In 1962, Robert and Catherine Wilson founded the Wilson Botanical Garden. As botanists, they sought to establish a sanctuary for plants of all kinds, from all over the world. The botanical garden, as many others around the world, preserve endangered and extirpated species. They also serve as seed banks, provide opportunities for research and outreach for local and international communities. As great as this is, there are tradeoffs to botanical gardens in terms of conservation in that they can provide an opportunity for non-native, or exotic, plants to spread and become invasive species. This can, however, be avoided if extensive monitoring and removal programs are implemented.
An invasive species of particular concern is the Zingiber spectabile, or beehive ginger. Originating in Asia, this ginger plant was introduced to Costa Rica at the Wilson Botanical garden. It spread rapidly through the country due to its high ornamental value. It also spread into many natural ecosystems, particularly the Las Cruces forests immediately surrounding the botanical garden.
Invasive species can be generally classified as any species that have the potential to negatively effect the local ecosystem that they colonize. Invasives can have a wide range of negative impacts, including: decreasing the amount and diversity of native species, monopolizing the resources and nutrients dispersed throughout the ecosystem, and negatively impacting the economic value of land. By invading certain areas, they create what are called novel, or new, ecosystems. These novel ecosystems can allow the local biodiversity to transition, usually resulting in negatively impacting the local habitat in the ways mentioned above.
Although invasive species have become a more prominent issue with climate change, there is a general lack of knowledge on the ecology of invasive plants. Despite this lack of knowledge, the precautionary principle tells us that a lack of knowledge does not justify inaction. In this sense, it is necessary to remove invasive species despite the lack of understanding regarding the role they play in the area they have invaded.
My research project will aim to understand the dispersal mechanism of the beehive ginger plant across three different habitat types: primary forest, secondary forest, and abandoned pastureland. Beehive ginger can disperse through a variety of different mechanisms, including: insects, birds, humans, and vegetative propagation. Understanding the primary dispersal method this plant relies on will help to create a clearer picture of how this plant is actually able to invade the areas around Las Cruces. By understanding this method, proper and more effective management practices can be implemented throughout Las Cruces with regards to controlling this species. Another objective of this study will be to assess beehive ginger reproductive fitness across the three different habitat types already mentioned. Reproductive fitness is equated with plant health, amount of seeds produced, and the magnitude of the plant’s dispersal potential; therefore, if there is a difference in beehive ginger reproductive output among the habitat types, management practices can be focused on the habitat(s) where beehive ginger is most fit with hopes of targeting the most aggressive individuals.
By improving and testing management practices within Las Cruces, the invasive beehive ginger population will hopefully decrease and these practices can be implemented in other areas and the same methods will have the potential to draw the same inferences on other invasive plant species.