INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, ECONOMY AND HEALTH: A SEARCH

Abstract

Invasive exotic plant species (IEPS) is recognized as threat to the native biodiversity and leads to the loss of habitat for the indigenous species on the earth. Invasions not only tear down the native plant species but have adverse impacts on economy and human health. Many documented records from Western countries connected with alien species revealed altered ecosystem services and socio-economic conditions via diverse mode of actions. Even though, the ecological impacts of alien species were documented, there is a dearth of analysis regarding their economic quantification, livelihood considerations, biotechnological aspects and human health risk assessments are the need of the hour. The noxious exotic invasive plants in India were Ageratum conyzoides, Eupatorium adenophorum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Lantana camara, Mikania micrantha, Argemone mexicana and Eichhornia crassipes. In this context, an attempt was made to enlist the alien species of Kerala and a review to account the impacts of invasive exotic plant species on various aspects of the environment globally. Results regarding the alien species search revealed the following species such as Chromolaena odorata, Senna spectabilis, Hypoestes sanguinolenta, Maesopsis eminii, Eupatorium cannabinum, Mikania micrantha, Sphagneticola trilobata and Acacia mearnsii were intruded in to various ecosystems of Kerala after the repeated floods. They directly affect the germination and survival of local species, damage the quality of soil and affect ground water availability. Nearly 80 species were noted as alien species in Kerala by many state level surveys. Research in the direction of impact of alien species on socio-economic cultural aspects of life and derailment of ecosystem is not yet seriously carried from Kerala. Further, there is a paucity of the ecological models/indicators to establish interrelationship among global environmental changes, biodiversity and health, warranting future researches.