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The effects of extreme climate on the invasive plant Gutenbergia cordifolia: implications for its future management in savannah ecosystems

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dc.creator Nyarobi, Herieth
dc.creator Ngondya, Issakwisa
dc.creator Munishi, Linus
dc.date 2022-08-22T09:30:46Z
dc.date 2022-08-22T09:30:46Z
dc.date 2022
dc.date.accessioned 2022-10-25T09:20:49Z
dc.date.available 2022-10-25T09:20:49Z
dc.identifier https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09172
dc.identifier https://dspace.nm-aist.ac.tz/handle/20.500.12479/1475
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/95263
dc.description This research article was published by Heliyon, 2022
dc.description The aim of this study was to assess the effects of varying water stress levels on morphological and physiological parameters of an invasive plant Gutenbergia cordifolia. The assessment was conducted in the screenhouse at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology following a completely randomized design (CRD). Both morphological and physiological parameters were variable under water stress levels. While the maximum (159 cm) and minimum (9 cm) plant heights for G. cordifolia were observed under flood and drought water stress respectively, its maximum root collar diameter of 5 mm and the minimum of 1.3 mm were observed under moderate flood and drought water stress respectively. Generally, the number of leaves was highest under mod erate flood stress (194 leaves/plant), and lowest under drought stress (13 leaves/plant). Similarly, the largest and smallest leaf surface area of 9 103 and 1 103 mm2 were observed under flood and drought water stress respectively due to G. cordifolia's tendency to retain water when exposed to water stress through a reduction in number of leaves and leaf surface area when under drought stress condition. While a decrease in leaf chlorophyll was observed across water stress levels with the lowest chlorophyll levels of 0.02 under drought water stress, an increase in leaf anthocyanin levels (0.29 Abs g.DM 1 ) was observed particularly under flood stress due to increased chlorophyll breakdown and plants' water stress, respectively. This study informs that extreme climatic events such as excessive floods will likely facilitate invasions by G. cordifolia leading to decreased biotic resistance of native communities in savanna rangelands. Efforts to manage G. cordifolia's effects in a changing climate must therefore include the development of strategies and action plans that account for catastrophic events like floods and drought.
dc.format application/pdf
dc.language en
dc.publisher Heliyon
dc.subject Climate change
dc.subject Invasion
dc.subject Ngorongoro conservation area
dc.subject Water stress
dc.title The effects of extreme climate on the invasive plant Gutenbergia cordifolia: implications for its future management in savannah ecosystems
dc.type Article


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