Invasive alien plant species and their effect on the habitat utilization of mammal species in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal
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Department of Zoology
Abstract
The introduction and colonization of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) is one of the most
serious threat to the conservation of native flora and fauna. Such threats are noted in the
various protected areas including lowlands of Nepal with negative impacts on the species and
ecosystem services. The impacts of IAPS on threatened mammal species especially on their
occurrences is little known. This study identified the effects of IAPS on the occurrence and
habitat utilization of threatened mammal species at Shuklaphanta National Park (ShNP),
Nepal from 11 November 2020 to 11 June 2021. During the study period, ShNP was
categorized into IAPS invaded and non-invaded habitats. The occurrence of threatened
mammal species was recorded from 210 plots of 10 m X 10 m along the line transect.
Altogether 11 IAPS were recorded among seven families during this study. Among them
Blue Billygoat Weed (Ageratum houstonianum) was abundant species in the study area.
Altogether 25 mammal species were recorded in the study area, whereas 11 mammal species
were threatened. Among the threatened mammal species, 10 species were in IAPS invaded
habitat and all 11 species in IAPS non-invaded habitat. In IAPS invaded habitat, the sign of
Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) was recorded only from IAPS non-invaded habitat. The
higher occurrence of threatened mammal species was recorded nearer the forest as the
abundance of IAPS decreased with decreasing distance to the forest. In addition, the higher
occurrence of mammal species was found with increasing the distance to water source,
distance to road, distance to human settlement and distance to agricultural land as the
abundance of IAPS decreased with increasing distance to water source, road, human
settlement and agricultural land. The threatened mammal species utilizes the IAPS noninvaded
habitat rather than the IAPS invaded habitat. For providing suitable habitat for
threatened mammal species, the removal or control of the invasive alien plant species from
ShNP is recommended.