Mr Lehlohonolo Donald Adams, a PhD candidate in the Centre for Functional Biodiversity (CFB) at UKZN’s School of Life Sciences, has been engaging communities in the eastern Free State and KwaZulu-Natal on his research on the impact of the invasion of alien plants in indigenous grasslands and why they are increasing.
Adams completed his undergraduate, honours, and master’s studies at the University of the Free State (UFS). Driven by a desire to contribute to biodiversity conservation by mitigating biodiversity loss, he pursued research on invasive alien plants. Despite not understanding Afrikaans, television programmes like 50/50 and Voetspore inspired an early interest in conservation, and excursions and outdoor practicals during his undergraduate studies motivated him to continue with postgraduate studies in zoology, botany, or ecology.
‘Biological invasions refer to introduced species that spread out of control, cause damage to ecosystems, and are a major threat to biodiversity,’ explained Adams.
His master’s research at UFS was on the reproductive ecology of Pyracantha angustifolia, commonly known as the yellow firethorn, in the Afromontane grasslands of the eastern Free State. This invasive shrub from China was introduced as an ornamental plant in South Africa and poses a threat to natural grasslands by changing the plant community’s diversity and disrupting the ecosystem services these essential landscapes provide. To inform invasive alien plant management strategies, Adams investigated the reproductive ecology and associated mechanisms of the spread of Pyracantha angustifolia in the eastern Free State.
Adams’ PhD research, which is supported by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and National Research Foundation (NRF), in collaboration with the Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) at UFS and Centre for Biological Control (CBC) at Rhodes University, focuses on the causes of increased invasion by fleshy-fruited invasive alien plants in the grasslands of the eastern Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. Supervised by Professor Colleen Downs, South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, he is investigating the impacts of these plants on the environment, biodiversity, and economy.
Part of his research has involved exploring community perceptions of these plants, vegetation changes in grasslands over time, and seed dispersal by mammals.
His work has taken him around South Africa and the globe. In 2023, he presented a poster at the 16th International Conference on Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions (EMAPI) in Chile and won the best student poster prize.
Adams has also presented directly to the communities most affected by the spread of invasive plants. He recently joined a community gathering in Clarens to speak about his master’s and PhD research, addressing farmers, members of local conservancies, and retired academics and impressing his audience with his professional, engaging, and considered presentation. This community has been controlling invasive alien plants for more than 10 years and appreciated Adams’ contribution to merging research and practical work to better manage the environment.
With his long-term plans including a postdoctoral fellowship after completing his PhD, Adams hopes to contribute to managing as many invasive alien species as possible to stop their spread and reduce their impacts.
He acknowledged the support of his funders and collaborators, including the SANBI, the NRF, the ARU, the CBC, and the Ford Wildlife Foundation which sponsored vehicles for his research. He also thanked Ms Mashamaite Kgomo, Ms Mahlatse Mashaphu, Mr Moses Adams, Mr Sphe Ndlanzi and Mr Knowledge Muchaonyerwa for assisting with data collection, as well as Downs, Professor Sandy-Lynn Steenhuisen of UFS and Dr Grant Martin of Rhodes University for supervising his research.
