THE EFFECT OF LEUCAENA ON NATIVE SPECIES OF MIXED DECIDUOUS FOREST FRAGMENTS IN NORTHESTERN THAILAND
Keywords:
Diversity index, forest fragments, invasive plants, Leucaena leucocephalaAbstract
Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit.), a leguminous invasive exotic plant is often present in tropical fragmented forests. This study was conducted in the green area of Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) in Northeastern Thailand to evaluate the relationship between Leucaena abundance and native plant species (tree and climber) diversity. Species data of the entire line transects were ranked according to Importance Value Index (IVI) to describe overall species distribution within fragments for trees, saplings, and seedlings separately. Random 80 m segments of nine line transects were selected within 9 selected forest fragments to record species diversity and abundance in a standardized manner. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) comparisons among the Shannon diversity index and species richness (as native species diversity variables) were modeled dependent upon Leucaena stem density and propagule pressure (as Leucaena abundance variables). The cluster diagram of similarity between species abundance and comparison of Sorenson similarity index (β diversity among fragments) did not reveal a significant relationship between native species diversity and Leucaena abundance based on fragments. Rank abundance curves showed establishment of secondary native species under the Leucaena dominant canopy. As the result of IVI ranking, same six native species were at the top in tree, sapling, and seedling stages. Thus, at SUT Leucaena may be acting as nurse crop (or even a pioneer species) in severely disturbed mixed deciduous forest fragments.
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