@article{Ruwanza_Mhlongo_2020, title={Lantana camara invasion along road–river interchanges and roadsides in Soutpansberg, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve in South Africa}, volume={116}, url={https://sajs.co.za/article/view/8302}, DOI={10.17159/sajs.2020/8302}, abstractNote={<p>Roads and rivers act as conduits of alien plant invasion; however, little is known regarding the abundance and invasion extent of <em>Lantana camara</em>, an invasive shrub, along road–river interchanges and roadsides in South Africa. We assessed the effects of road–river interchanges and roadsides as invasion corridors that facilitate <em>L. camara</em> invasion. A road survey method was used to measure the invasion extent of <em>L. camara</em> along road–river interchanges and roadsides from national and regional roads covering 446 km in Soutpansberg, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. <em>L. camara</em> occurred along 21 of the 48 surveyed road–river interchanges and its abundance and cover were similar between road–river interchanges and roadsides, although height and diameter of <em>L. camara</em> were greater along road–river interchanges than roadsides. Other alien species that dominated road–river interchanges were <em>Solanum mauritianum</em>, <em>Caesalpinia decapetala</em> and <em>Rubus rigidus</em>. Our results indicate that <em>L. camara</em> dominates both road–river interchanges and roadsides, therefore roads and bridges should be considered important targets for <em>L. camara</em> control.</p> <p><strong>Significance:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Despite the huge efforts by the South African government to control invasive alien plants, roads and rivers continue to act as important conduits for invasion and therefore there is a need to manage them.</li> <li>We propose that South African roads be considered important targets for efforts to control invasive alien plants.</li> <li>A policy and legislative framework around invasive alien plant removal during routine road maintenance operations is required.</li> </ul>}, number={9/10}, journal={South African Journal of Science}, author={Ruwanza, Sheunesu and Mhlongo, Edward S.}, year={2020}, month={Sep.} }