Ecology of i Lantana camara/iLantana camara : An invasive plant species in Amurum Forest Reserve, Jos Plateau, Central Nigeria

摘要

Abstract Lantana camara (Lantana) is an invasive species of South American origin, and it is visibly widespread in Amurum Forest Reserve (AFR) Jos‐Plateau, central Nigeria. Presently, there is no baseline study on Lantana and its spread despite its conspicuous presence within AFR. This is the first study to investigate its abundance and interactions with native fauna and flora in AFR. Established study plots were used to estimate its relative abundance in three habitat types (gallery forest, savannah woodland and rocky outcrops) and to investigate its effect on plants. An experiment using cowpea‐tested allelopathic effects of Lantana and focal observation/beating tray method was used to collect data on vertebrate and invertebrate species utilising/interacting with Lantana. Lantana is widespread within AFR occupying 77% of plots with the gallery forest habitat having the highest abundance compared with the savannah woodland and rocky outcrop. Plots with Lantana had fewer woody plant species than plots without Lantana. Tests on soil samples from the reserve for basic properties revealed that Lantana‐infested sites had relatively poor soils compared with non‐Lantana‐infested sites. Birds and insects in AFR utilise Lantana and are probably responsible for its spread. Control measures are necessary to limit its spread and mitigate its likely negative effect on plant species.