article · Weed Research
Parthenium hysterophorus, an invasive plant native to South America, poses severe ecological and agricultural challenges across Australia, Asia, and Africa. To clarify its presence in eastern and southern Africa, researchers conducted roadside surveys across Botswana, Ethiopia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Uganda. Survey sites were selected using the CLIMEX climate modelling programme. Although locality records were previously scarce, the field surveys substantially expanded the known geographical distribution of the weed. Most identified infestations exhibited high densities exceeding three plants per square metre. These field observations successfully validated the utility of the CLIMEX model for predicting habitat suitability. The investigation establishes an essential baseline for monitoring the weed's abundance and future spread, while supporting integrated management strategies designed to mitigate risks to food security and human health. Further surveys are recommended in other African countries identified as vulnerable by the model.
Parthenium hysterophorus is a destructive invasive weed that directly undermines food security and poses risks to human health. Identifying its current distribution and predicting future spread gives agricultural bodies, land managers, and policymakers the geographical data required to deploy timely control measures and prevent high-density infestations from devastating local farming systems.
The validated predictive model and mapping data provide applied decision-support tools for national biosecurity agencies, agricultural extension services, and weed management programmes. While the current findings are applied and ready to guide surveillance planning, full implementation of coordinated regional control programmes requires conducting additional field surveys across other predicted at-risk countries.
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M c C onnachie AJ, S trathie LW, M ersie W, G ebrehiwot L, Z ewdie K, A bdurehim A, A brha B, A raya T, A saregew F, A ssefa F, G ebre‐ T sadik R, N igatu L, T adesse B & T ana T (2011). Current and potential geographical distribution of the invasive plant Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) in eastern and southern Africa. Weed Research 51 , 71–84. Summary Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae), of South American origin, is considered to be one of the world’s most serious invasive plants, invading Australia, Asia and Africa. As part of an international collaborative project, this study attempted to improve the understanding of the geographical distribution of P. hysterophorus in eastern and southern Africa. The climate modelling program CLIMEX was used to assist in the selection of survey localities. Roadside surveys of the distribution of the weed were conducted in Botswana, Ethiopia, South Africa, Swaziland and Uganda. Prior to these surveys, only limited P. hysterophorus locality records existed; substantially more records were obtained from surveys. Most infestations were high density (>3 plants m −2 ). Distribution records were used to validate the CLIMEX model, which proved a useful tool. This study increased current understanding of the distribution of P. hysterophorus and developed a baseline from which to monitor future spread and abundance of P. hysterophorus . Additional surveys are required in other countries in Africa which are predicted by CLIMEX to be at risk. This will enhance integrated management decisions for the control of a weed which has implications for food security and human health .
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DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3180.2010.00820.x
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