INVADERS IN OUR COMMUNE: NATIVE VERSUS INTRODUCED TREES

Abstract

The introduction of species is the second biggest threat to biodiversity, since these can cause great damage and loss to biological diversity. Marchigüe and its biodiversity are no stranger to this reality, given that a large number of forest and agricultural plantations have been observed that threaten the biodiversity of the area. Therefore, the diversity of native and introduced trees present in the urban radius of the commune was estimated, determining wealth and tree abundance of the streets of the urban sector. The study was carried out through reconnaissance sessions in the field, between the months of April and September of 2017. The results include an abundance of 1,432 specimens, of which 294 (20.6%) correspond to native species, 1,030 (71.9%) to introduced species and 108 (7.5%) could not be identified. In relation to wealth, the presence of 51 species was estimated, of which only 10 (19.6%) were native and 41 (80.4) introduced. In short, this allows us to show the low concern of the communal authorities to conserve and strengthen local biodiversity, revealing the need for future arborization projects to return the space that the invaders have taken from our native species.