Invasive ecosystem engineering: Hyptis suaveolens drives dual crisis of biodiversity loss and nutrient monopolization in Nigerian savanna

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Research Articles | Published:

E-ISSN: 2229-4473.
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DOI: 10.1007/s42535-026-01892-4
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Keywords: Nutrient, Invasion, Organic matter, Native species, Soil, Nigeria, Guinea savanna


Abstract

Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. (bush mint) is a rapidly spreading annual herb that poses a significant ecological threat across tropical and subtropical regions. This study quantified the ecological impacts of H. suaveolens invasion on native plant biodiversity and key soil physicochemical properties within selected grassland and fallow agricultural landscapes in Lokoja, North-Central Nigeria. A comparative field assessment was conducted across six paired invaded and adjacent uninvaded plots (10 m?×?10 m each). Results revealed a marked decline in native diversity: the Shannon–Wiener Index dropped from 2.31 to 1.27 in invaded sites, and species richness was reduced by over 40%. Invader ground cover exceeded 75% in infested plots. Soil analysis showed significant nutrient depletion; nitrate (NO??) fell from 18.6 to 11.4 mg/kg (38.7% reduction) and available phosphorus (P) from 9.3 to 4.7 mg/kg (49.5% reduction) (p?p?=?0.001), pH (p?=?0.012), Magnesium (p?=?0.042), and Sodium (p?=?0.010) were also significantly altered. These findings confirm that H. suaveolens acts as a potent ecosystem engineer, reducing native biodiversity through competitive exclusion and likely allelopathy, while simultaneously degrading soil fertility by monopolizing key nutrients. Urgent management and restoration strategies are required to mitigate the long-term ecological consequences of this invasion in the region.

Nutrient, Invasion, Organic matter, Native species, Soil, Nigeria, Guinea savanna


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Author Information

Department of Botany, Federal University Lokoja, Lokoja, Nigeria