A new paper by XTBG PhD student Michael Padmanaba, from Indonesia, examines how logging roads in Borneo facilitate the spread of an invasive alien tree species, Piper aduncum. The study estimated that this tree is spreading at least 5-7 kilometers a year. This species is now established as in invasive alien in several other areas in the tropics and has recently begun expanding from plantings within XTBG. The tiny seeds are dispersed by both fruits bats and birds and it already forms dense stands in some unmanaged areas of the Gardens and along the river. The paper suggests that it is not too late to start control efforts in Borneo and recommends pre-emptive action to prevent its spread from invaded to uninvaded regions in the future. Michael is in the Biodiversity Research Group in the Center for Integrative Conservation at XTBG and will be studying the threat to protected areas from invasive species in Java for his PhD. The new paper is in the open-access journal Tropical Conservation Science: http://tropicalconservationscience.mongabay.com/content/v7/TCS-2014-Vol7(1)_35-44_Padmanaba_and_Sheil.pdf?PDF=2014Vol7(1)_35-44_Padmanaba_and_Sheil

Leaves and inflorescence of Piper aduncum. Photograph by João de Deus Medeiros, Wikimedia.