Abstract book_IAS Workshop

Contents Table of contents Preface 1 KEY NOTE ADDRESS Unheeded warnings - the economic, social and ecological impacts of invasive species................................................................................. 4 Mike Ielmini INVITED LECTURES Successful weed biocontrol in the Pacific: opportunities for India................................................................................................. 8 Michael Day and Rachel L. Winston Livelihood impacts of woody invasive alien species in Eastern Africa............................................................................................... René Eschen, Eric Allan, Ketema Bekele, Sandra Eckert, Albrecht Ehrensperger, 10 Theo Linders, Purity Rima, Gudrun Schwilch, Hailu Shiferaw and Urs Schaffner The global threat from biological invasions: the reproductive and physiological fitness of the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. under a changing climate................................................................... 12 Steve Adkins, Ali Ahsan Bajwa, Asad Shabbir and Boyang Shi Application of Ecological Niche Model in predicting geography of species distribution............................................................................ 14 Abhishek Mukherjee Reconstructing the history of introduction of Mikania micrantha and an appraisal of its spread in India....................................................... 16 Achyut K Banerjee and Anjana Dewanji Lantana camara invasion: new insights from tropical ecosystems......... 18 A. S. Raghubanshi Influence of urbanization on invasive alien plants: a case study of Kolkata city............................................................................... 20 Anjana Dewanji Invasive alien plants: inventory, impacts and implications................ Anzar A. Khuroo 22 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species i

Contents Impact of marine invasion on Molluscan ecology: insights from Lessepsian invasion..................................................................... 24 Devapriya Chattopadhyay Alien invasive species: anthropological perspective............................. 26 Kailash C. Malhotra Ornamental horticulture as the major pathway for plant invasions: in search for solutions............................................................................ 28 Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz Species on the door step- invasive plant threats in the Asia-Pacific region................................................................................................ 30 K.V. Sankaran and Michael D. Day Economic aspects of invasive alien species.......................................... M.N.V. Prasad 32 Invasions in isolation: a review of distribution, dispersal pathways and management of faunal invasions on Indian islands....................... 34 Nitya Prakash Mohanty The broader perspective of invasive plants.......................................... R. L. Brahmachary 36 Invasive alien species research in India - edges, corners and voids: a critique.............................................................................................. 38 T. V. Sajeev SPECIAL LECTURES Risk analysis in weed biological control.............................................. Michael Day 43 Sentinel plants as early warning against new alien tree pests................ René Eschen 45 ii Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Contents CONTRIBUTED PAPERS Using a native Mediterranean ant to control the globally invasive O Argentine ant.................................................................................... 49 Alok Bang, Gloria Luque and Franck Courchamp The variable ecological impact exhibited by the seasonally distinct populations of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on associated vegetation O 50 and soil chemical properties............................................................... Amarpreet Kaur, Daizy R. Batish, Shalinder Kaur and Harminder Pal Singh Effect of invasive alien plants on native flora -A study from south P Wayanad forest division of Kerala..................................................... 51 Angel Joy, Ashok kumar M, Dencin Rons Thampy and Sophia Joseph, V. Comparative analysis of leaf traits of two exotic tree species - Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus alba for determining their invasive P 52 potential............................................................................................ Ikramjeet Maan, Daizy. R. Batish and H.P. Singh Molecular evidences suggest the multiple invasion waves of the Giant P African Snail into India..................................................................... 53 Keerthy Vijayan, R. Suganthasakthivel and T.V. Sajeev Verbesina encelioides: the fast invading exotic weed in northern India.... P 54 Kulwinder Kaur, Daizy. R. Batish and H.P. Singh Variation in community structure and soil characteristics of sites invaded/non-invaded by invasive alien plants in Chir Pine forest P Nainital, Kumaun Himalaya.............................................................. 55 Mukesh Kumar, Shailendra Kumar, Abhishek K. Verma, Mayank Krishna and S.C. Garkoti Performance strategies of Lantana camara L. in contrasting light P environments..................................................................................... 56 Neha Goyal and Gyan Prakash Sharma Alternanthera philoxeroides as a green leafy vegetable............................. O 57 Poulami Jha, M. Sudarshan and Anjana Dewanji Ecological impact and management of aquatic invasive weeds............ O 58 Puja Ray Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species iii

Contents Predicting the past, present and future distribution of the Giant O African Snail..................................................................................... 59 R. Suganthasakthivel, KeerthyVijayan and T.V. Sajeev Impact of Chromolaena odorata on native phytodiversity in Telangana P State, India........................................................................................ 60 Sateesh Suthari and M.N.V. Prasad Ground touch supports regeneration and growth in small fragments- O an evidence apparent from two invasive plants................................... 61 Seemanti Chatterjee, Anjana Dewanji and R. L. Brahmachary Morphological differences between aquatic and terrestrial Alternanthera philoxeroides and evaluation of their allelopathic potential P 62 using seed bioassay............................................................................ Shankhamala Ghosh and Anjana Dewanji Rethinking biological invasion management and economic P development in a Himalayan state...................................................... 63 Shikha Arora, Khima NandBalodi and Achlesh Daverey Political ecology of biological invasions: the case of linear intrusions O in forested landscapes of Central Kerala............................................. 64 R. Soumya, T. V. Sajeev and K. K. Subin Managing tree invasion in the Western Ghats: case studies on Senna O spectabilis, Acacia mearnsii and Maesopis eminii...................................... 65 T. K. Hrideek, K. Muraleekrishnan and T. V. Sajeev Molecular characterization and host range studies of Alternaria japonica Yoshii as prospective mycoherbicidal agent of water P 66 hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes.............................................................. Writuparna Dutta, Durga Ray, Puja Ray O = Oral Presentation P = Poster Presentation iv Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Contents Annexures Inaugural session i Workshop program iii Maps for venues and guest houses ix Resource persons of the workshop tutorial sessions xi List of participants xiii Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species v



Preface Preface Welcome to the Workshop on Economic and Ecological Aspects of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) jointly organized by the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN). It has been a great pleasure putting together this workshop and we are delighted to have you all here with us. A very warm welcome to the ISI, Kolkata! Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis (PCM), the father of Indian Statistics and founder of ISI was seventeen years older to C.S. Elton who is known as the father (or rather, prophet) of Invasion Ecology. ISI, founded in 1931, gained the status of national importance in 1959 around the same time when the seminal text The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and Plants, considered to be the ‘bible of invasion biology’, was published. While Elton brought together previously disparate themes, including biogeography, conservation biology, epidemiology, human history and population ecology in the context of invasion ecology, PCM's vision included disciplines as diverse as economics, agriculture, anthropology, geology and more with a focus on the interaction of Statistics with these different fields. This innovative step helped the progress of statistics as a key technology through its general applicability and its relation to other disciplines. However, though contemporaries, the thoughts of Elton had not spread far and wide in those times to influence PCM to address the question of Invasion Ecology. This was not just for India, but for the world over, since publications on invasion science started to attract attention only after a lapse of around 50 years following origin. In fact, though widely read, the work of Elton was seldom cited until 1991. Beyond this period, his concepts were verified and accepted widely as evidenced by the large number of publications thereon on different aspects of invasion biology and ecology - a feat surpassed only by Charles Darwin’s publication on Origin of Species. Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 1

Preface This year, while we are celebrating the 125 birth anniversary of PCM, ISI and th APFISN have joined to bridge this historical gap which would have been appropriately addressed if Elton and PCM had met and shared their thoughts. Now, more than ever, we are realizing that the rate of biological invasions has multiplied and their impacts are much more visible and experienced. In the long run, many invasive species may get naturalized. However, this is a long process spanning centuries, during which the impact of the species on the ecology and economy would be huge. Successful management calls for quality research translated into evolvement of appropriate control strategies and their stringent implementation. Against this background, this workshop also wishes to build a forum where all the enthusiastic IAS researchers could meet and interact to explore key aspects of invasion biology and ecology and learn from experts how to combat IAS threats successfully. We have included a few tutorial sessions (on introductory and advanced topics) here which are designed to motivate young researchers to apply some state-of the-art techniques in their research. Also, it is hoped that the ‘Open Forum’ on theme areas will promote discussion and help identifying priorities in IAS research and fostering fruitful collaborations in the future. We believe that you will love the lush green and spacious workshop venue at ISI. We wish you all a pleasant stay and an enjoyable and fruitful time at the workshop. Anjana Dewanji T. V. Sajeev K. V. Sankaran 2 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Keynote address

Keynote Abstracts Mike Ielmini Certified Wildlife Biologist Virginia, USA As a Certified Wildlife Biologist and member of The Wildlife Society, Mike Ielmini has 38 years of landscape-scale natural resources conservation experience at the State and Federal levels in the USA. His expertise includes fish and wildlife ecology and management, wetland conservation, protection and recovery of RET species, sustainable forestry and management of aquatic and terrestrial IAS. In his capacity as the National Invasive Species Program Manager for the USDA Forest Service, he oversees the program’s organizational structure, policy, budget and performance for the 193 million-acre National Forest System – coordinating and integrating an “all taxa” IAS management program from the Arctic region to the Caribbean. He currently serves on the three primary Federal invasive species coordinating committees in the U.S. supporting the National Invasive Species Council and other agencies. He has provided technical support and policy expertise on international forest and wildlife conservation issues, including work in Peru, Uganda, Kenya, Mexico, Canada, and India. In 2016, he helped developing comprehensive training modules and trained officers of the Indian Forest Service for land-use planning and managing IAS threats. 4 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Keyno Abstracts racts Keynote te Abst Unheeded warnings - the economic, social and ecological impacts of invasive species Mike Ielmini Certified Wildlife Biologist, Virginia, USA [email protected] The spread of harmful aquatic and terrestrial invasive species have reached critical levels across the planet during a period which some have described as the ‘homogocene’ – when both human and natural forces are accelerating the movement and mixing of species of plants, animals and pathogens faster and farther than ever before in the history of the Earth. Natural barriers to maintaining ecosystem integrity, biodiversity, and functionality are nearly non-existent in the modern age of globalization and accelerated trade and transportation. As species are established into new areas, there is a potential for them to cause great harm. When they do, these ‘invasive species’ can quickly dominate an area and out- compete the native species in those areas – undermining the functionality of those ecosystems. For decades, invasion ecologists and other scientists have documented the movement of species across the globe and identified the threats and impacts from these invasions. There are tangible examples of where the economic, environmental, and social impacts are expanding exponentially as thousands of new invasions become established and spread across every aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem on the planet. Nearly every nation is at risk from invasive species, and is challenged to address a growing number of high risk species of not only exotic plants, but other invasive species as well. Scientists working in the fields of ecology, economics, human dimensions, and other natural resource professions have long warned society and decision-makers of the risks and impacts from these harmful exotic species and begged for an adequate response. These warnings and calls for effective action have articulated how invasive species undermine the health and productivity of the areas they invade, and documented the large scale economic impacts - ranging from the $US Billions to $US Trillions annually, with seemingly no end in sight. This massive annual drain on local, regional, and national economies limits growth and prosperity in areas which have been invaded. Risks to human health from various invasive taxa are also threatening all major aspects of civil society and culture in areas which have been invaded. Agriculture and forest productivity is often lessened in the shadow of these invasions, infrastructure is degraded, and the ability for communities and nations to build resiliency and resist these invasions is severely undermined by the systemic lack of capacity to respond effectively at all Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 5

Keynote Abstracts levels. Even national security is at risk from the many harmful effects of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. Yet society in general, community and national leaders, the business sector, natural resource professionals, and many other stakeholders have ignored these warnings for decades - for a variety of valid and invalid reasons. The cost of this indifference and lack of an adequate response to these invasive threats is high, but there continues to be examples each year that showcase how various invasive taxa could have been thwarted before they caused significant havoc if warnings would have been heeded. At one time, many natural resource professionals and governments may have been blissfully ignorant about invasive species, classifying “plants” as lawn grass, flowers, trees, or weeds, and putting animals into two groups: species with can be harvested, and everything else. But those days of blissful ignorance and indifference must fade away. The science on these threats is stronger than ever and there are no more excuses. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we fully recognize the reality of the invasive species threat and heed the repeated calls for a proactive and aggressive approach to build stronger prevention programs, and strengthen our respective early detection and rapid response capacity at all levels. It is time for a paradigm shift, led by sound-minded broad-thinking professionals, innovative scientists and technologists, and a grass-root movement of citizens across the planet, to elevate the awareness of the invasive species threat and convince our respective societies and leaders to invest wisely in managing these species and changing human behavior to achieve a long-term and sustainable solution for all. Key words: Invasive species; ecosystems; impacts; awareness; sustainable solution 6 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Invited lectures

Invited Abstracts Michael Day Principal Entomologist Biosecurity Queensland, Australia Dr. Michael has been working on weed biological control for the past 37 years; the last 21 years with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. He was attached to CSIRO from 1981-1996 where he worked on water hyacinth, water lettuce, salvinia, alligator weed, Mimosa pigra and Sida acuta. With his current employer, Michael leads biocontrol projects on cactus spp., lantana, chromolaena and mikania and has collaborated with many countries in the Pacific and South-east Asia on these weeds. 8 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Successful weed biocontrol in the Pacific: opportunities for India Michael D Day* and Rachel L. Winston *Principal Entomologist Biosecurity Queensland, Australia [email protected] Biological control of weeds in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) commenced in 1911, with the introduction of biological control agents into Fiji, following their release into Hawaii. To date, 64 biological control agents have been deliberately released against 24 weed species in 17 countries, with 36 agents becoming established on 21weed species. An additional four biological control agents spread naturally into the Pacific, resulting in 41 biological control agents currently established on 24 weed species in 17 of the 22 Pacific island countries. Mimosa diplotricha, Salvinia molesta, Opuntia spp. and Sida spp. are all deemed under control in countries where their respective biological control agents have established. Chromolaena odorata, Clidemia hirta, Coccinia grandis, Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes are also heavily impacted by biological control agents in various countries. All of these weeds occur in India, although many of their available biological control agents have not been introduced into India. There are numerous opportunities for India to introduce some of the biological control agents causing moderate to high impacts on their target weeds (e.g. M. diplotricha, P. stratiotes, Mikania micrantha and Parthenium hysterophorus) in the Pacific region, to help control some of India’s most important weed species. Key words: Weeds; biological control; Pacific region; India; introduction Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 9

Invited Abstracts René Eschen Senior Scientist CABI, Switzerland Dr. René Eschen is an ecologist working for CABI in Switzerland. His main research interests are the ecology, impacts and management of invasive species and the relationship between international trade and invasive pests of trees. He is Chair of a COST Action on sentinel plants as early warning systems against tree pests and Coordinator of the IUFRO Working Party on Alien Invasive Species and International Trade. 10 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Livelihood impacts of woody invasive alien species in Eastern Africa 1 4 René Eschen *, Eric Allan , Ketema Bekele , Sandra Eckert , Albrecht Ehrensperger , 3 4 2 1 Theo Linders , Purity Rima , Gudrun Schwilch , Hailu Shiferaw and Urs 5,6 7,8 4 1 Schaffner 1 CABI, Delémont, Switzerland 2 Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland 3 School of Agricultural Economics, Haramaya University, Ethiopia 4 Centre for Development and the Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Switzerland 5 Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Baringo sub-centre Marigat, Kenya 6 Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation, University of Nairobi, Kenya 7 Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC), Addis Ababa, Ethopia 8 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia *[email protected] Hundreds of exotic woody plant species were introduced throughout Africa during the last century to provide benefits to rural people, including income, firewood and charcoal, wind shelter and soil protection. However, several of these woody species have escaped cultivation and become some of the most important invasive alien species (IAS), threatening fodder production for livestock, water availability and other key ecosystem services for rural livelihoods. Building on case study areas in Eastern Africa we study impacts of woody IAS, in particular Prosopis juliflora, on ecosystem services and on people, the resulting conflicts as well as the spatio-temporal dynamics of these processes. This presentation will highlight some of the work being done in a Swiss- funded project on individual socio-economic and ecological parameters and the upscaling thereof using remote sensing techniques. We will emphasize that developing sustainable land management (SLM) strategies for woody IAS requires a thorough understanding of the environmental, social and economic components of this complex social-ecological system. Management of IAS in social-ecological systems must be adapted to the invasion stage, local conditions and stakeholder preferences. Thus, we will also discuss approaches to incorporate stakeholders with potentially competing interests in a structured decision process to select SLM technologies that help mitigating the negative impacts of woody IAS. Key words: Invasive woody species; Prosopis; trans-disciplinarity; social-ecological system; sustainable land management Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 11

Invited Abstracts Steve Adkins Professor in Plant Physiology University of Queensland, Australia Prof. Steve Adkins obtained his PhD in weed physiology from the University of Reading in England in 1981 and has served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon in Canada (1981-84) and at Murdoch University, Perth, Australia (1984-88). He is now based at University of Queensland (UQ), Australia and has spent the last 30 years studying various tropical and subtropical crops and pastures, their weeds and the native plant community. His research focus is on weed and seed biology, and conservation using ex situ seed banking and tissue culture. He has been a principle investigator and scientific advisor on more than 50 scientific projects worth more than $12 million. He has published more than 150 peer reviewed papers in international journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and supervised more than 50 research higher degree and 40 honours students to completion. Steve has held several leadership roles at UQ since 2010, including Deputy Director and Acting Director in the UQ Centre for Plant Architectural Informatics. In these roles, he has led initiatives that have improved teaching quality and the student experience, instituted guidelines and funding schemes for supporting the career development of RHD students and ECRs, and established several new cross-cutting research networks in collaboration with key external partners. He has served as Treasurer and for two terms as the President of the Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society. 12 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited The global threat from biological invasions: the reproductive and physiological fitness of the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. under a changing climate Steve Adkins *, Ali Ahsan Bajwa , Asad Shabbir and Boyang Shi 1, 3 1 1, 2 1, 2 1 School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia 2 The Centre for Plant Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia 3 Department of Botany, Ecology and Evolution, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan *[email protected] Biological invasions are one of the foremost drivers of ecosystem restructuring. Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.), a well-known noxious invasive species, has invaded diverse climatic and biogeographic regions in more than 45 countries across five continents, including the Mediterranean region. Efforts are under way to minimize the parthenium weed-induced environmental, agricultural, social, and economic impacts. However, insufficient information regarding its invasion mechanisms especially under a changing climate is available. Here, aspects of the mechanism of parthenium weed invasion, both under the present and a changing climate are presented. Some important observations are: (1) a unique reproductive biology, and escape from natural enemies in its introduced regions are all likely to be involved in its invasiveness, (2) tolerance to abiotic stresses and ability to grow in wide range of edaphic conditions are additional invasion tools on a physiological front, (3) an allelopathic potential of parthenium weed against agricultural and native species may also be responsible for its invasion success and (4) rising temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and changing rainfall patterns, all within the present day climate change prediction range are favourable for parthenium weed growth, its reproductive output, and therefore its future spread and infestation. Such an understanding of the core phenomena regulating the weeds invasion biology has pragmatic implications for the long-term management of this weed. A better understanding of the interaction of physiological processes, ecological functions, and genetic makeup, within a range of environments will help to devise appropriate management strategies for parthenium weed. Key words: Parthenium weed; invasion biology; allelopathy; climate change; management Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 13

Invited Abstracts Abhishek Mukherjee Assistant Professor Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih, Jharkhand Dr. Abhishek Mukherjee completed his PhD from the University of Florida in the Department of Entomology and Nematology and did postdoctoral research in the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University. In both his PhD and postdoc research, he has focussed on classical biological control of invasive weeds. His research interests include niche modelling focussed on understanding potential distribution of invasive species in invaded regions, prioritizing areas in the native range for future surveys, identifying climatically suitable areas for release of natural enemies and analysis of niche shifts in invasive species. He has several publications in these areas to his credit. 14 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Application of Ecological Niche Model in predicting geography of species distribution Abhishek Mukherjee Agricultural and Ecological research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih – 815301, Jharkhand [email protected] The use of ecological niche models to predict geographic distribution of species has seen numerous applications in recent years. Climatic niche-based species distribution models (SDMs) predict the distribution of species by establishing a statistical relationship between known occurrences of a species and relevant predictor variables (e.g., climate variables). Substantial increase in the availability of species occurrence data and high resolution environmental data in the past few years, coupled with the development of powerful software tools allowed estimation of species niche across broad spatial and temporal scales. Invasion biologists including scientists working on classical biological control have frequently applied SDMs to generate potential distribution of species at novel habitats, prioritizing survey locations, identifying areas in the invaded range that are climatically similar to that of the native range. The Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Model (hereafter MaxEnt) is a robust ‘presence only’ modelling approach that estimates the probability of distribution of a species at a given geographic location. This is done by contrasting probability densities of environmental covariates of the known occurrences of the species to that of randomly selected points across user-defined model backgrounds. Various Government and non-Government organizations have adopted MaxEnt for large- scale, real-world biodiversity mapping applications. The paper will focus on the theoretical basis of SDMs and will also present several applications of MaxEnt models to generate predictive distributions of a number of invasive species including tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum), its biocontrol agent (Gratiana boliviana), Hygrophila polysperma, an invasive weed etc. The possible niche shift by the Brazilian pepper tree (Schinuster ebinthifolius) in Florida and the potential distribution of Mikania micrantha in India will also be discussed. Key words: Species distribution model, invasive species, MaxEnt Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 15

Invited Abstracts Achyut K Banerjee Visiting Scientist Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Dr. Achyut Kumar Banerjee is presently associated with Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit of Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata as a Visiting Scientist. After completion of masters in botany, he obtained his PhD degree from the University of Calcutta for his research on an invasive plant named Mikania micrantha. The primary focus of his interdisciplinary research is 'invasion in urban context'. In his PhD, he has done field and lab-based experiments to characterise invasiveness of Mikania in terms of its trait plasticity, phenology, impacts on associated flora, biogeography and potential distribution in India. Achyut has earned experience in statistical techniques as well as geospatial technologies and in their applications in invasion research, especially in species distribution modelling. A number of his research papers have been published in journals of national and international prominence. 16 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Reconstructing the history of introduction of Mikania micrantha and an appraisal of its spread in India Achyut Kumar Banerjee*, Anjana Dewanji Agricultural and Ecological research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata - 700108 *[email protected] Identification of the introduction pathways and mapping the spread dynamics of an invasive alien species are important in evolving management strategies. In this study, the hypothesis of multiple introductions of an aggressive invader Mikania micrantha into India was investigated and the dynamics of its spread in the introduced regions ascertained. The likely countries and the time line regarding Mikania introduction into India were specifically looked into. The archival floristic records, herbarium databases, and published literature were all chronologically analyzed in a global context. We plotted the cumulative number of squares occupied against time to construct the invasion curves in the Indian context, and the invasion rates were compared between regions where Mikania was introduced. The documented evidence suggests that Mikania was introduced into eastern India sometime around early 1900 from the Caribbean islands. This was followed introduction into north-east India from Latin America around the same time. Its introduction into south-west India was apparently from the Pacific countries in the 1950’s. Although the highest rate of spread was observed from south-west India, the invasion curves are yet to reach their respective plateaus or the saturation phase, thereby indicating the ongoing range expansion of Mikania within India. These insights can be empirically investigated further to provide additional ecological information for planning management measures. Key words: Mikania; India; introduction; spread; herbarium; invasion curve Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 17

Invited Abstracts A. S. Raghubanshi Professor Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Prof. A.S. Raghubanshi, based at the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, is currently leading a research team which focuses on the ecology and sustainable management of tropical ecosystems and urban environment. Dr. Raghubanshi has made significant contributions in the field of tropical forest ecology particularly on patterns of plant diversity, ecology of plant invasions, mechanisms of nutrient dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, restoration of degraded ecosystems, and ecophysiology of tropical trees. His work established the role of soil microbial biomass as a source and sink of plant nutrients in tropical ecosystems. His group, for the first time, reported that tropical soils are substantial sink for methane. He has done extensive work on plant functional traits and its role in explaining carbon sequestration potential of forests. His current research interest is on the urban ecology of Varanasi, an ancient Heritage city of India. 18 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Lantana camara invasion: new insights from tropical ecosystems A.S. Raghubanshi Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221005, Uttar Pradesh [email protected] This paper reports various aspects of the ecology, impact and control measures of Lantana camara (lantana), which is one of the most harmful invasive plants worldwide. In India, lantana seems to be introduced multiple times and gradually underwent spatial expansion with recurrent gene flow. Studies indicate the emergence of ecotypes represented by two genetic clusters locally adapted to specific climatic conditions. Negative impacts of lantana invasion on biodiversity, crop and pasture production, and animal health are well documented. Soil seed bank community composition and structure is also reduced due to lantana invasion. Recent studies indicate that global warming will facilitate the invasion of lantana by significantly increasing its growth and allelopathic effects. Rising temperature leads to a significant increase in specific leaf area (SLA), stem length, and biomass allocation to stems and petioles at the expense of leaves and roots, thereby ensuring greater structural support to the species. A combination of mechanical, chemical and biological control may be used for the control of lantana invasion. However, in order to be more effective to manage lantana, it is necessary to develop and implement coordinated national and regional integrated management strategies. Increasing awareness on the damages due to lantana invasion and developing capacity of those who are involved in managing lantana will also be useful. Key words: Lantana camara; ecophysiology; control; climate change; impact Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 19

Invited Abstracts Anjana Dewanji Professor Indian Statistical Institute Anjana Dewanji got her doctoral degree from the University of Calcutta and has always been fascinated by plants and their adaptations. Her interests include temporal patterns in aquatic plant growth, their nutritive potential and their response to eutrophication in small water bodies like ponds which are widely used by people in tropical climates. Currently her group at the Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, is working on ecological aspects of two invasive plants, Alternanthera philoxeroides and Mikania micrantha and trying to understand their spread in the city of Kolkata. 20 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Influence of urbanization on invasive alien plants: a case study of Kolkata city Anjana Dewanji Agricultural & Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata-700108 [email protected] The composition of many plant communities is being altered directly or indirectly by human actions. Rapid urbanization, which is increasing worldwide - more so in tropical countries, poses new challenges for all species. Observational and empirical studies conducted in the metropolitan city of Kolkata, on two of the world’s worst invasive plants, Alternanthera philoxeroides and Mikania micrantha, provide some interesting insights into the changing composition of plant communities and the gradual increase in the number of co-occurring invasive alien species, over the years. Our studies indicate that although both species negatively impact native biodiversity and there is a gradual increase in spread, they have not as yet reached destructive proportions within the city. However, due to a general lack of awareness and in the absence of stakeholders in cities who are directly affected by these species, management options for already established species seem non-existent. With increasing expansion in city limits leading to human-driven ecosystem change we also need to learn how to live with invasive species especially for want of proper monitoring and management programs. Both Alternanthera and Mikania have reported uses. Therefore, it is vital to explore the alternative uses of these plants to ensure sustainable management of resources and help manage their further spread. Key words: Urbanization; co-occurring species; Alternanthera philoxeroides; Mikania micrantha; alternative use Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 21

Invited Abstracts Anzar A Khuroo Assistant Professor University of Kashmir Dr Anzar Khuroo is a botanist with specialization in taxonomy and ecology. Over the last decade, besides interest in the floristic diversity of Kashmir Himalaya, his main research focus has been on plant invasions at multiple spatial scales, in particular inventory of alien flora in India. Currently, he is serving as Country Editor (India) for the IUCN-Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species and Member of Expert Committee on Invasive Alien species under the National Biodiversity Authority, India. 22 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Invasive alien plants: inventory, impacts and implications Anzar A. Khuroo Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy Department of Botany, University of Kashmir Srinagar – 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir [email protected] Biological invasion by alien species is considered as one of the major drivers of global environmental change with harmful impacts on ecology and economy. To understand the patterns and processes of biological invasions, biotic inventory of invasive alien species assumes importance. The inventory is also mandatory in prioritizing research and management efforts. In this context, this paper discusses the potential data sources and standard methodology required in assembling the inventory of invasive alien plants. Scientific characterization of the alien plant species along the introduction-cultivation-naturalization-invasion continuum is explained by showcasing research conducted at multiple spatial scales. Furthermore, the ecological impacts of invasive alien plants on biodiversity and functioning of the ecosystem are highlighted by using a case study of Leucanthemum vulgare (ox-eye daisy) in the Kashmir Himalaya. Also, the implications of insights gained from the inventory and impact assessments on evolving policies on management of invasive alien species are discussed. Key words: Inventory; invasion continuum; Leucanthemum vulgar; management, Kashmir- Himalaya Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 23

Invited Abstracts Devapriya Chattopadhyay Associate Professor Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Mohanpur, West Bengal Dr. Devapriya is a Paleobiologist, interested in the ecology and evolution of marine molluscs. She received her PhD in Geology from University of Michigan. She currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, IISER Kolkata. Using a combination of recent and fossil molluscs, she addresses topics such as individual response to biotic interaction, ecologic response to climate change and effect of physical environment on marine benthos diversity. 24 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Impact of marine invasion on Molluscan ecology: insights from Lessepsian invasion Devapriya Chattopadhyay Department of Earth Sciences Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Mohanpur, WB- 741246 [email protected] The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 re-established the direct link between long- separated biogeographic realms, allowing hundreds of marine species to spread from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, commonly known as Lessepsian invasion. We used marine bivalves as a model system to relate species-level attributes to successful transition through successive stages of this invasion process. Also, we compiled data on taxonomic composition, body size, life habit and geographic distribution of the Red Sea bivalve fauna from published literature and physical samples. Among the ecological attributes, body size is a synthetic functional trait determining many key ecosystem properties. Using multi-model inference, we examined selectivity of the Lessepsian invasion and identified ecological and physiological traits that distinguish successful species at three major stages of invasion: arrival, establishment and spread. The results showed that the upper limit of bathymetric range and occurrence outside the tropical zone in other regions are the strongest predictors of successful transition through the Suez Canal. Establishment in the Mediterranean is positively correlated with earlier arrival and association with hard-bottom habitats. We also show that the invasion leads to increase in median body size of the Mediterranean assemblage. Species that crossed the Suez Canal are significantly larger than native Mediterranean bivalves, even though aliens represent a random subset of the Red Sea species with respect to body size. This suggests that the observed patterns result primarily from the differences in the taxonomic composition and body-size distributions of the source and recipient species pools. Overall, the results underscore complex interactions between changing climate and species invasions in driving functional shifts in marine ecosystems. Key words: Marine species; Lessepsian invasion, Red sea, Suez Canal; marine ecosystem Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 25

Invited Abstracts Kailash C Malhotra Former Professor, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Fellow, Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi Dr K.C. Malhotra is an anthropologist and was Professor of anthropology and human ecology at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. He is a Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore and Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi. He has served as the Chairman and Member of several committees including those constituted by the DST, MoEF, Planning Commission and UGC. He was also associated with several organizations such as the World Bank, UNESCO and USAID. He has served as Visiting Professor to several Universities in USA, Germany, UK and Russia. He has authored over 400 scientific papers. Prof. Malhotra has made significant contributions to our understanding of the social structure of Indian populations, niche diversification among castes, tribes and other populations. He has also worked on different aspects of Joint Forest Management and interface between people and forests. Prof. Malhotra has been associated for several years in developing methodologies for documenting biodiversity under the leadership of Prof. Madhav Gadgil. Their efforts resulted in a comprehensive compendium of methodologies for preparing People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs). 26 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Alien invasive species: anthropological perspective Kailash C. Malhotra Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Fellow Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi Man initiated biological invasion has assumed immense proportions in recent times. Invasion by alien species is perhaps the second main cause of depletion of biodiversity after habitat destruction. It is estimated that about 40% of the Indian flora are alien and 25% of which are invasive. Many of the alien species including the invasive ones have been studied from various dimensions by foresters, taxonomists, biologists and ecologists. A preliminary literature search shows that these species have hardly been studied from anthropological perspective. In this paper an attempt will be made to explore IAS from the following dimensions in respect of Lantana, Ipomoea and Prosopis juliflora: (i) people’s perception of IAS; (ii) community perception regarding positive and negative impact of IAS on agri- horti ecosystems and wild life outside forest area and PA's, (iii) processes that make these invasive species a valuable source of livelihood to the local communities; (iv) participatory management of such species and (v) opportunity for initiating participatory research involving local communities. Key words: Human - IAS interface; IAS management; Participatory research; long- term monitoring of impacts. Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 27

Invited Abstracts Katharina D Schmutz Researcher Coventry University, UK Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz is a Researcher in the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University, UK. After completing a degree in Biology at the University of Bonn in Germany, she conducted her PhD studies at the Institute for Ecology at the Technical University in Berlin about the naturalisation of non-native plants in the rock vegetation surrounding medieval castles in Germany. She moved to the University of York to work with Mark Williamson and Charles Perrings in an interdisciplinary project on the socio-economic and ecological reasons for the invasion success and economic impacts of the invasive plant Rhododendron ponticum in Britain. Further research at York included an analysis of the impact of the horticultural trade on the invasion success of ornamental non-native plants. Moving to the University of Warwick, UK, she extended her interests to include projects on policies and governance of plant health risks, risk analysis for invasive species and agricultural weeds. She joined Coventry University in 2013 and has since developed her own research agenda including projects on citizen science related to plant invasions, risk perception, tree health and weed management. She has been a member of the Plant Health Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) since 2015. 28 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Ornamental horticulture as the major pathway for plant invasions: in search for solutions Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, UK [email protected] The introduction and use of ornamental plants in gardens continues to be the main pathway for plant invasions globally. This is not just through new introductions, but perhaps more importantly, through the propagule pressure created from frequent plantings in gardens, through new ways of trading allowing gardeners access to species far beyond local markets, and the potential impact of climate change causing greater numbers of ornamental plants to naturalise. To effectively deal with this “invasion debt” in gardens new solutions are necessary that go beyond traditional risk assessment approaches that are often not feasible when dealing with large numbers of species. Working with the horticultural industry and involving the general gardening public are key for any preventive measures. Banning species from sale and planting has become a measure legalised in increasingly more countries and is justified by the huge impacts some species have. However, these actions should ideally be accompanied by awareness raising and proactive measures aiming to communicate the role every individual can take to prevent invasions. This presentation will discuss, with examples from Britain, a Green List approach to identify alien ornamentals with minimal invasion risks, and a pilot citizen science study involving gardeners in the identification of potentially invasive plants in their gardens. Key words: Ornamental plants; plant invasions; citizen science; Green List; gardens Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 29

Invited Abstracts K. V. Sankaran Former Director, KFRI; International Consultant of the FAO of the UN. Dr. Sankaran, former Director of the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), has contributed to diverse fields of research which include forest pathology, tree nutrition and ecology and management of invasive alien plants. He has led several internationally collaborative research programs supported by CABI (UK), FAO, ACIAR (Australia) and CIFOR. During 2005-2012, he served as the Coordinator of FAO’s Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN) which is a cooperative alliance of 33 countries in the Asia-Pacific region devoted to address invasive species threats across the region. Dr. Sankaran currently serves as an International Consultant of the FAO of the UN. He also serves as a member of IUCN’s Invasive Species Specialist Group, Deputy Coordinator, IUFRO Working Party on IAS and International Trade, Co-Chair, Expert Committee on Invasive Alien Species, National Biodiversity Authority, Govt of India and as Country Editor (India) for the IUCN- Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species. 30 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Species on the door step- invasive plant threats in the Asia-Pacific region 1* K.V. Sankaran and Michael D. Day 2 1 Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi – 680 653, Kerala 2 Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, GPO Box 267, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia * [email protected] This paper attempts to evaluate the spread of some of the main invasive alien plants (IAP) within the Asia-Pacific region and forewarn countries to adopt measures to thwart spread of those species which occur in their neighborhood. Classical examples of this in south and south-east Asia include the possible spread of Prosopis juliflora and Mimosa pigra from India to Bhutan and Nepal and Chromolaena and Mikania micrantha from India/Sri Lanka to Maldives. The probable spread of Sphagenticola trilobata to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Philippines from their close neighbors and Miconia calvesecnes from Sri Lanka to India and the same species to Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia from Philippines/Indonesia form other examples. Instances from the Pacific countries include the likely invasion of Chromolaena and Parthenium hysterophorus to Fiji from some of the Pacific islands. It is arguable that edaphic and climatic factors may have a role in preventing some of these incursions. However, invasion of Leucaena leucocephala and Lantana camara in most countries in the region negates this view. The paper will list out potential IAP’s for countries in the region, indicate probable sources and outline mandatory measures to prevent imminent cross-overs. Key words: Invasive alien plants; Asia-Pacific region; spread; cross-over; prevention Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 31

Invited Abstracts M. N. V. Prasad Professor & Dean, School of Life Sciences University of Hyderabad Prof. M.N.V. Prasad has made significant contributions to the field of plant-metal interactions, bioremediation and bio-economy. He has published over 200 research articles on these topics in journals of repute. He has also edited several books and contributed chapters in books published by internationally acclaimed publishers. Prof. Prasad was the recipient of Pitamber Pant National Environment Fellow award (2007) and Prof. KS Bilgrami Memorial award (2015) instituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Govt of India and Society for Plant Research, India, respectively. He served several universities abroad on visiting assignments which included the University of Qubec, Canada, University of Coimbra, Portugal, Stockholm University, Sweden and University of South Australia. Based on Prof. Prasad’s notable contributions in plant research he was elected as Fellow of the Linnean Society, London, UK and National Institute of Ecology, New Delhi, India. 32 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Economic aspects of invasive alien species M.N.V. Prasad Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad Hyderabad 500046, Telangana [email protected] Two case studies are covered in this presentation Prosopis juliflora: It is one of the problematic invasive alien tree species that has provoked special attention in the tropics. Native to South America, it was introduced to the hot and semi-arid zones of the world to provide fuel wood, to stabilize sand dunes and to combat desertification. The tree has become an essential source for fuel wood and several other products including specialized ecosystem services in areas where it has colonized. Despite numerous advantages supra vide it has become invasive with negative impact to the environment. According to forest officials of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, it was introduced in 1877 to serve as a source of fuel wood for the poor villages failing which conventional forests would have disappeared to a considerable extent (an indirect benefit of Prosopis). Cyanide cleanup by Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth): Cyanide leaching gold recovery (CLGR) process consumes about 80 million kg of cyanide (ammonium thiocynate as leaching reagent) annually by gold mining industry. A highly concentrated cyanide solution is used to extract fine-grinded gold ore in CLGR process. Cyanide forms very stable complexes with gold. CLGR makes it economically viable to extract very low-grade ore, i.e., containing 0.5–13.7 g gold per 1000 kg rock. The detoxifying enzyme is β - cyanoalanine synthase (CAS) and it catalyzes the conversion of free cyanide and cysteine to β cyanoalanine. The final metabolite is asparagine, a non-toxic essential amino acid. One of the positive attributes of water hyacinth is cleaning-up of cyanide. Biogas generation and water treatment technologies are other benefits. Key words: Water hyacinth, Prosopis juliflora, bioeconomy, sustainability Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 33

Invited Abstracts Nitya P Mohanty Researcher Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa Mr. Nitya Prakash Mohanty is a researcher working on biological invasions on the Andaman Islands, since 2012. His on-going doctoral study examines the Indian bullfrog’s recent introduction and subsequent invasion on the Andaman archipelago with the objective of developing mitigation measures. He is currently based at the Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (CIB), Stellenbosch University, South Africa and is involved in global assessments of amphibian invasions. Nitya is a Ravi Sankaran Fellow and recipient of the M. Krishnan Memorial Natural History Writing Award. He regularly writes articles in forums outside academia to provide behind-the-scene peeks into the glamourized world of wildlife and its research. 34 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Invasions in isolation: a review of distribution, dispersal pathways and management of faunal invasions on Indian islands Nitya Prakash Mohanty 1, 2 1 Centre for Invasion Biology (C·I·B), Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa 2 Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ Environment Team, North Wandoor, South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 744103 [email protected] Despite the global awareness on the impact of insular invasions, biological invasions on Indian islands have received scant research and management attention. Biological invasions on the Andaman Islands are relatively better studied, as compared to the Lakshadweep archipelago, with existing documentation of a majority of vertebrate invasions and one invertebrate invasion. In this review, I evaluated the availability of knowledge on distribution, dispersal pathways, impacts, and management of faunal invasions on the Andaman and Lakshadweep island groups. Since dispersal and management for insular invasions may be fundamentally different from continental invasions, I further considered three case studies of invasions viz., spotted deer (Axis axis), giant African snail (Achatina fulica), and Indian bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus) with varying influence of human-mediated dispersals (into and within archipelago) to understand the consequent spread and potential management options. The case studies indicate the potential effectiveness of within island biosecurity to limit invasive spread. Success of management would likely vary with extent of distribution and social/legal compliance, but is likely to be higher as compared to mainland invasions. Key words: Dispersal pathway; island invasions; spread; biosecurity Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 35

Invited Abstracts R. L. Brahmachary Former Professor Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Prof. R. L. Brahmachary, formerly of the Embryology Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, has a wide range of interest in biological sciences, such as biochemical and molecular biology, biological clocks and animal behavior. His major work has been on pheromones of tiger and other big cats spanning more than half a century. 36 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited The broader perspective of invasive plants R. L. Brahmachary 1, 2 1 Former Professor, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata 2 21B, Motijheel Avenue, Kolkata 700074 Some of the special properties of invasive plants will be discussed in light of the work done on plants spanning three centuries, ranging from Darwin 1880, J.C. st Bose in the early 20 century and their re-evaluation in the 21 century by Mousavi th (2014). Invasive plants are fiercely competitive and have developed different strategies some of which question why sex arose at all, if they can do so well asexually. The problem of “memory” in plants, their alternative nervous system, the discovery of the primary plant brain in 2017, as well as “minor brains” known earlier, certain unusual signalling systems detected by certain researchers of AERU in Alternanthera philoxeroides and Mikania micrantha, unusual effects of contact with solid surface and water have been discussed from a wide and fundamental perspective. Electrophysiological studies on invasive (and other) plants have also been suggested and all these might provide new food for thought. Key words: Asexual propagation; growing ramets; nodal roots; leaf signal; electrophysiology Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 37

Invited Abstracts T. V. Sajeev Senior Scientist and Research Coordinator, KFRI; Coordinator, APFISN Dr. Sajeev currently holds the positions of Head, Forest Entomology Department & Research Coordinator, Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) and Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network of the FAO of the United Nations. He obtained specialized training on pesticide application methods from International Pesticide Application Research Centre, UK and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. He owns the Indian Patent No. 218518 for the process of manufacture of a Bio- Pesticide based on a naturally occurring Nucleopolyhedrovirus of the Group Baculovirus and use thereof for the management of the teak defoliator pest Hyblaea puera. Dr. Sajeev is leader or associate of 22 research projects funded by international/national bodies on aspects of forest entomology, management of invasive alien species and basic research in zoology and forestry. He has authored over 50 papers, 6 books and several book chapters. Dr. Sajeev has organized/ co- organized 16 training programs/ workshops held in India, China, Bhutan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Philippines, Nepal and Thailand on various aspects of invasive alien species. 38 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Invited Invasive alien species research in India - edges, corners and voids: a critique T.V. Sajeev Coordinator, Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network & Research Coordinator, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi- 680 653, Kerala [email protected] Estimates of research publications, conferences, workshops and training events clearly indicate that research on IAS is on the rise in India. However, this phenomenal increase in quantum of work seldom has a follow-up action and the outcomes are rarely adopted while evolving IAS management plans at the Govt and other levels. This paper, for the first time, attempts to propose a framework to help streamline the research approach which will be handy in evolving effective management protocols, irrespective of the taxa involved. Preliminary research focus should be on clarifying the taxonomic enigma of the taxon in question and a thorough analysis of its biology and reproduction. This needs to be followed by a scrutiny of the information on the impacts of the species and identification of the affected localities. Assessment of risk of the species forms the next step which will help to prioritize species and identify the gaps in knowledge on invisibility of individual species. The basic information gathered on the taxonomy, biology, multiplication, risk, impact, affected landscape and invasibility of the species will help us in choosing the best control option, whether mechanical, biological, cultural or a combination of all these!. Prevention of incursion is always the best option for which we need to alert the national and state borders and the air and sea ports. For established species, control efforts are to be focused on the spreading front which requires precise information on pathways and the mechanisms of spread. The stage of invasion and the age of the species (young growth or old) are also critical in arriving at a useful option. Involvement of the key stakeholders of the landscape invaded is vital from the very beginning of the management program. This will create awareness on the damages posed by the invasive species, the necessity of managing it and the control options available. Key words: IAS research; research approach; taxonomic enigma; risk analysis; pathways Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 39



Special lectures