Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Agricultural Biodiversity, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland-7602, South Africa
Samways, M.J., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Agricultural Biodiversity, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland-7602, South Africa; Grant, P.B.C., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Agricultural Biodiversity, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland-7602, South Africa
Invasive alien organisms are a major threat to indigenous biodiversity. Invasive alien trees (IATs) are a component of this threat to South African odonates. IATs shade out the habitat of the sun-loving odonate species. A national programme to remove IATs from river systems has been initiated in South Africa. Results from widely-sepaTated sites show that the impacts of IATs are the same in different physiognomic areas. In turn, removal of the IATs is beneficial to a range of species from narrow endemics to widespread generalists. Indications are that this nation-wide IAT-removal programme is beneficial across a wide geographical area, leading to rapid and significant odonate assemblage recovery The IAT-removal programme must also consider removal of alien seedlings so as not to reverse the recovery programme.