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A review of the impacts of biological invasions in South Africa

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Abstract

Compared to other facets of invasion science, the impacts of biological invasions have been understudied, but many studies have been published in the last decade. This paper reviews the growing body of evidence of impacts of invasions in South Africa. We classified information for individual species into ten ecological and four social categories of impact. We also reviewed studies that upscaled this information to larger spatial scales, as well as progress with assigning invasive species to impact severity categories. We identified 123 studies that documented the impacts of 71 invasive alien species, about 5 of the country’s naturalized alien biota. The most frequently reported impact category was species interactions (changes to habitat suitability, pollination networks or seed dispersal mechanisms), followed by direct competition, changes to ecosystem functioning (hydrology or nutrient dynamics), hybridization and predation. Trees and shrubs accounted for more than half of the species studied, but there were examples from most other groups of plants and animals. The social consequences of invasions have been less well studied at the level of individual species. Most studies (72%) considered the impacts of a single species, based on data collected on < 1 ha, and were completed in less than a year. Space-for-time substitution was widely used, but widespread collection of data from numerous small plots allowed for reporting impact over larger spatial scales. We also identified seven studies that either monitored impacts over longer periods (up to 40 years), or repeated surveys in the same area to assess change over time. Prominent landscape-scale impacts included reductions in water resources, the attrition of native biodiversity, reductions in rangeland productivity, predation of marine birds and freshwater fishes, and disease organisms affecting native mammals and trees. Nineteen studies at broader scales estimated substantial impacts on landscape-scale water yield, habitats and biodiversity, rangeland productivity, and the economic value of ecosystem services. Despite considerable progress, our understanding remains fragmentary. Impacts are expected to grow as invasions enter exponential phases of spread and densification and as the duration of invasions increases. A robust understanding needs to be developed to provide justification for management costs.

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This review is based on published information, and all studies that were included are listed in the supplementary tables.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge support for research on biological invasions in South Africa over 17 years from the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology. Many colleagues kindly supplied information or discussed diverse issues pertaining to impacts with us during the preparation of this review. We are particularly grateful to Charles Griffiths, Dai Herbert, Sabrina Kumschick, Nelson Miranda, Tammy Robinson and Jane Turpie. John Wilson provided valuable comments on an earlier draft of this paper. We dedicate this paper to the memory of our late colleague and friend Olaf Weyl, freshwater ecologist extraordinaire, enthusiastic collaborator, and mentor to many students. His insights into the impacts of biological invasions on South Africa’s freshwater ecosystems will be sorely missed.

Funding

This work was funded by the DSI-NRF Centre for Invasion Biology, the National Research Foundation for South Africa (grants 109467, 103602, and 85417 to BvW, TAZ and DMR respectively), the South African National Biodiversity Institute and the Millennium Trust. DMR acknowledges support from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (grant 18576/03). TAZ thanks the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Zoology, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602, Matieland, South Africa

    Brian W. van Wilgen & David M. Richardson

  2. Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa

    Tsungai A. Zengeya

  3. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Tsungai A. Zengeya

Authors
  1. Brian W. van Wilgen
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  2. Tsungai A. Zengeya
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  3. David M. Richardson
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Contributions

BvW and DMR initiated the review. BvW sourced material, conducted the classifications and wrote the paper. DMR and TZ sourced additional material and worked on various drafts of the paper. All authors read and approved the final version before submission.

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Correspondence to Brian W. van Wilgen.

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van Wilgen, B.W., Zengeya, T.A. & Richardson, D.M. A review of the impacts of biological invasions in South Africa. Biol Invasions 24, 27–50 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02623-3

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