Impact of Lantana camara on native vegetation structure and diversity of Kakiika, Mbarara, Uganda

Abstract

Lantana camara has been spreading in Kakiika with little assessment and control which was posing threat to the area’s biodiversity. Using transects and plot sampling techniques, the impact of this notorious weed on the species diversity and structure was established. The invasive plant was found to cause adverse effects mostly on graminoid species and most non-woody plant species where it may result into suppression of various native plant species of invaded communities. The general plant species diversity, density, richness and cover were reduced by the invasion of Lantana camara. Kyllinga alba and Digitarlia ciliaris are some of the grass species that thrive under Lantana camara thickets at very low sunlight light penetration. Lantana camara reduced the plant species densities, diversity, richness and cover of the invaded communities with an exception of climbers where their richness, diversity and cover were higher in the invaded communities. Therefore, sustainable control measures should be taken to eliminate and stop the spread of the invasive Lantana camara.