Non-Native Plants Species and Biodiversity of Socotra Island, Yemen

Abstract

Socotra Island has significant ecological and economic importance at local, national and global scales. Invasive plant species are often considered as potential competitors of native species due to their usual greater capacity for colonization and expansion. The spread of alien plant species has long been recognized as one of the most significant environmental changes due to its ability to decrease biodiversity and alter ecosystem processes. In areas with homogeneity population of wild invasive species especially Argemone mexicana, 32 random sites were randomly detected. Ninety six Quadrates plots were laid down to study the interaction between the invasive plant and the native species especially with conservation attention of endemic plant species. The main aims is to provide base informatics data to establish comprehensive habitat surveillance programs to enable early detection and rapid response of IAS, prevent both intentional or accidental introductions of harmful invasive alien species to the Socotra Island and reduce the likelihood of alien species invasions by decreasing stresses on vulnerable at-risk ecosystems and species. This study was conducted to identify the different types of invasive species present, the rate and pattern of invasion, its intensity, association of invaders and their habitat preference in the Socotra ecosystem. Vegetation sampled in 96 quadrats, each 10 m _ 10 m; through a combination of random and systematic sampling recorded 42 plant species of 36 genera belonging to 24 families with around 10% was recorded as invasive species. Diversity indices like richness, evenness, Simpson and Shannon-Wiener have been analyzed.