Invasive alien plant species in Ethiopia: ecological impacts on biodiversity a review paper

Abstract

Ethiopia has great geographic diversity, and macro and micro -climatic variability. However, there are threats its biodiversity by habitat conversion, invasive species, unsustainable utilization of biodiversity resources, replacement of local varieties and breeds, climate change and pollution, demographic change, poverty, and lack of awareness and coordination.1 Invasive species are either indigenous or non indigenous species that can heavily colonize a particular habitat.2 Alien species are non-native or exotic organisms that occur outside their adaptive ranges and dispersal ranges.3,4 IAS are all categories of living organisms (plants, mammals and insects) which comprise the most common types in terrestrial environments.4 They are also widely distributed in all kinds of ecosystems throughout the world. IAS have the ability to establish themselves, invade, outcompete natives and take over the new environment.3,5 They are now affecting every ecosystem types on the planet and they are the second greatest global threat to biodiversity after habitat destruction.4,6 They are pausing threats to ecosystems of the earth, and the services that they provide to humanity are under risk.5 IAS have induce impacts on native species directly competing for resource such as: food and breeding sites indirectly by altering habitat and modify hydrology, nutrient cycling and other ecosystem processes. Their impacts are on native biodiversity in ecosystems like agricultural and range lands, national parks, water ways, lakes, rivers, power dams, road sides and urban green spaces with huge economical as well as social consequences. These dramatically change the ecosystem both positively and negatively. Across impact types, the positive impacts reported by most authors were found to be largely outweighed by negative impacts.7–9