Prosopis: a global assessment of the biogeography, benefits, impacts and management of one of the world's worst woody invasive plant taxa

Taxa from the genus Prosopis are widespread invasive aliens across the globe. Numerous species have contentious issues surrounding them as they provide both benefits and harm. Prosopis taxa are currently naturalised or invasive in 103 countries and are bioclimatically suitable for many more. There are numerous management practices available to control Prosopis invasions, each with their benefits and costs, however, in most areas management has had only limited success. There is need for more research to improve understanding and management success and for countries to develop strategic plants to guide managed in the future.

[1]  A. Burkart,et al.  A monograph of the genus Prosopis (Leguminosae subfam. Mimosoideae). [Part 1.]. , 1976 .

[2]  P. Felker,et al.  Mesquite: an all-purpose leguminous arid land tree , 1979 .

[3]  P. Rundel,et al.  Diurnal and seasonal water relations of the desert phreatophyte Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) in the Sonoran Desert of California , 1983 .

[4]  R. Sosebee,et al.  Influence of mesquite control on soil erosion on a depleted range site , 1986 .

[5]  S. Archer,et al.  Have Southern Texas Savannas Been Converted to Woodlands in Recent History? , 1989, The American Naturalist.

[6]  H. G. Zimmermann,et al.  Biological control of mesquite, Prosopis spp. (Fabaceae), in South Africa , 1991 .

[7]  J. C. Tewari,et al.  Prosopis species in the arid and semi-arid zones of India , 1993 .

[8]  S. Chown,et al.  Influence of dense stands of an exotic tree, Prosopis glandulosa Benson, on a savanna dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) assemblage in southern Africa , 1996 .

[9]  John H. Hoffmann,et al.  Establishment ofNeltumius arizonensis(Coleoptera: Bruchidae) on Mesquite (ProsopisSpecies: Mimosaceae) in South Africa☆ , 1997 .

[10]  H. Mooney,et al.  Human Domination of Earth’s Ecosystems , 1997, Renewable Energy.

[11]  E. Dussart,et al.  Long term dynamics of 2 populations of Prosopis caldenia Burkart. , 1998 .

[12]  D. Richardson Forestry Trees as Invasive Aliens , 1998 .

[13]  D. Richardson,et al.  Commercial forestry and agroforestry as sources of invasive alien trees and shrubs. , 1999 .

[14]  J. K. Tiwari Exotic weed Prosopis juliflora in Gujarat and Rajasthan, India - boon or bane? , 1999 .

[15]  N. Pasiecznik,et al.  Prosopis - pest or providence, weed or wonder tree? , 1999 .

[16]  Norway,et al.  Invasive species and biodiversity management , 1999 .

[17]  D. Maitre,et al.  The impact of invading alien plants on surface water resources in South Africa: A preliminary assessment , 2000 .

[18]  Issg 100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species: A Selection From The Global Invasive Species Database , 2000 .

[19]  D. Pimentel,et al.  Economic and environmental threats of alien plant, animal, and microbe invasions , 2001 .

[20]  Jeffrey A. McNeely,et al.  The great reshuffling: human dimensions of invasive alien species ( reviewed by A. Holt) , 2001 .

[21]  S. Milton,et al.  Avian assemblages in native Acacia and alien Prosopis drainage line woodland in the Kalahari, South Africa. , 2002 .

[22]  N. Pasiecznik Prosopis (mesquite, algarrobo): invasive weed or valuable forest resource? , 2002 .

[23]  G. Fédière,et al.  First report in Egypt of two seed-beetles (Coleoptera : Bruchidae) noxious to Prosopis spp. , 2002 .

[24]  Philip E. Hulme,et al.  Biological invasions: winning the science battles but losing the conservation war? , 2003, Oryx.

[25]  Milena Holmgren,et al.  The Prosopis juliflora–Prosopis pallida Complex: A Monograph , 2003 .

[26]  R. N. Mack,et al.  Global plant dispersal, naturalization, and invasion: pathways, modes, and circumstances. , 2003 .

[27]  R Osmond Mesquite best practice manual: control and management options for mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in Australia , 2003 .

[28]  R. D. Klinken,et al.  Targeting biological control across diverse landscapes: the release, establishment, and early success of two insects on mesquite (Prosopis spp.) insects in Australian rangelands , 2003 .

[29]  R. D. Klinken,et al.  Mesquite: Control and management options for mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in Australia , 2003 .

[30]  N. Pasiecznik Cinderella species and what happens after midnight , 2004 .

[31]  J. R. Brown,et al.  Woody plant invasion of grasslands: establishment of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var.glandulosa) on sites differing in herbaceous biomass and grazing history , 1989, Oecologia.

[32]  M. D. Wit,et al.  Conflicts of Interest in Environmental Management: Estimating the Costs and Benefits of a Tree Invasion , 2001, Biological Invasions.

[33]  David M. Richardson,et al.  Conifers as invasive aliens: a global survey and predictive framework , 2004 .

[34]  Demel Teketay,et al.  Some biological characteristics that foster the invasion of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. at Middle Awash Rift Valley Area, north-eastern Ethiopia , 2004 .

[35]  S. Lowe,et al.  100 of the world's worst invasive alien species. A selection from the global invasive species database , 2004 .

[36]  D. Geesing,et al.  Management of introduced Prosopis species: can economic exploitation control an invasive species? , 2004 .

[37]  Mark Williamson,et al.  Alien plants in checklists and floras: towards better communication between taxonomists and ecologists , 2004 .

[38]  D. Richardson,et al.  Mapping the potential ranges of major plant invaders in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland using climatic suitability , 2004 .

[39]  B. Swallow,et al.  Invasion of prosopis juliflora and local livelihoods: case study from the Lake Baringo area of Kenya , 2005 .

[40]  H. Mooney Invasive alien species : a new synthesis , 2005 .

[41]  M. F. Chikuni,et al.  Prosopis glandulosa Torrey (leguminosae-Mimosoidae) at Swang'oma, Lake Chilwa plain: A blessing in disguise? , 2005 .

[42]  Rieks D. van Klinken,et al.  Population Ecology of Hybrid Mesquite (Prosopis Species) in Western Australia: How Does it Differ from Native Range Invasions and What are the Implications for Impacts and Management? , 2005, Biological Invasions.

[43]  P. Binggeli The human dimensions of invasive woody plants , 2006 .

[44]  Steve Smith,et al.  Implications of uncertain prosopis taxonomy for biocontrol , 2006 .

[45]  A. El-Keblawy,et al.  Impacts of the invasive exotic Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) D.C. on the native flora and soils of the UAE , 2007, Plant Ecology.

[46]  A. Page,et al.  Economic impact assessment of Australian weed biological control , 2006 .

[47]  Tara G. Martin,et al.  Value for money? Investment in weed management in Australian rangelands. , 2006 .

[48]  M. A. Elfadl,et al.  Field studies on the ecological strategies of Prosopis juliflora in a dryland ecosystem 1. A leaf gas exchange approach , 2006 .

[49]  C. Fabricius,et al.  Assessing the Effects of Invasive Alien Species on Rural Livelihoods: Case Examples and a Framework from South Africa , 2007 .

[50]  Jörn P.E. Laxén,et al.  Is prosopis a curse or a blessing? : An ecological economic analysis of an invasive alien tree species in Sudan. , 2007 .

[51]  T. McMahon,et al.  Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification , 2007 .

[52]  M. Hasan,et al.  Land Degradation Situation in Bangladesh and Role of Agroforestry , 2008 .

[53]  Jan Pergl,et al.  Geographical and taxonomic biases in invasion ecology. , 2008, Trends in ecology & evolution.

[54]  Martin A. Nuñez,et al.  Biological invasions in developing and developed countries: does one model fit all? , 2010, Biological Invasions.

[55]  S. Kibet,et al.  Impact of Prosopis juliflora on Kenya's semi-arid and arid ecosystems and local livelihoods , 2009 .

[56]  S. Butchart,et al.  Global indicators of biological invasion: species numbers, biodiversity impact and policy responses , 2010 .

[57]  A. Witt Biofuels and invasive species from an African perspective – a review , 2010 .

[58]  Graciela Metternicht,et al.  Comparison of alternative strategies for invasive species distribution modeling , 2010 .

[59]  James D. Ford,et al.  Advancing adaptation planning for climate change in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR): a review and critique , 2011 .

[60]  Daniel J. Murphy,et al.  Risk assessment, eradication, and biological control: global efforts to limit Australian acacia invasions , 2011 .

[61]  H. Parvaresh Identification of threats on Mangrove forests in Gabrik International Wetland for Sustainable Management , 2011 .

[62]  D. Richardson,et al.  Adoption, use and perception of Australian acacias around the world , 2011 .

[63]  K. Esler,et al.  Impact of Prosopis (mesquite) invasion and clearing on the grazing capacity of semiarid Nama Karoo rangeland, South Africa , 2011 .

[64]  M. Brockhaus,et al.  Once there was a lake: vulnerability to environmental changes in northern Mali , 2013, Regional Environmental Change.

[65]  D. Richardson,et al.  Trees and shrubs as invasive alien species – a global review , 2011 .

[66]  John H. Hoffmann,et al.  Biological Control of Mesquite (Prosopis Species) (Fabaceae) in South Africa , 2011 .

[67]  D. Richardson,et al.  National‐scale strategic approaches for managing introduced plants: insights from Australian acacias in South Africa , 2011 .

[68]  F. Mburu,et al.  Preference and adoption of Farmer Field School (FFS) Prosopis juliflora management practices: Experiences in Baringo District, Kenya , 2012 .

[69]  Mic Julien,et al.  Biological control of weeds in Australia. , 2012 .

[70]  D. Maitre,et al.  Costs, benefits and management options for an invasive alien tree species: The case of mesquite in the Northern Cape, South Africa , 2012 .

[71]  G G Forsyth,et al.  The prioritisation of invasive alien plant control projects using a multi-criteria decision model informed by stakeholder input and spatial data. , 2012, Journal of environmental management.

[72]  Inderjit,et al.  Community Impacts of Prosopis juliflora Invasion: Biogeographic and Congeneric Comparisons , 2012, PloS one.

[73]  T. Low In Denial about dangerous aid , 2012, Biological Invasions.

[74]  William G. Kepner,et al.  Hydrological impacts of mesquite encroachment in the upper San Pedro watershed , 2012 .

[75]  D. Maitre,et al.  An assessment of the effectiveness of a large, national-scale invasive alien plant control strategy in South Africa , 2012 .

[76]  D. Richardson,et al.  Trees and shrubs as invasive alien species – 2013 update of the global database , 2013 .

[77]  Sebinasi Dzikiti,et al.  Water relations and the effects of clearing invasive Prosopis trees on groundwater in an arid environment in the Northern Cape, South Africa , 2013 .

[78]  J. H. van den Berg,et al.  Detection, Quantification and Monitoring of Prosopis in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa using Remote Sensing and GIS , 2013 .

[79]  Bruce L. Webber,et al.  A standardized set of metrics to assess and monitor tree invasions , 2013, Biological Invasions.

[80]  D. Richardson,et al.  Challenges and trade-offs in the management of invasive alien trees , 2014, Biological Invasions.

[81]  L. Rao,et al.  Selection of the best chemical pretreatment for lignocellulosic substrate Prosopis juliflora. , 2013, Bioresource technology.

[82]  D. Richardson,et al.  Hitting the right target: taxonomic challenges for, and of, plant invasions , 2013, AoB Plants.

[83]  L. Graudal,et al.  Evaluation of a species and provenance trial of Prosopis at Gonsé, Burkina Faso , 2016 .