invasion of West Africa Sahelian Rangelands By The Plant Senna Obtusifolia : Ecological Dynamics and Local Resilient Strategies in Burkina Faso
Morressier, 2017
Online
unknown
Zugriff:
Rangelands in Sahelian countries are continuously over-grazed decreasing forage resources and causing rapid environmental changes. Senna obtusifolia is a less palatable plant species that becomes increasingly invasive. This research explored drivers of its invasiveness, impacts on ecosystem services and local populations resilient strategies. Species composition and herbaceous aboveground biomass were assessed in 120 plots with 1 mu00b2 size in rangelands with different levels of invasion of Senna obtusifolia. Germination rate and an interspecific competition were tested with legume, annual and perennial grass species. Individual interviews and focus group were addressed to investigate local population knowledge and perceptions. The development of Senna obtusifolia in rangelands affected significantly forage quantity. Indeed the biomass of the others herbaceous species decreased but not the species richness. The overgrazing of Sahelian rangelands combined to the floristic selection operated by livestock reduced the abundance of fodder species and fostered the expansion of S. obtusifolia. Moreover, S. obtusifolia had a good germination rate with a rapid growth that made it more competitive. Thus, in the interspecific competition experiment, the aboveground biomass of S. obtusifolia biomass was not influenced when associated to Chamaecrista mimesoides, Pennisetum pedicellatum and to Andropogon gayanus. Because of the scarcity of plant resources in the Sahel, S. obtusifolia were used alternatively for multiple purposes as food, handicraft, as local materials for house building and slightly as forage when dry. Indeed local populations had in general a positive perception on S. obtusifolia in their environment. They hided expressively negative impacts of this species on forage production in rangelands. The endogenous uses S. obtusifolia offer opportunities for the development of innovations and technologies to control its expansion for a sustainable management of sahelian rangelands and help rural populations to be more resilient from land degradation and climate change.
Titel: |
invasion of West Africa Sahelian Rangelands By The Plant Senna Obtusifolia : Ecological Dynamics and Local Resilient Strategies in Burkina Faso
|
---|---|
Autor/in / Beteiligte Person: | Ouédraogo, Karim ; Ouédraogo, Oumarou ; Zaré, Alhassane ; Korbéogo, Gabin ; Thiombiano, Adjima ; Linstädter, Anja |
Link: | |
Veröffentlichung: | Morressier, 2017 |
Medientyp: | unknown |
Sonstiges: |
|