Abstract book_IAS Workshop

Abstracts Special Risk analysis in weed biological control Michael D Day Principal Entomologist Biosecurity Queensland, Australia [email protected] The risks to human health and the environment of any imported goods lies in the strength of risk assessment criteria. Weed biological control agents by their very nature, are no different. The importation of any potential biological control agent must be assessed against strict criteria prior to its release. Information on its taxonomy, origin, biology and host range must be presented. Fundamental to determining the host range and the likelihood of a potential biological control agent attacking another species once released, is the conduct of host specificity testing. Host specificity testing involves a number of different trials and observations. Native range surveys should be conducted to determine if the organism is found on any other plant species. For biological control agents which have already been released in other countries, field surveys can also be conducted in those countries to determine if any non-target feeding has occurred. Once imported and prior to release, dedicated trials such as choice and no-choice trials can be conducted in a quarantine facility. The nature of such trials depend on the agent’s biology, ecology and behaviour. Inappropriate trials may result in false positives where a safe agent is rejected, or worse, a false negative, where an agent is approved for release because of lack of apparent feeding and development on other plants. The trials should be conducted in such a way that there is confidence that the agent is safe to release. The risk assessment process ensures that adequate and rigid testing procedures addresses such concerns. Key words: Host specificity testing; host range; choice and no-choice trials Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 43



Abstracts Special Sentinel plants as early warning against new alien tree pests René Eschen CABI, Delémont, Switzerland * [email protected] Alien pests of woody plants are being introduced at an increasing rate in many countries. The introductions are primarily the result of movement of live plants and wood and national plant protection agencies work to minimise the risk of new pest introductions. Many introduced pests and diseases were unknown, or not known to be harmful, however, and were not regulated before they invaded. This indicates that the current system to identify harmful species does not provide sufficient protection from invasions by alien pests and pathogens and new methods to identify pests before they arrive are needed. Sentinel plants, planted in exporting countries and surveyed for the presence of pests, are a promising tool for early identification of pests that is not yet widely used. COST Action \"Global Warning\" has established a global network of scientists and regulators in countries where sentinel plants could be established. This network develops common protocols for the monitoring and identification of pests, and explores national regulations that may apply to the establishment of sentinel plants and the use of data collected. This talk will introduce different types of sentinel plantings, based on the purpose of the data and the identity of the plants, and will illustrate the value of sentinel plants for the identification of new pest-host associations. Key words: Potential pest; international trade; live plants; early detection; prevention Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 45



Contributed papers



Abstracts Contributory Using a native Mediterranean ant to control the globally invasive Argentine ant Alok Bang 1,2,3* , Gloria Luque 1 1 and Franck Courchamp 1 Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France 2 Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India 3 Chetana-Vikas, Wardha, India *[email protected] Biological invasion is one of the foremost drivers of the loss of biodiversity. Identification and investigation of native species as effective competitors against the alien invaders is a relatively under-utilized line of inquiry. In this study, we investigated the potential of the native Mediterranean odorous ant Tapinoma nigerrimum to control the globally invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile. By changing worker abundance of L. humile and changing the presence and intensity of competition posed by T. nigerrimum, we analyzed the effect of competition on behaviour and fitness components of L. humile. We compared behaviour, survival and productivity of L. humile between smaller and larger colonies in the absence and presence of T. nigerrimum. We found differential caste-based and fitness component-based impact of the competition, wherein the worker caste was more severely affected than the queen caste, and survival was more severely affected than productivity of L. humile. We also found group- size mediated behavioral plasticity in L. humile; displaying more aggressive and collective behaviors towards T. nigerrimum when group size was larger, and more submissive and escape behaviors when group size was smaller. Finally, we found that the effect of interspecific competition was more severe in smaller colonies of L. humile, leading to a competition-driven Allee effect, proving the suitability of T. nigerrimum as a biocontrol agent. Studies such as this should pave way for field trials and if successful, should be incorporated in conservation policies. Key words: Competitive exclusion; invasion ecology; invasive alien species; inverse density dependence; population ecology Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 49

Contributory Abstracts The variable ecological impact exhibited by the seasonally distinct populations of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on associated vegetation and soil chemical properties 1* 1 Amarpreet Kaur , Daizy R. Batish , Shalinder Kaur and Harminder Pal 1 Singh 2 1 Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014 2 Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014 * [email protected] The spread of alien invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. in India has been fast and continuous since its introduction in the 1950s. Ability of the weed to reproduce throughout the year provides it a competitive advantage over other co-existing species. The weed exhibits phenological and morphological differences based on the climatic conditions prevailing during its germination. In the present study, the ecological impact of monocultures of the weed emerged in two distinct seasons (winters and summers) was evaluated through a field survey conducted in Chandigarh, India. The study assessed the response of associated vegetation and the change in soil chemical properties due to invasion by two seasonally distinct populations of Parthenium hysterophorus. Significant alterations in various ecological indices (Shannon’s index, Simpson’s index, Richness index and Evenness index) and soil macronutrient composition indicated the direct (allelopathy) as well as indirect (change in soil chemical properties) influence of P. hysterophorus on floristic diversity. The impact was more pronounced in case of populations emerged during the summer season suggesting that seasonal variations can influence the invasive potential of the weed. In the scenario of global rise in temperature and climate change, the enhanced impact of P. hysterophorus under high temperature conditions will have significant implications. Key words: Ecological indices; invasion; macronutrients; allelopathy; adaptive traits 50 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Contributory Effect of invasive alien plants on native flora -A study from south Wayanad forest division of Kerala Angel Joy*, Ashok kumar M, Dencin Rons Thampy and Sophia Joseph, V. Center for Wildlife Studies, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad, Kerala *[email protected] Invasive species cross over the range of their natural distribution and get introduced into new ecosystems displacing native species. It is essential to understand the impact of invasive plants on native flora to evolve effective management measures. During this study, invasive and native species density, diversity and richness were estimated using strip transects laid at random in three habitats (n=30) viz., evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest and a teak 2 plantation. A total of 12 square plots of 10m was laid at the interval of 100 m in 1.25 km transect that facilitated sampling from 360 plots. Invasive species composition, density and diversity varied across different habitats with high density of invasive plants in teak plantation. Multiple regressions revealed a significant association of environmental covariates with invasive plant density and explained 76% of variability. Species richness of herbs and shrubs declined with increase in invasive species density. Invasion negatively influenced species richness of herbs and shrubs. Thus, only those shrubs and herbs which can tolerate invasion survived in the study plots. This resulted in lower species richness of native plants in the plots invaded by alien species. Key words: Invasive species density; native flora; South Wayanad forest division Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 51

Contributory Abstracts Comparative analysis of leaf traits of two exotic tree species - Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus alba for determining their invasive potential 1 2 Ikramjeet Maan , Daizy. R. Batish and H.P. Singh 1* 1 Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh 2 Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh *[email protected] Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus alba (Moraceae) are exotic tree species that are native to eastern Asia. In India, B. papyrifera was introduced in 1880 for silviculture and commercial purposes while the purpose of introduction of M. alba remains un-clear. Both the species grow well in tropical and sub-tropical climatic conditions. However, on the basis of field observations in Chandigarh and surrounding areas, B. papyrifera was noticeable for of its invasive tendencies while the other one did not exhibit any such character. The density of both the species varied significantly between each other in different sites around Chandigarh. On the basis of this observation, a study was conducted to determine the leaf traits of both the species, which may help in understanding their invasive character. We measured leaf functional traits such as leaf area, specific leaf area and tissue density etc. of both the tree species and compared. Leaf area and specific leaf area of B. papyrifera were significantly higher compared to M. alba while the reverse was true with respect to tissue density. The chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency also varied significantly between the two. It can be concluded that that owing to the above favorable traits, B. papyrifera possesses invasive potential compared to M. alba. Key words: Exotic species; invasive potential; leaf functional traits 52 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Contributory Molecular evidences suggest the multiple invasion waves of the Giant African Snail into India Keerthy Vijayan*, R. Suganthasakthivel and T.V. Sajeev Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi - 680 653, Kerala *[email protected] Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica), native to east Africa is one of the rapid spreading invasive species, classified as one among the worst 100 invasive species of the world. The snail is known to be introduced from Mauritius to India in the mid-nineteenth century and since then, has been spreading to many parts of India. Our ability to control the spread is dependent on the gene pool breadth of the population of the snail in India. To understand this, we observed 216 snail infested localities in India from which 27 representative samples were subjected to molecular analysis using a 406 base pair sequence of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Seven sequences available in the NCBI, from the mainland African Countries of Cameroon and Nigeria, were compared with the sequences from India. Of the 34 sequences compared, 12 distinct haplotypes were identified of which 8 belongs to India. Network analysis of the haplotypes indicates that the most common haplotype in India is haplotype ‘E’ and all the eight haplotypes were derived from the African haplotype ‘D’. According to the quarantine data of the Cochin port, 40 different wood items were imported from 42 countries. Among them, 11 were African countries where the Giant African Snails are known to be present. The haplotypes in India were derived from the African haplotype D and the wood import to the Cochin port from African countries suggest the origin of invasion from Africa other than Mauritius and supports the argument of multiple invasion of Giant African Snail into India. Key words: Giant African snail; COI gene; haplotype; invasion Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 53

Contributory Abstracts Verbesina encelioides: the fast invading exotic weed in northern India Kulwinder Kaur , Daizy. R. Batish and H.P. Singh 1 1* 2 1 Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh 2 Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh *[email protected] Verbesina encelioides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex A. Gray, a member of family Asteraceae, commonly known as golden crown beard, is an annual weed native to North America growing up to height of about 1.5 to 1.8 m. The plant has small, yellow, sunflower like flowers. The plant is spreading fast in various habitats by forming monocultures and thus has a very high potential to become a noxious invasive plant. Its invasive characteristics include high seed production, long seed dormancy, ability to tolerate high atmospheric temp. and possible allelopathic effects. It is seen growing luxuriantly along roadsides, railway tracts, open areas, agricultural boundaries and forest margins. It replaces the naturalized vegetation of the area upon invasion. V. encelioides possesses high degree of adaptability to various environmental conditions. In North India, particularly in the dry areas of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, it is considered as a troublesome weed as it has engulfed the open space and replaced native vegetation. Keeping in mind the rapid spread of the weed, the present study focuses on various biological and ecological characteristics that contribute towards its invasiveness. Key words: Verbesina encelioides; invasive weed; characters; habitat; North India 54 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Contributory Variation in community structure and soil characteristics of sites invaded/non-invaded by invasive alien plants in Chir Pine forest Nainital, Kumaun Himalaya Mukesh Kumar*, Shailendra Kumar, Abhishek K. Verma, Mayank Krishna and S.C. Garkoti School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi * [email protected] Invasive alien species (IAS) form a significant threat to the biodiversity in the Himalayas. However, Lantana camara and Ageratina adenophora have certain better biological characteristics and functional traits compared to native plant species. The present study was conducted to assess the variation in community structure and soil characteristics between sites invaded/non-invaded by IAS in three chir pine forests In Nainital. Total shrub density of L. camara (1552-1686 individuals ha-1) and A. adenophora (1992-2936 individuals ha-1) were higher 1 in invaded compared to non-invaded sites (848-1552 individuals ha- ). 1 Understory shrub basal area in invaded sites ranged from 4.1-4.6 Mg ha- in L. camara, 2.8-4.1Mg ha- in A. adenophora and 3.16-1.6 Mg ha- ) in non-invaded 1 1 sites. IVI value of invasive species was also found to be higher in comparison to native species. Soil nutrient content in the upper layer (0-10 cm) of L. camara invaded sites was organic C (1.5-2.3%), total N (0.32 - 0.39%), K (40.5 - 43.7 ppm), SMBC (445- 635mg/gm) and in A. adenophora invaded sites OC (1.6 - 2.2%), total N (0.25 - 0.34%), K (53.6 - 60ppm), SMBC (481-551mg/gm). These values were slightly higher than in non- invaded sites which had OC (1.3 - 2%), total N (0.25 - 0.32%), K (27- 40 ppm), SMBC (415 - 528mg/gm). It was observed that invasive species which have the ability to grow on nutrient-poor soils and the faster leaf litter decomposition compared to the litter of native species enhance the soil nutrient status. As a result, invasive species thrive in such sites compared to native species. This in turn shifts the community dynamics from native to invasive species affecting the species diversity. Key words: Lantana camara; Ageratina adenophora; invasive alien species; chir pine forest; soil nutrient status Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 55

Contributory Abstracts Performance strategies of Lantana camara L. in contrasting light environments Neha Goyal* and Gyan Prakash Sharma Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi–110 007, India * [email protected] Lantana camara largely invades open, well-lit environments. However, recent observations indicate that the species is increasingly expanding in shaded habitats also. Difference in growth habit between plants growing in sunny areas and those in shade have also been noticed. Modulations in plant architecture have been considered adaptive for light harvesting in invasive plants. Lantana is a highly diverse, polyploid species complex; wherein, polyploidy is reported to contribute to its naturalization in new environments. To decipher the strategies behind the invasive success of the species, its invasibility in contrasting light, key performance-related architectural traits, performance- related functional traits, and DNA ploidy level of sun and shade-dwelling individuals were estimated. Plants dwelling under sun and shade were found to be of similar ploidy level; however they exhibited significant differences in performance-related traits at whole plant and branch and leaf-level in response to available light. The above results show that the performance of lantana in contrasting light is a function of difference in structural and functional traits and not an attribute of ploidy. Sun-dwelling lantana exhibited alterations in architecture affecting reproductive output which implies local pressure and regional spread through propagule influx. However, shade-dwelling individuals exhibited architectural alterations affecting vegetative expanse of the bush which facilitates local ingress in the recipient environment. Both the strategies boost performance of lantana and help it to invade vigorously. Management of lantana needs to be addressed differently for sun and shade-dwelling individuals; propagule pressure needs to be managed for those growing in the sun and bush size for those growing in the shade. Key words: Lantana; architecture; invasion; light heterogeneity; ploidy; trait 56 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Contributory Alternanthera philoxeroides as a green leafy vegetable 1 1* 2 Poulami Jha , M. Sudarshan and Anjana Dewanji 1 Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata - 700108 2 UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Kolkata Centre, Kolkata - 700098 * [email protected] Alternanthera philoxeroides, an amphibious invasive plant, poses a threat to aquatic biodiversity. This plant has been reported to be tolerant to heavy metals and is also used as a green leafy vegetable among rural population in India. In order to promote positive use for A. philoxeroides, a comparative study between A. philoxeroides and Ipomoea aquatica, a commonly used leafy vegetable, was conducted. Sediments and plants were sampled from 21 sites with different land use pattern in greater Kolkata area. Distribution of elements in the plants and sediments were measured using Atomic absorption spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. Sites were evaluated in terms of Pollution Load Index (PLI). Dry matter, %, protein and total phenolic content of the two plants were also measured by standard methods. USEPA defined Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) was used to evaluate health risk from consumption of this two plants. The results indicated that both plants were safe for consumption. However, low translocation of heavy metals from below ground to the shoot part could prove to be an added advantage for A. philoxeroides. Mineral constituents in A. philoxeroides appear to be adequate for human consumption as a green leafy vegetable. The low total phenolic content compared to that of I. aquatica could also mean better absorption of the essential nutrients by the consumers. Repetitive harvesting at regular intervals could be a suitable sustainable management strategy for the rampant growth of this species. Key words: Alternanthera philoxeroides; Ipomea aquatica; invasive; elemental composition; human consumption Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 57

Contributory Abstracts Ecological impact and management of aquatic invasive weeds Puja Ray Multitrophic Interactions and Biocontrol Research Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata-700073 [email protected] Invasive alien plants have become one of the serious threats to biodiversity across the globe. Though only ca. 1.5% of non-native species are invasive, they cause serious ecological and economic impacts. Plants which invade aquatic ecosystems include those which are free floating for e.g., water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), salvinia (Salvinia molesta) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes). Other types include emergent rooted (Marsilea minuta, Typha latifolia), submerged suspended (Hydrilla verticillata, Ceratophyllum demersum, Utricularia aurea) and submerged anchored (Myriophyllum spicatum, Vallisneria natans, Potamogeton crispus Egeria densa and E. najas). Invasion by these plants adversely affects agriculture, flow of irrigation canals, pisciculture, hydroelectricity projects, water transport, health and living conditions of people who are directly dependent on water bodies for their livelihood. Several control measures including manual, mechanical, chemical and biological have been practiced for managing aquatic weeds with mixed results. Hence, more emphasis is being given to integrated approaches and to understand the interaction between different control options and the ecosystem. Key words: Aquatic weeds; impacts; integrated management 58 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Contributory Predicting the past, present and future distribution of the Giant African Snail R. Suganthasakthivel*, KeerthyVijayan and T.V. Sajeev Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi – 680653, Kerala *[email protected] The giant African snail (Achatinafulica), is a polyphagous land snail native to east Africa which has become one of the dreadful invasive species in the world. In this paper we predict the past, present and future global distribution of the giant African snail using Maxent, an Environmental Niche Modelling technique that uses presence records and environmental information to generate a potential prediction map in GIS. A total of 1132 unique presence records were geocoded from our field surveys in India and for the rest of the world from published information in literature, museum records and online databases. The environmental information is explained by seven bioclimatic variables of temperature and precipitation which covers past, present and future timescales available in the World Clim dataset at a resolution of 2.5 arc minutes. The past scenarios includes last glacial maximum and Holocene, present conditions were between 1970-2000 and future datasets covers the emission scenarios of 2050 and 2070. All the models were validated by external tests and found to be good in prediction. Based on the predictions, the proportion of the potential distribution is lesser in the past scenarios (0.09) than the present (0.10) and it shows an increasing trend in the future (0.12). Variable contribution calculations suggests increase in the minimum temperature of the coldest month, annual precipitation and precipitation of the wettest month and a decrease in the mean diurnal range as the main predictors. This implies an increase in spread of giant African snail in response to predicted climate change. Key words: Invasion; niche Modelling; climate change Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 59

Contributory Abstracts Impact of Chromolaena odorata on native phytodiversity in Telangana State, India Sateesh Suthari and M.N.V. Prasad Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana -500 046 [email protected] Chromolaena odorata is a pantropical weed of Asteraceae native to central and southern tropical America. It is popularly known as Devil weed or Siam weed. The Australian Government has declared it as the worst tropical invasive weed. Its first introduction in India was as an ornamental plant to Calcutta Botanical Gardens in the early 1900 and by 1918 it was widespread in Assam and Bengal. It was not recorded from the erstwhile Madras Presidency until 1921. The weed got naturalized in India and it gradually spreads from north-western to south- eastern parts and towards the southern peninsula. In Telangana state, it spreads widely in waste lands, podu cultivation, along roadsides, plantations and degraded urban areas. The devil weed with its fast spreading ability and straggling habit does not permit growth of native species. Also, the allelopathic properties of the weed affect emergence of seedlings and saplings of medicinal and other economic plants. It also promotes forest fires during summer with its highly inflammable dry leaves and stem. There is an urgent need to evolve action plans to manage the weed. It is also necessary to conduct awareness programs for the benefit of farmers and local people on its harmful effects on farming and extraction of non-wood forest produce from natural forests. Key words: Chromolaena odorata; spread; allelopathy; awareness program; management 60 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Contributory Ground touch supports regeneration and growth in small fragments- an evidence apparent from two invasive plants 1,2 1* 1 Seemanti Chatterjee , Anjana Dewanji and R. L. Brahmachary 1 Agricultural & Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata- 700108, 2 21B, Motijheel Avenue, Kolkata 700074, India *[email protected] Alternanthera philoxeroides and Mikania micrantha are aggressive invasive plants having a geographically wide invasive zone. A chance observation drew our attention to the appearance of either root or shoot in single-noded small fragments of A. philoxeroides with or without leaf during regeneration. This could be indicative of some possible signals generated due to the presence of leaves on fragments. We have tested the effects of intact leaf (n=60) and severed leaf (n=60) on the regeneration and growth of shoot (ramet) and root in 120 fragments of A. philoxeroides and M. micrantha in both ground touch (horizontal position on perlite) and in suspended condition (the normal stance) in the greenhouse. Our study indicates that in case of A. philoxeroides the shoot emerges earlier in fragments with severed leaves while root emerges first in fragments with intact leaves when they are grown in a bed of perlite. On the other hand, in case of Mikania micrantha roots initiate earlier than shoots in fragments with leaf severed on perlite. An opposite trend was observed in leaf severed fragments grown in suspension although they had a good number of ramets with fewer roots. To generalize, growth of ramets at the end of 7 days was observed to be influenced by the effects of both leaf and touch in the two invasives. This study shows that ground touch plays an additional role with presence of leaves in the regeneration ability of one-noded fragments of both M. micrantha and A. philoxeroides. The trade-offs between the emergence of shoots and roots may play a vital role in the long-term persistence of this species in invaded areas. Key words: Mikania micrantha; Alternanthera philoxeroides; invasive plant; fragments; ground touch Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 61

Contributory Abstracts Morphological differences between aquatic and terrestrial Alternanthera philoxeroides and evaluation of their allelopathic potential using seed bioassay 1* 2 Shankhamala Ghosh and Anjana Dewanji 1 School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun – 248001, 2 Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata-700108 * [email protected] Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the allelopathic potential of Alternanthera philoxeroides on seed germination and early seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa). A. philoxeroides is an amphibious invasive plant. The aquatic and terrestrial forms of A. philoxeroides show significant morphological differences in inter-node length, stem diameter and leaf nodal area. Also, aquatic A. philoxeroides have roots growing from each node along with their hollow stem while terrestrial A. philoxeroides produces deep tap roots and they have fewer flowers compared to the aquatic form. Aquatic extracts prepared from whole plants (except roots) of both types of A. philoxeroides delayed seed germination of rice but only at higher concentration. The number of germinated seeds, germination index, speed of germination and vigor index were recorded from treated and control (in distilled water) treatments. Number of germinated rice seeds (after 7 days), germination index, speed of germination and vigor index were decreased with increased concentration of the extract from both forms of A. philoxeroides. The inhibitory effect of the extract from terrestrial A. philoxeroides in terms of germination and early seedling growth were greater than that of aquatic form. Water soluble phenolic such as 4- hydroxy-3 methoxy benzoic acid and m-coumaric acid are responsible for allelopathic potential of A. philoxeroides and may have an important role in enhancing their invasiveness. Key words: Invasive plant; allelopathy; rice seed germination; seedling growth 62 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Contributory Rethinking biological invasion management and economic development in a Himalayan state Shikha Arora*, Khima NandBalodi and Achlesh Daverey School of Environment & Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun- 248 001 * [email protected] Uttarakhand, a state lying in the lap of Himalayas is endowed with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. However, with increasing globalization and trade the world over, various invasive species have been introduced in the state and their number is expected to increase in the future. It has been shown that invasive alien species have significant detrimental impacts on the biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems. However, some studies also indicate the economic, social and ecological benefits of alien plants. The present study brings together the information on alien plant species recorded in Uttarakhand, along with their utilization values. A total of 265 plant species belonging to 73 families were identified as invasive alien, among which 212 were angiosperms and 53 were gymnosperms. Further analysis of life form shows that 149 species (56%) were herbs, 76 (29%) were trees, followed by 25 shrubs (9%), 7 climbers, 2 grasses and 2 sub-shrubs. These species provide various ecosystem services like rapid biomass accumulation, nitrogen fixation and reforestation of degraded land. In terms of direct use, the majority of the identified species were reported to be used as medicine, food, fodder, fuel and preservative. The management of alien species has been an issue of concern, as their exact resource value is poorly known. Thus, utilizing their potential as a commercial resource would be crucial in managing their spread in the Himalayan habitats. Key words: Alien plant; bio-preservative; Himalaya; invasive; resource Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 63

Contributory Abstracts Political ecology of biological invasions: the case of linear intrusions in forested landscapes of Central Kerala R. Soumya*, T. V. Sajeev and K. K. Subin Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi – 680 653, Kerala * [email protected] Arrival and establishment of an invasive alien species into a country is well studied compared to their spread ecology within the country. The present study explored the spread of invasive alien plants (IAP) along an altitudinal gradient from the Arabian Sea to the top of Western Ghats in central Kerala. Plots were laid along a transect to identify the species composition, abundance and ecological history. From 97 plots along the elevation gradient, 22 IAP’s were recorded. Risk assessment using Nature Serve ver. 1.0 showed that 12 species belonged to the high risk category, 4 each to the medium and low risk and 2 to insignificant category. In the low lands, abandoned private lands were the most infested having 19 plants followed by private plantations and revenue land having 16 and 14 alien plants, respectively. The distribution of invasive plants in low lands was uniform across the landscape. However, in forested landscapes, the IAP’s were abundant and dense along the linear intrusions like roads, power lines, and plantations. IAP’s covered a maximum of 41.5% of the ground area at linear intrusions while in the rest of the forest area the maximum coverage was 2.87%. Unlike the forest areas, the linear intrusions provide open areas favouring quick spread of alien plants into forests, while they also provide high impetus to developmental aspirations of the State like providing revenue, means of travel and transport, source of power generation and forest protection. We argue that unless management of invasive species is built into the construction and maintenance protocols of these linear intrusions, the rich biodiversity of natural forests and plantations will be lost resulting in sharp decline in ecosystem services they provide. Key words: Political ecology; invasive species; risk assessment; linear intrusions 64 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Abstracts Contributory Managing tree invasion in the Western Ghats: case studies on Senna spectabilis, Acacia mearnsii and Maesopis eminii T. K. Hrideek*, K. Muraleekrishnan and T. V. Sajeev Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi- 680 653, Kerala * [email protected] Tree invasions mount overarching influence on ecosystems. Unlike herbs and shrubs, they are capable to invade the top canopy of forest ecosystems impacting the ecology of all vegetation underneath. Our work on three invading alien tree species- Senna spectabilis, Acacia mearnsii and Maesopis eminii- in the Western Ghats demonstrates this. They spread fast, displace local species and being unpalatable to herbivores of the region, cause displacement of their home ranges. This triggers a shift in the home range of carnivores which in turn leads to increased human-wildlife conflicts. Senna spectabilis was accidentally introduced instead of Cassia fistula, the State tree of Kerala and Maesopis eminii was introduced as a shade tree for coffee plantations while Acacia mearnsii was meant to extract tannins. Senna and Maesopsis are invading the Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and Acacia mearnsii invades several National Parks of the High ranges in Munnar. Development of management protocols for these species needs to address the sensitivity of the natural forest ecosystems they invade, sustainability of the methods of management and the economic feasibility. Uprooting of seedlings and cutting the trees at the ground level are effective in preventing the spread of Acacia and Maesopsis. De-barking beginning at the collar region up-to 1 m height on the stem will kill Senna trees while up-rooting is effective in killing seedlings. The challenges of restoring the ecosystem with indigenous species will be discussed. Key words: Tree invasion; Senna spectabilis; Maesopsis eminii; Acacia mearnsii; management Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species 65

Contributory Abstracts Molecular characterization and host range studies of Alternaria japonica Yoshii as prospective mycoherbicidal agent of water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes 1 Writuparna Dutta , Durga Ray , Puja Ray 2 1* 1 Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata-700073, India 2 Department of Biomedicinal Science and Biotechnology, Paichai University, Daejeon 302-735, Republic of Korea *[email protected] An indigenous fungal culture, isolated from diseased water hyacinth, in Bolpur, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India, was found to cause severe blight and dieback disease on water hyacinth, under lab and field conditions. It was subjected to morphological and molecular characterization by amplification of 18S RNA gene fragment from genomic DNA using 18S gene universal primers. Subsequently with sequencing, GenBank database comparisons and phylogenetic analysis, the fungus was identified as Alternaria japonica Yoshii. Further, we evaluated the pathogen for its host specificity to develop it as a mycoherbicide against this invasive weed. Host range of A. japonica was screened against 48 plant species in 42 genera representing 22 families using pot experiments. Water hyacinth was the only species strongly susceptible to spore suspension (5 × 10 conidia/ml) of A. japonica. Minor infection was 5 observed on goosefoot which is not only a weed but also ecologically separated from water hyacinth. It shows that the pathogen can be used in the biological control of water hyacinth. We further sprayed the secondary metabolite produced by A. japonica on the test plants but phytotoxic symptoms were produced on nine out of 48 plants tested, demonstrating that phytotoxin produced by the fungus is not host specific. Further tests are necessary to ascertain the efficacy of A. japonica as a biocontrol agent in the field. Key words: Water hyacinth; Alternaria japonica; biological control; host specificity; mycoherbicide 66 Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

ANNEXURES



Annexures Inauguration Inaugural session Venue: Platinum Jubilee Auditorium Dr. Sabyasachi Bhattacharya Head, Agricultural and Ecological Welcome address Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute Dr. K. V. Sankaran Workshop objectives Former Director, KFRI; International Consultant of the FAO of the UN Prof. Sanghamitra Inaugural address Bandyopadhyay Director, Indian Statistical Institute Dr. B. Meenakumari Presidential address Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority Dr. T. V. Sajeev 9:30 – 11:00 Invasive alien species- Senior Scientist and Research Problem statements Coordinator, KFRI; Coordinator, APFISN Dr. A. K. Sanyal Chairperson, West Bengal Biodiversity Board; Emeritus Scientist, ZSI Felicitations Prof. N. D. Paria Expert Member, West Bengal Biodiversity Board; Retd. Prof, University of Calcutta Prof. Anjana Dewanji Professor, Agricultural and Vote of Thanks Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute Dr. Mike Ielmini 11:00 – 12:00 Keynote address Certified Wildlife Biologist, Virginia, USA Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species i



Annexures Program Program February 21, 2018 Venue: ISI Guest House 8:00 – 9:00 Registration Venue: PJA 9:30 – 11:00 Inaugural session Keynote address Dr. Mike Ielmini, USA 11:00 – 12:00 Unheeded warnings - the economic, social, and ecological impacts of invasive species 12:00 – 12:30 Dr. Michael Day, Australia High Tea Invited lectures opportunities for India 12:30 – 13:30 Successful weed biocontrol in the Pacific: (Session 1.1) Dr. Anzar Khuroo, Univ of Kashmir Invasive alien plants: inventory, impacts and implications 13:30 – 14:30 Lunch Venue: SCRU Seminar Room Prof. R. L. Brahmachary, ISI, Kolkata Invited lectures The broader perspective of invasive plants Dr. René Eschen, Switzerland 14:30 – 16:30 Livelihood impacts of woody alien invasive species in Eastern Africa (Session 1.2) Contributed paper Alok Bang, IISER, Pune Using a native Mediterranean ant to control the globally invasive Argentine ant Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species iii

Program Annexures Amarpreet Kaur, Panjab University The variable ecological impact exhibited by the seasonally distinct populations of Parthenium Contributed papers hysterophorus L. on associated vegetation and Session 1.2 soil chemical properties Poulami Jha, ISI, Kolkata (Cont.) Alternanthera philoxeroides as a green leafy vegetable Puja Ray, Presidency University, Kolkata Ecological impact and management of aquatic invasive weeds 16:30 – 16:45 Tea Practical session on Mapping Species Distribution 16:45 – 18:00 Prof. Parthasarathi Ghosh (Professor, Geological Studies Unit, ISI) February 22, 2018 Venue: SCRU Seminar Room Invited lecture Dr. Abhishek Mukherjee, ISI, Giridih Application of Ecological Niche Model in 9:00 – 11:00 predicting geography of species distribution (Session 2.1) Practical session on Visualization of Multivariate Niche Space Dr. Abhishek Mukherjee and Dr. A.K. Banerjee (AERU, ISI) 11:00 – 11:15 Tea 11:15 – 13:15 Invited lecture Dr. K. V. Sankaran, KFRI (Session 2.2) Species on the door step – invasive plant threats in the Asia Pacific region iv Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Annexures Program Dr. Michael Day, Australia Risk analysis in weed biological control Invited lectures Lantana camara invasion: New insights from Session 2.2 Prof. A. S. Raghubanshi, BHU (Cont.) tropical ecosystems Dr. A. K. Banerjee, ISI Reconstructing the history of introduction of Mikania micrantha and an appraisal of its spread in India 13:15 – 14:15 Lunch Prof. Steve Adkins, Australia The global threat from biological invasions: Invited lectures L. under a changing climate The reproductive and physiological fitness of 14:15 – 15:15 the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus (Session 2.3) Prof. K. C. Malhotra, ISI Invasive alien species: anthropological perspectives 15:15 – 16:15 Poster session and Tea Venue: 3.0 Seminar Room Dr. Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz, UK Invited lecture Ornamental horticulture as the major pathway for plant invasions: in search for solutions T. K. Hrideek , KFRI Contributed papers mearnsii and Maesopis eminii 16:15 – 18:00 Managing tree invasion in the Western Ghats: (Session 2.4) case studies on Senna spectabilis, Acacia R. Suganthasakthivel, KFRI Predicting the past, present and future distribution of the Giant African Snail Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species v

Program Annexures Seemanti Chatterjee, ISI, Kolkata Contributed papers Ground touch supports regeneration and apparent from two invasive plants Session 2.4 growth in small fragments – an evidence (Cont.) R. Soumya, KFRI Political ecology of biological invasions: the case of linear intrusions in forested landscapes of Central Kerala Venue: PJA 18:30 – 20:00 Cultural program by Kalamandalam, Kolkata Venue: ISI Guest House 20:00 – 21:00 Dinner Contributed Posters (Session 2.3: 15:15 – 16:15) Angel Joy, Centre for Wildlife Studies Effect of invasive alien plants on native flora –A study from south Wayanad forest division of Kerala Ikramjeet Maan, Panjab University Comparative analysis of leaf traits of two exotic tree species – Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus alba for determining their invasive potential Keerthy Vijayan, KFRI Molecular evidences suggest the multiple invasion waves of the Giant African Snail into India Kulwinder Kaur, Panjab University Verbesina encelioides: the fast invading exotic weed in northern India Mukesh Kumar, JNU, New Delhi Variation in community structure and soil characteristics of sites invaded/non-invaded by invasive alien plants in Chir Pine forest Nainital, Kumaun Himalaya vi Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Annexures Program Neha Goyal, Delhi University Performance strategies of Lantana camara L. in contrasting light environments Sateesh Suthari, University of Hyderabad Impact of Chromolaena odorata on native phytodiversity in Telangana State, India Shankhamala Ghosh, Doon University Morphological differences between aquatic and terrestrial Alternanthera philoxeroides and evaluation of their allelopathic potential using seed bioassay Shikha Arora, Doon University Rethinking biological invasion management and economic development in a Himalayan state Writuparna Dutta, Presidency University, Kolkata Molecular characterization and host range studies of Alternaria japonica Yoshii as prospective mycoherbicidal agent of water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes February 23, 2018 Venue: SCRU Seminar Room Dr. T. V. Sajeev, KFRI Invasive alien species research in India - Invited lectures edges, corners and voids: a critique 9:00 – 11:00 Dr. René Eschen, Switzerland (Session 3.1) Sentinel plants as early warning against new alien tree pests Dr. Devapriya Chattopadhyay, IISER, Kolkata Impact of marine invasion on molluscan ecology: Insights from Lessepsian invasion Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species vii

Program Annexures Nitya Mohanty Session 3.1 Invited lecture Invasions in isolation: a review of distribution, (Cont.) dispersal pathways, and management of faunal invasions on Indian islands 11:00 – 11:15 Tea Prof. M. N. V. Prasad, Univ of Hyderabad Invited lecture Economic aspects of invasive species Prof. Anjana Dewanji, ISI, Kolkata 11:15 – 13:15 Influence of urbanization on invasive alien (Session 3.2) plants: a case study of Kolkata city Interactive session on Applied Statistics Prof. Anup Dewanji, Prof. Arnab Chakraborty and Prof. Debasish Sengupta (ASU); Prof. Joydev Chattopadhyay, Dr. Sabyasachi Bhattacharya (AERU) 13:15 – 14:15 Lunch Open Forum 14:15 – 16:30 Coordinators: Dr. Anzar A Khuroo and Dr. Irfan Rashid, (University of Kashmir) 16:30 – 16:45 Tea Valedictory session 16:45 – 17:30 Chair: Prof. K. C. Malhotra (ISI) Closing the workshop viii Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Annexures Venues Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species ix



Annexures Resource persons Resource persons Tutorial session: Mapping species distribution Parthasarathi Ghosh Professor Geological Studies Unit Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Email: [email protected] Tutorial session: Multivariate niche visualization Abhishek Mukherjee Assistant Professor Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih Email: [email protected] Achyut K Banerjee Visiting Scientist Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Email: [email protected] Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species xi

Resource persons Annexures Interactive session on Applied Statistics Anup Dewanji Professor Applied Statistics Unit Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Email: [email protected] Arnab Chakraborty Assistant Professor Applied Statistics Unit Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Email: [email protected] Debasis Sengupta Professor Applied Statistics Unit Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Email: [email protected] Joydev Chattopadhyay Professor Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Email: [email protected] Sabyasachi Bhattacharya Associate Professor Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata Email: [email protected] xii Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Annexures List of participants List of Participants Name Affiliation Email Alok Bang IISER, Pune [email protected] Amarpreet Kaur Panjab University [email protected] Centre for Wildlife Angel Joy [email protected] Studies Ekta Bhattacharya ISI, Kolkata [email protected] Gyan Prakash Sharma Delhi University [email protected] Ikramjeet Maan Panjab University [email protected] Irfan Rashid University of Kashmir [email protected] Kanhaiya Shah Delhi University [email protected] Karthika M. Nair KFRI [email protected] Keerthy Vijayan KFRI [email protected] Kulwinder Kaur Panjab University [email protected] Mukesh Kumar JNU, New Delhi [email protected] Muraleekrishnan K KFRI [email protected] Nazrul Islam Wildlife Trust of India [email protected] Neha Goyal Delhi University [email protected] Poulami Jha ISI, Kolkata [email protected] Puja Ray Presidency University [email protected] R. Suganthasakthivel KFRI [email protected] Rose Pious KFRI [email protected] Sandip Mondal ISI, Giridih [email protected] Sateesh Suthari University of Hyderabad [email protected] Seemanti Chatterjee ISI, Kolkata [email protected] shankhamalapromaghosh@gmail Shankhamala Ghosh Doon University .com Shikha Arora Doon University [email protected] Soumya R KFRI [email protected] Suby B KFRI [email protected] T K Hrideek KFRI [email protected] Uttaran ZSI, Kolkata [email protected] Bandyopadhyay Vinay Tandon Independent Consultant [email protected] Writuparna Dutta Presidency University [email protected] Workshop on Economic and Ecological Impacts of Invasive Alien Species xiii

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