Protected Area Boundaries and Plant Invasions
Author Information
Author(s): Llewellyn C. Foxcroft, Vojtěch Jarošík, Petr Pyšek, David M. Richardson, Mathieu Rouget
Primary Institution: South African National Parks
Hypothesis
How do protected-area boundaries influence the colonization of non-native species in protected areas?
Conclusion
The study found that the park boundary limits the spread of non-native plants into Kruger National Park.
Supporting Evidence
- The number of non-native records decreased as the distance from the park boundary increased.
- High water runoff from surrounding areas was associated with fewer non-native plant records.
- Road density outside the park significantly increased the number of non-native plant records.
- At approximately 1.5 km from the park boundary, the number of non-native records became constant.
Takeaway
The edges of protected parks help keep out invasive plants, but they can still get in if there are roads and water nearby.
Methodology
The study analyzed over 27,000 records of non-native plant presence in Kruger National Park and examined the effects of environmental variables on their distribution.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in data collection due to the opportunistic nature of ranger observations.
Limitations
The study focused only on the western and southern boundaries of the park, excluding other boundaries which may also influence invasions.
Participant Demographics
Data collected by approximately 120 field rangers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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