Abstract
Biological invasions are the second most significant cause of biodiversity loss. They lead to theintroduction of exogenous plant species which today threaten autochthonous and/or endemic species. Indeed, manyplant species have disappeared. Other highly endangered species are currently in danger of extinction. Humanactivities, the overexploitation of resources, climate change but also biological invasions have advanced theseextinctions. These phenomena have led to the progressive deterioration of the environments and a decrease in thediversity of the landscapes (a considerable depletion of the plant ecosystem) thus contributing to a loss ofbiodiversity. Natural (cyclones, etc.) or anthropogenic (pollution, etc.) perturbations create openings in the groundcover allowing more competitive species to install themselves. Introduced plant species install themselves in theopen areas caused by these perturbations. They overcome a succession of barriers (physical, geographic,environmental) before they can become invasive. When conditions are favourable to their installation, they developthere to the detriment of the native populations. Insular environments (islands) are more sensitive to the phenomenaof biological invasions. In Martinique, forests have gradually degraded and are losing their ecosystem resilience.This favours the installation and development of invasive species. Dichrostachys cinerea is an introduced specieswhich is native to Africa and which has become naturalised on the island of Martinique. It colonises extensivelyperturbed areas, fallow land, abandoned farm plots located in the south of the island. A floristic analysis of theforests of the communes of southern Martinique (Sainte Anne, Marin, Vauclin) was carried out in order to establishthe ecological profile of this shrub