Gleditsia triacanthos (Fabaceae) in Argentina: a review of its invasion

FERNANDEZ, ROMINA D.; CEBALLOS, SERGIO J.; MALIZIA, AGUSTINA; ARAGÓN, ROXANA

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Año: 2017 vol. 65 p. 203 - 213

0067-1924

Gleditsia triacanthos L. is a woody species native to North America that has invaded Uruguay, Spain,Australia, South Africa and several countries of Central and Eastern Europe. In Argentina, it has become one of the mostimportant invasive woody species and has a high potential to continue spreading. In this study, we review differentaspects of G. triacanthos invasion in Argentina that include descriptions of invaded ecoregions and environments,intrinsic characteristics of the species, invasion dynamics and impacts. In addition, we discuss mechanisms thatpotentially explain its success, control strategies and natural barriers to its invasion. We reviewed a total of 91 articlesand book chapters, of which 62 were developed in Argentina. Studies reported that the invasion of G. triacanthos indifferent ecoregions was favoured by intrinsic characteristics of the species, together with the interaction with cattle anddisturbances, which cause negative impacts on flora, fauna and ecosystem processes. Disturbances were proposed as themain mechanism to explain this species? invasion, but other hypotheses such as the release of natural enemies and/orpropagule pressure might also be important. Further studies are required, mainly on the impacts on ecosystem processesand on the control, production of organic compounds and mutualistic interactions (with nitrogen-fixing bacteria andmycorrhizal fungi).