Carpobrotus edulis (succulent)

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General Impact Carpobrotus edulis can form impenetrable mats up to 20cm wide and over 50cm deep, and will sometimes compete aggressively with native species (D’Antonio and Mahall 1991, D'Antonio, 1993; PIER, 2005). Once it becomes established, it shows a high vegetative reproductive rate, and its growth does not appear to be affected by herbivory or competition (D’Antonio 1993; Campelo et al. 1999). C. edulis can also decrease species diversity by preventing sand movement, which hinders the natural processes of disturbance and change in dune environments (Kim, undated). C. edulis reduces soil pH and influences nutrient dynamics (D’Antonio 1990a, D'Antonio and Mahall, 1991). C. edulis has been observed to invade new areas following fire events in California (Zedler and Scheid 1988; D'Antonio et al. 1993). C. edulis hybridises with its related species (native, naturalised and alien) in many parts of its introduced range (Chinnock, 1972; Vila and D'Antonio, 1998; Albert et al. 1997; Suehs et al. 2004a; Gallagher et al. 1997), which may intensify the invasion process (Suehs et al. 2004a) or impact on the integrity of native species.          Location Specific Impacts: France   Hybridisation: Carpobrotus edulis hybridises with C. acinaciformis in France. The hybrid exhibits aggressive growth and threatens some native species such as Limonium spp. (Vila et al. 2000). Interaction with other invasive species: Rats and rabbits are the primary seed dispersers of Carpobrotus sp. on offshore islands in southeast France. In return Carpobrotus provides a water and energy rich food for the rats and rabbits during the dry season, indicating a clear case of mutualism between the invaders (Bourgeois et al. 2005). There are concerns that hybridisation between Carpobrotus edulis and the also invasive C. acinaciformis in the Mediterranean region may lead to intensified invasion (Suehs et al. 2004a). Reduction in native biodiversity: Carpobrotus edulis may induce severe local extinctions of native plants which are endemic, rare or protected species in Mediterranean France (Suehs et al. 1999). Corse (France)   Interaction with other invasive species: Hybridisation between Carpobrotus edulis and C. acinaciformis in the Mediterranean region may lead to intensified invasion (Suehs et al. 2004a). Reduction in native biodiversity: Carpobrotus edulis may induce severe local extinctions of native plants which are endemic, rare or protected species in Corsica (Suehs et al. 1999). Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (France)   Interaction with other invasive species: Hybridisation between Carpobrotus edulis and C. acinaciformis in the Mediterranean region may lead to intensified invasion (Suehs et al. 2004a). Reduction in native biodiversity: Carpobrotus edulis may induce severe local extinctions of native plants which are endemic, rare or protected species in Mediterranean France (Suehs et al. 1999). Bagaud Is. (France)   Interaction with other invasive species: Hybridisation between Carpobrotus edulis and C. acinaciformis in the Mediterranean region may lead to intensified invasion (Suehs et al. 2004a). Hyeres archipelago (France)   Interaction with other invasive species: Hybridisation between Carpobrotus edulis and C. acinaciformis in the Mediterranean region may lead to intensified invasion (Suehs et al. 2004a). Gibraltar   Competition: Carpobrotus carpobrotus x edulis replaces and excludes native flora once ot has formed a 'reasonably sized' patch (Perez and Bensusan, undated in Varnham, 2006). Habitat alteration: Carpobrotus carpobrotus x edulis is problematic in littoral areas (Cortes, 2004 in Varnham, 2006) and has a particularly adverse effect on parts of the east sand slopes and on cliffs in the south west littoral (Cortes and Abrines, 1994 in Varnham, 2006). Guernsey   Competition: Carpobrotus edulis suppresses native coastal grassland vegetation (David, 2003 in Varnham, 2006). Malta   Competition: On the island of Malta, Cape fig (Carpobrotus edulis), prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) and American agave (Agave americana) compete with and replace the 'Critically Endangered (CR)' National Plant of Malta, the Maltese Rock-centaury (Cheirolophus crassifolius) and the CR Maltase Cliff-orache (Cremnophyton lanfrancoi) (Santos & Lanfranco 2006). New Zealand   Hybridisation: Carpobrotus edulis hybridises with the endemic Disphyma australe in New Zealand, forming highly sterile triploids (Chinnock, 1972). Portugal   Ecosystem change: Carpobrotus edulis affects the natural succession and ecological processes of sand dunes in Portugal by changing species composition (Campelo et al. 1999). Reserva Natural das Berlengas (Portugal)   Ecosystem change: Carpobrotus edulis has established a monospecific cover that obstructs the occurrence of the autochthone vegetation of the Reserva Natural das Berlengas off the coast of Portugal. Berlenga is. (Portugal)   Ecosystem change: Carpobrotus edulis has established a monospecific cover that obstructs the occurrence of the autochthone vegetation of the Reserva Natural das Berlengas off the coast of Portugal. Spain   Competition: Carpobrotus edulis competes with endemic plants in Spain such as the protected Limonium emarginatum, which it replaces at higher topographical levels in populations settled on both coastal dunes and cliffs (Garzon et al. 2006).q Cabrera (Spain)   Ecosystem change: Carpobrotus edulis has become an invasive plant in the Balearic Islands, colonising rocky and dunar littoral, and displacing native plants. Formentera is. (Spain)   Ecosystem change: Carpobrotus edulis has become an invasive plant in the Balearic Islands, colonising rocky and dunar littoral, and displacing native plants. Ibiza is. (Spain)   Ecosystem change: Carpobrotus edulis has become an invasive plant in the Balearic Islands, colonising rocky and dunar littoral, and displacing native plants. Mallorca Is. (Spain)   Ecosystem change: Carpobrotus edulis has become an invasive plant in the Balearic Islands, colonising rocky and dunar littoral, and displacing native plants. Minorca Is. (Spain)   Competition: Apium bermejoi, an endangered species endemic to the Balearic Islands (see Apium bermejoi in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) is threatened by competition from Carpobrotus edulis in the Balearic Isles, Spain (IUCN, 2006). Ecosystem change: Carpobrotus edulis has become an invasive plant in the Balearic Islands, colonising rocky and dunar littoral, and displacing native plants (IUCN, 2006). San Francisco Bay (Estuary) (United States (USA))   Ecosystem change: Carpobrotus edulis may be having a substantial impact on the high tidal marsh-upland ecotone community in the San Francisco Estuary, California, USA (Grossinger et al. 1998). Santa Barbara (California) (United States (USA))   Competition: Carpobrotus edulis competes with native flora on arrested beach dunes, adjacent ocean bluffs and sandy mesas around Vandenberg Air Force Base, Pt. Conception and other localities in Santa Barbara County, California, USA (Schmalzer and Hinkle, 1987). California (United States (USA))   Hybridisation: Carpobrotus edulis hybridises with the native or naturalised C. chilensis in virtually all areas of sympatry in California. Intermediate plants have been shown to be more similar to C. edulis than C. chilensis, and have been shown to have fewer native plants growing in association with them than C. chilensis (Albert et al., 1997). Hybrid individuals can show higher clonal growth than parental types in some habitats (Vila and D’Antonio 1998c).