| Summary: | Although the effects of invasive alien plants on natural ecosystems are widely acknowledged, the effects of specific plant species can be context dependent. The study examined changes in native vegetation diversity and composition following Lantana camara invasion at different cover conditions in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province of South Africa. Using a comparative approach, native vegetation diversity, cover, and composition were compared in L. camara high and low cover and uninvaded conditions, on three replicated sites, each with five 10 × 10 m plots. Results show that vegetation diversity (species richness, Shannon-Wiener, and evenness index) were significantly higher in the uninvaded condition than in the L. camara high and low invasion conditions. Species relative cover was significantly higher in uninvaded condition than in L. camara high and low invasion conditions, though it decreased gradually along the invasion cover gradient for trees and shrubs as well as forbs. Analysis of similarities showed significant separations in vegetation composition among the three invasion conditions for all the growth forms, with most woody alien plants, e.g. Acacia mearnsii, Rubus rigidus, and Caesalpinia decapetala being associated with L. camara high and low invasion conditions. The study concludes that invasion by L. camara was associated with changes in native vegetation diversity, cover, and composition, with observed changes being more visible under L. camara high as compared to low invasion condition. The presence of L. camara at high cover condition significantly decreased native species diversity and composition, an indication that impacts of L. camara invasion are cover dependent. From a management standpoint, the study suggests the removal of L. camara, however such removal should consider protecting the co-occurring native species. This study offers a baseline for further research to determine mechanisms responsible for native vegetation change associated with L. camara invasion.
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