A Potentially Invasive Plant May Bring Positive Impact Towards a Region.

It is always feared that invasive species which includes plants or animals will most likely bring harm towards its unnatural habitat as its population is not able to be controlled by its natural predators/ enemies due to their absence. Thus the invasive species are able to thrive and replace the natural species of a particular area.

However a recent study published in the open access Journal of Hymenoptera Research, aimed to obtain empirical data on the activity and distribution of the bee species Braunsapis puangensis in the Suva area of Fiji and examine its association with the invasive creeping daisy Sphagneticola trilobata. The paper suggests that the invasive creeping daisy could in fact have a positive influence on a wild bee pollinator species, thus benefiting crops and biodiversity on the islands.

Invasive creeping daisy Sphagneticola trilobata

There has been a growing concern with regards to the decline in the world bee population which ay results in lowered number of pollination. The Impact of this would lead to less of world food production as many the agriculture field relies heavily on wild bees to pollinate their plants.

However in Fiji, the numbers of invasive creeping daisy Sphagneticola trilobata which thrives in the Suva area is linked to the increased number of the wild bee species Braunsapis puangensis which is definitaly a good news!

One of the authors of the research paper, Dr Simon Hodge from Lincoln University in New Zealand 
commented. "Pollination success of generalist plants tends to be positively related to pollinator diversity, so any habitat modifications that increase the number of pollinating species present at a site would tend to be of some inherent value."

"Our study suggests it is important to realize that although S. trilobata is considered an invasive 'nuisance weed' in one context, it may be of value to crop growers, and commercial honey producers, by attracting and augmenting local populations of pollinating insects," explains Dr Hodge

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