Ecological Impact and Invasiveness of Alien Weed Species in Moradabad District

Sachin Sharma^*, S. P. Joshi and Manisha Pandey

Eco-Taxonomy Research Laboratory, Botany Department, D.A.V. (P.G.) College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001, India. H. N. B. Garhwal (A Central University) Srinagar, Garhwal, U.K. India.

Corresponding Author Email: sachin54907@gmail.com

Abstract:

Eco-botanical research work on invasive alien weed species in Moradabad district deals with ecological invasiveness and ecological impact. 88 weeds under 66 genera, belonging to 27 APG-IV families, have been enlisted from Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh. Among the reported families, the top eight dominated families are as Asteraceae 17spp.), followed by Amaranthaceae (9 spp.), Malvaceae (7 spp.), Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae with 6 spp. each and, Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae with 5 spp. each. All the invasive weeds were arranged as per the APG-IV modern system of classification. Among the reported invasive weed species, 81% are herb, followed by 13% shrub, 3% climbing herb, 2% creeper herb, and 1% climbing shrub. The study reveals that 79% of weed species are reported as being in the category of ecological invasiveness, 13% as ecological impact, and 8% as being above both categories. Current work reveals that 43% of weed species are reported as ruderals and 34% as agrestals, while 23% are both types. In terms of origin, mostly weeds 49 spp., are related to tropical America.

Keywords:

APG-IV; Ecological impact; Invasive alien species; Moradabad; Weed

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