Invasive alien flora of tropical dry deciduous forest of Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Central India Kumar Tinku*, Bishwas Amit Jugnu, Khare Pramod Kumar, Garg Naveen1 Department of Botany, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar-470 003, India 1Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun-248 006, India *E-mail:tinkurajput658@gmail.com
Online published on 9 March, 2021. Abstract Biological invasion is a global phenomenon mostly related to trade and travel. Earlier the invasive plant species were commonly observed along the roadside and on the margins of forest communities. With the increasing intensity of invasion, alien invasive species are invading the protected areas. The present study was undertaken to find out the status of alien invasive flora in the protected area network in Madhya Pradesh,India. An intensive floristic survey was carried out in Nauradehi Wild life Sanctuary covering an area about 1197.042 km2, the largest Wildlife Sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh. Enumeration of invasive alien plant species in this area showed the occurrence of 108 species belonging to 82 genera belonging to 31 families. Out of 108 alien species, 81 herbs, 12 climbers, 11 shrubs and 4 trees species were recorded. The data revealed that invasive alien species accessed the core area of Sanctuary and are becoming a threat to the native flora due to their invasive potential traits. It is suggested that early recognition and monitoring of new and naturalized infestations of alien species in Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary would help to contain them to conserve the diversity. Top Keywords Biological invasion, Invasive plants, Ecological threats, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh. Top |