Clonality in invasive alien macrophytes in Kashmir Himalaya: a stage-based approach

While the link between clonality and species invasiveness has recently been recognized, whether and how clonality vary with different invasion stages remains open questions. Hence, we tested the relationship between clonality and species invasiveness of Kashmir Himalayan aquatic macrophytes vis-à-vis its variability along different stages of invasion. The data on clonality, stage of invasion and growth form were obtained through an extensive survey of literature and database like CLO-PLA and PLADIAS followed by evaluation of the clonal organs through intensive field surveys undertaken over a period of 3 years (2014–2017) in different aquatic habitats of the Kashmir valley. Our results showed that 84% of the studied species and almost 90% of the most invasive species (stage V sensu Colautti and MacIsaac: Divers Distrib 10(2):135–141, 2004) are clonal. A highly significant positive correlation between clonality and invasiveness was observed, which further substantiates this association at a broad geographical scale representing the whole region. The distinction of clonal growth forms and significant positive correlation between clonality and different clonal growth organs (rhizomes, runners and turions) further affirm the strong nexus of clonality with species invasions. Future studies directed at unraveling the reasons behind clonality need to be undertaken from the genomic perspective, in order to develop better means for proper management of alien aquatic invasive species.