Invasive plants in the Brazilian Caatinga: a scientometric analysis with prospects for conservation

By

Pinto, Anderson Silva
Monteiro, Fernanda Kalina Da Silva
Ramos, Maiara Bezerra
Araújo, Rubenice Da Costa Correia
Lopes, Sérgio de Faria

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020-11-27

Original Publication

Neotropical Biology and Conservation

Volume

15

Series / Issue

Issue: 4

Pages

503--520

Subjects

biological invasion , Dry Forest , Exotic species , Northeast Brazil , scientometry , semi-arid

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Brazil Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.15.e57403

 

Abstract

Understanding the impacts caused by invasive plant species, especially in regions where studies are scarce, is of great importance to the development of management and conservation strategies. Amongst the biomes present in Brazil, the Caatinga (Dry Tropical Forest) stands out for having had few studies dealing with biological invasions by plants and animals. An evaluation of scientific production can provide a means by which the progress of invasion-related studies can be assessed, as well as identify research gaps and provide a broad overview of the importance of invasions in this biome. Thus, the objective of this study was to perform a scientometric analysis to evaluate the development of scientific research over the years on exotic and invasive plant species in the Caatinga. We found 46 papers dealing with invasive plants in the Caatinga published over a 14-year period. The main objectives of most of the papers focused on identifying the main strategies used by plants in the process of invasion and characterising the invaded environment. A total of 28 species were cited as invasive for the Caatinga, with Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC., Cryptostegia madagascariensis Bojer, Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton and Parkinsonia aculeata L. being the most cited species. Although studies on the subject are incipient, there is already important information about the dynamics of the invasiveness of plant species in the Caatinga, which can serve as a basis for new studies, as well as for the development of management policies, based on consistent information.<br> Biological invasion, dry forest, exotic species, northeast Brazil, scientometry, semi-arid