GENERAL INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................1
Study location...................................................................................................................10
Thesis outline....................................................................................................................13
References.........................................................................................................................14

Chapter 2............................................................................................................................23-58
THE CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF INVASIVE SPECIES ON MARION ISLAND
Introduction..............................................................................................................................23
Materials and methods......................................................................................................29
Results...............................................................................................................................33
Discussion.........................................................................................................................48
References.........................................................................................................................52

Chapter 3............................................................................................................................59-87
ASSESSING THE VULNERABILITY OF VEGETATION AND VARIABLES THAT
DETERMINE ALIEN SPECIES OCCURENCE ON MARION ISLAND
Introduction...............................................................................................................................59
Materials and methods......................................................................................................61
Results...............................................................................................................................67
Discussion.........................................................................................................................73
References.........................................................................................................................77

Chapter 4..........................................................................................................................88-103
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction......................................................................................................................88
Species ranked according to their prioritization for eradication......................................91
vii
Prioritizing control and eradication on Marion Island…………...…...............................92
General conclusion............................................................................................................97
References.........................................................................................................................98

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Chapter 1
GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The Southern Ocean Islands (SOI), ranging from Tristan da Cunha in the north (37°S, 12°W)
to South Georgia in the south (54°S, 37°W) represent the only terrestrial areas in the vast
Southern Ocean (Gremmen et al. 1997). The islands that are clustered around the Antarctic
Polar Frontal Zone from the sub-Antarctic Biogeographic region (De Villiers et al. 2006). The
sub-Antarctic climate is oceanic and thermally stable (Smith 2002), with the low mean air-
temperature, generally remaining above freezing point. For example, on Marion Island the
mean annual temperature is 6.4°C (le Roux & McGeoch 2008). These remote islands have
oceanic climates very different to those of the Southern Hemisphere continents, and support
tundra-like vegetation (with some low tree growth on northern islands) (Gremmen 1981;
Chown et al. 2008a). They also form the breeding platforms for many seabird and seal
species, and are home to many endemic taxa (Gremmen 1997; Chown et al. 1998; Bergstrom
& Chown 1999). In consequence, the Southern Ocean Islands are of considerable
conservation significance (Dingwall 1995; Chown et al. 2001, De Villiers et al. 2006).

Despite their remoteness, the islands are not free from the introduction of species from other
regions of the world (Frenot et al. 2001, 2005). The majority of the alien plant species on the
SOI have been accidentally introduced (Chown et al. 1998), and most of these alien species
are common in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere belonging to the European flora
(Frenot et al. 2001). A relatively large number (284) of alien plant species and their impacts
have been recorded from the islands (Table 1). Other taxa, for exmple introduced mammalian
predators and herbivores, and invertebrates have also been well-documented (e.g. Chapuis et
al. 1994; Gremmen et al. 1998; Ernsting et al. 1999; Jones et al. 2003; Chown et al. 2008b).
These alien species pose a considerable threat to the species and ecosystems of most SOI
islands and it is predicted that these threats will continue to increase in conjunction with
climate change in the region (Frenot et al. 2005).

Changes in climate have been recorded over the past 50 years on several sub-Antarctic
islands, including Macquarie (Adamson et al. 1988), Kerguelen (Frenot et al. 1997), Marion
(Rouault et al. 2005; le Roux & McGeoch 2008), and Heard (Budd 2000) islands. These
increases in surface temperature are typically well above the global average temperature
increase, and are often coupled with a decline in annual rainfall (Smith 2002). The changing
climates of the sub-Antarctic islands are having, and are predicted to have, far-reaching
1