Abstract:
Pontederia crassipes Mart. (water hyacinth) is a globally known aquatic invasive
alien plant species that has negatively affected biodiversity in the Philippines. The
preventive management of water hyacinth has been shown to be a more cost-effective
approach to reducing its impact than post-infestation management strategies, which have
been unsuccessful in the country. Currently, to our knowledge, there is a lack of data on
the suitable areas of water hyacinths in the Philippines. This data is integral in informing
management strategies such as surveillance and monitoring measures to prevent the
growth of water hyacinths in suitable areas that are potentially at risk of its invasion. In
the present study, a species distribution modeling of water hyacinth using Maximum
Entropy was employed to determine its potential suitable habitats under the current and
future climate conditions. Results showed that the suitable areas of water hyacinth are
found in bodies of water across every small and large island in the Philippines, indicating
that these bodies of water are at risk of invasion. Furthermore, the suitable areas of water
hyacinth are predicted to expand under the future climate scenarios. The variables
important in determining the suitable habitats of water hyacinth are Human Footprint
and Mean Annual Air Temperature. Determining the current and future distribution of
water hyacinths in the Philippines informs the identification of bodies of water that are
at risk of water hyacinth invasion in the country and informs surveillance protocols
against the mediated or accidental introduction of water hyacinths.
