Endangered Species Research Paper

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Although people are starting to become aware of this controversy, information as to how the Mahogany threatens biodiversity is still unclear to many. A lot of people are still not aware of Mahogany’s nature and ability.
Mahogany trees outcompete native trees. According to Baguinon, Quimado and
Francisco (2010), mahogany trees have specific attributes that allow them to dominate natural forests easily. The mahogany fruit is a capsule which contains approximately 62 winged seeds that can be blown away 20 to 40 meters from the mother tree thus, a significant number of seeds are dispersed by each tree. The seeds also contain food reserves and are recalcitrant–they germinate in less than a month and when they do, they develop a hypogeal–so

Also, when non- native species, such as mahogany, are introduced into an ecosystem, they do not have natural enemies that limit their reproduction therefore they easily cover an area and cause widespread damage to native species, affecting agriculture, forest plants, and natural resources. Non-native invasive species threaten biodiversity given that fifty percent of the plants and animals on the federal endangered species list are reported to have been negatively affected by them (Thomas, 2003). Moreover, Mahogany trees have a rather uncommon characteristic. Mahogany trees are said to be allelopathic (Baguinon, Quimado
& Francisco, 2010 as cited in Thinley, 2002). Ferguson, Rathinasabapathi & Chase (2015) defines allelopathy as the chemical inhibition of one plant by another due to the release of biochemicals that prevent seed germination and plant growth.(par. 1). Baguinon, Quimado, and Francisco (2010) specify that Mahogany leaf extracts slow down the development of narra, a native Philippine tree. The importance value of mahogany seedlings was found

Due to this, a lot of native trees are in a threatened or critical status. As explained in a study conducted by Jordan, Larson, & Huerd (2011) to identify the effect of non-native species on local soil, non-native species alter the soil’s physical and/or microbial conditions which are retained even after control or removal of the said species. This strong inhibitory effect, called legacy, may meaningfully contribute to invasion and poor performance and growth of desirable native species. However, not all native species were affected by the legacy.
These are called nurse plants or cover crops and they aid in soil conditioning which may restore soil conditions necessary for the reestablishment of native species. In line with this,
Rudgers & Orr (2009) found out that non-native invasive plant species can indirectly affect native plant communities by altering native microbe communities and ecosystem processes.
Results of their study have proved that non-native plants alter the soil biota, defined by the
Biology Online Dictionary (2015) as a collection of plant and animal life in a specific area and time, and suppress the growth of some [native] species, reducing the total biomass