Author/Authors :
FANDOHAN, A. B. Université d’Agriculture de Kétou - Ecole Nationale Supérieures des Sciences et Techniques Agronomiques, Bénin , FANDOHAN, A. B. Université d’Abomey-Calavi - Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques - Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquée, Bénin , KOKO, I. K. E. D. Ecole Nationale des Sciences et Techniques de Conservation et de Transformation des Produits Agricoles, Bénin , KOKO, I. K. E. D. Université d’Abomey-Calavi - Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques - Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquée, Bénin , AVOCEVOU-AYISSO, C. Université d’Abomey-Calavi - Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques - Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquée, Bénin , AVOCEVOU-AYISSO, C. Université d’Agriculture de Kétou - Ecole Nationale Supérieures des Sciences et Techniques Agronomiques, Bénin , GOUWAKINNOU, G. N. Université d’Abomey-Calavi - Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques - Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquée, Bénin , GOUWAKINNOU, G. N. Université de Parakou - Ecoles Nationale Supérieure d’Aménagement et de Gestion des Aires Protégées, Benin , SAVI, M. K. Université d’Abomey-Calavi - Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques - Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquée, Bénin , ASSOGBADJO, A. E. Université d’Abomey-Calavi - Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques - Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquée, Bénin , KAKAI, R. G. Université d’Abomey-Calavi - Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques - Laboratoire d’Ecologie Appliquée, Bénin
Abstract :
Invasive plant species are today among the biggest threats to integrity of many ecosystems including that of the protected areas. Climate change may exacerbate the negative effects of invasive plant species. Here, we used the Maximum Entropy model to project habitat suitability for Lantana camara L., an invasive plant species under current and future climates in the national protected areas network of Benin. The models wererun using bioclimatic data and data on soil type. Nineteen percent of the total land in the protected areas network was highly suitable for L. camara under current climate. Highly suitable areas under current and future climates cover about 65 % of the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve, the major wildlife sanctuary in Benin. Other bio-reserves such as W National Park, Lama, Agoua, Dogo-Kétou, Atchérigbé, Mékrou and Kouandé Forest Reserves were also suitable for the species. Presence of L. camara in the protected areas represents a great potential threat to the global food webs being conserved. Based on these results, areas with highly suitable habitats are at high risk of invasion by L. camara, and should be accorded high priority when formulating appropriate management strategies.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Invasive species , Climate change , Habitat suitability , Protected areas , West Africa
