Shortlisted for the Georgina Mace Prize
About the research
Overview
Our research provides evidence on the severe impacts caused by a widespread invasive species in Brazil: Leucaena leucocephala (white-popinac). We reinforce the urgency of avoiding the use of white-popinac in restoration projects and agroforestry, and focusing on early detection and management in recently invaded areas. Against some common sense, we found that white-popinac invasions can disrupt the most important pathways of forest regeneration, under both taxonomic and functional perspectives.
Surprises and challenges
We were surprised to find that native large-seeded plant species are replaced by invasive large-seeded species as white-popinac invasion advances. We do not recall previous papers that have found this type of phenomenon.
Next steps and broader implications
We would love to investigate the intricate relationship between white-popinac and invasive grasses in regenerating forests in Brazil. All white-popinac populations were surrounded by invasive grasses, and we cannot deny that this is a complex invasive/invasive dynamic, which can dictate the future on forest natural regeneration in Atlantic Forest.
We believe this work provided important evidence to advise against the use of white-popinac in restoration projects and agroforestry, an unfortunate but still recurrent practice in Brazil.
About the author
Current position
I am finishing my PhD in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity in Brazil. I intend to go to a post-doctorate after that.
Getting involved in ecology
I was that child obsessed by biology and nature. I come from a rural area, and my family has influenced by love for biology since then. I decided to get into Ecology Bachelor as soon as I finished school. During my masters and PhD (which I am almost finishing), I felt like home. Ecology is indeed what I love to do the most.
Current research focus
I continued the study on biological invasions, but not necessarily focusing only on white-popinac. I currently study the effects of roads and firebreaks in facilitating plant invasions in protected areas of forest and savanna.
Advice for fellow ecologists
Go to the field! Nowadays, Ecology as a science lacks young scientists that are able to go to the field, recognize patterns, identify species and simply observe nature. Do not restrict yourself only to the computer or the lab. Please, get involved into any fieldwork you possibly can!
Read the full article Widespread negative effects of Leucaena leucocephala (white-popinac) invasion on regenerating areas of the Atlantic Forest‘ in Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
