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Musarella CM, Laface VLA, Angiolini C, Bacchetta G, Bajona E, Banfi E, Barone G, Biscotti N, Bonsanto D, Calvia G, Cambria S, Capuano A, Caruso G, Crisafulli A, Del Guacchio E, Di Gristina E, Domina G, Fanfarillo E, Fascetti S, Fiaschi T, Galasso G, Mascia F, Mazzacuva G, Mei G, Minissale P, Motti R, Perrino EV, Picone RM, Pinzani L, Podda L, Potenza G, Rosati L, Stinca A, Tavilla G, Villano C, Wagensommer RP, Spampinato G. New Alien Plant Taxa for Italy and Europe: An Update. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:620. [PMID: 38475466 DOI: 10.3390/plants13050620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Despite the wide amount of scientific contributions published on alien plant species, their diffusion dynamics, and their interactions with native taxa, it is increasingly difficult to slow down their spreading and their negative impact on habitats. Last recent years, in fact, a sharp rise in the number of new alien plant taxa introduced in Italy and Europe has been recorded. The aim of this work is to investigate most of the Italian territory in order to verify whether this alarming trend is still underway. Specimen collections and/or observations of alien plants have been performed in as many as 12 Italian regions. All the collected specimens are stored in public or private herbaria. Taxa have been identified according to the literature from the countries of origin of the investigated taxa, while the nomenclature followed the current international references. Updates on 106 taxa are reported. In particular, among 117 new records, 89 are first records, 27 are changes to status and there is 1 extinction. Seven new taxa for Italian alien flora are reported, two of which are new to Europe. The administrative regions with the highest number of records are Calabria (48), Sardegna (17) and Sicilia (15). Five of the surveyed taxa, for the first time, have been considered invasive aliens to Italian territory. The unfrequent amount of original results provided by this work, over the simple importance of data itself, proves how floristic investigation, still today, represents one of the most effective tools in broadening the current knowledge about alien taxa and their dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Maria Musarella
- AGRARIA Department, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito snc, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Angiolini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Bacchetta
- Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (CCB), Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Viale Sant'Ignazio da Laconi 13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Enrico Bajona
- PLANTA/Center for Research, Documentation and Training, Via Serraglio Vecchio 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Enrico Banfi
- Section of Botany, Natural History Museum of Milan, Corso Venezia 55, 20121 Milano, Italy
| | - Giulio Barone
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Forest Science, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bldg. 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Nello Biscotti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (D3A), Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Daniele Bonsanto
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (D3A), Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Giacomo Calvia
- Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (CCB), Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Viale Sant'Ignazio da Laconi 13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Salvatore Cambria
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Alberto Capuano
- AGRARIA Department, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito snc, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Caruso
- AGRARIA Department, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito snc, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
- Istituto Tecnico Agrario "V. Emanuele II", Via Cortese 1, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Emanuele Del Guacchio
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Botanical Garden, Via Foria 223, 80139 Naples, Italy
| | - Emilio Di Gristina
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Forest Science, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bldg. 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gianniantonio Domina
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Forest Science, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bldg. 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Emanuele Fanfarillo
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Simonetta Fascetti
- School of Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Environment, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Tiberio Fiaschi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Gabriele Galasso
- Section of Botany, Natural History Museum of Milan, Corso Venezia 55, 20121 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Mascia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (CCB), Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Viale Sant'Ignazio da Laconi 13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giuliana Mazzacuva
- AGRARIA Department, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito snc, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Giacomo Mei
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences (DiSPeA), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Via Aurelio Saffi, 2, 61029 Urbino PU, Italy
| | - Pietro Minissale
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Riccardo Motti
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055 Naples, Italy
| | - Enrico Vito Perrino
- CIHEAM, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Via Ceglie 9, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Picone
- Department of ChiBioFarAm, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Pinzani
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
- Department of Science, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi, 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Lina Podda
- Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (CCB), Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Viale Sant'Ignazio da Laconi 13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Potenza
- School of Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Environment, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Leonardo Rosati
- School of Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Environment, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Adriano Stinca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Tavilla
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), c/o Interateneo Physics Department, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Clizia Villano
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055 Naples, Italy
| | - Robert Philipp Wagensommer
- Faculty of Education, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Viale Ratisbona 16, 39042 Brixen-Bressanone, Italy
| | - Giovanni Spampinato
- AGRARIA Department, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito snc, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
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2
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Rolls RJ, Deane DC, Johnson SE, Heino J, Anderson MJ, Ellingsen KE. Biotic homogenisation and differentiation as directional change in beta diversity: synthesising driver-response relationships to develop conceptual models across ecosystems. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1388-1423. [PMID: 37072381 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Biotic homogenisation is defined as decreasing dissimilarity among ecological assemblages sampled within a given spatial area over time. Biotic differentiation, in turn, is defined as increasing dissimilarity over time. Overall, changes in the spatial dissimilarities among assemblages (termed 'beta diversity') is an increasingly recognised feature of broader biodiversity change in the Anthropocene. Empirical evidence of biotic homogenisation and biotic differentiation remains scattered across different ecosystems. Most meta-analyses quantify the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, rather than attempting to identify underlying ecological drivers of such changes. By conceptualising the mechanisms that contribute to decreasing or increasing dissimilarity in the composition of ecological assemblages across space, environmental managers and conservation practitioners can make informed decisions about what interventions may be required to sustain biodiversity and can predict potential biodiversity outcomes of future disturbances. We systematically reviewed and synthesised published empirical evidence for ecological drivers of biotic homogenisation and differentiation across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater realms to derive conceptual models that explain changes in spatial beta diversity. We pursued five key themes in our review: (i) temporal environmental change; (ii) disturbance regime; (iii) connectivity alteration and species redistribution; (iv) habitat change; and (v) biotic and trophic interactions. Our first conceptual model highlights how biotic homogenisation and differentiation can occur as a function of changes in local (alpha) diversity or regional (gamma) diversity, independently of species invasions and losses due to changes in species occurrence among assemblages. Second, the direction and magnitude of change in beta diversity depends on the interaction between spatial variation (patchiness) and temporal variation (synchronicity) of disturbance events. Third, in the context of connectivity and species redistribution, divergent beta diversity outcomes occur as different species have different dispersal characteristics, and the magnitude of beta diversity change associated with species invasions also depends strongly on alpha and gamma diversity prior to species invasion. Fourth, beta diversity is positively linked with spatial environmental variability, such that biotic homogenisation and differentiation occur when environmental heterogeneity decreases or increases, respectively. Fifth, species interactions can influence beta diversity via habitat modification, disease, consumption (trophic dynamics), competition, and by altering ecosystem productivity. Our synthesis highlights the multitude of mechanisms that cause assemblages to be more or less spatially similar in composition (taxonomically, functionally, phylogenetically) through time. We consider that future studies should aim to enhance our collective understanding of ecological systems by clarifying the underlying mechanisms driving homogenisation or differentiation, rather than focusing only on reporting the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Rolls
- School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
| | - David C Deane
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Sarah E Johnson
- Natural Resources Department, Northland College, Ashland, WI, 54891, USA
| | - Jani Heino
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, Oulu, FI-90014, Finland
| | - Marti J Anderson
- New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS), Massey University, Albany Campus, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kari E Ellingsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fram Centre, P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, Tromsø, 9296, Norway
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Akomolafe GF, Rosazlina R. Evidence of invasion: land use influences the invasion of Urena lobata in the Guinea Savanna ecosystems of Nigeria. Biol Invasions 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-023-03030-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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A New Invasion of the Common Slider on a Mediterranean Island (Lesvos, Greece): A Potential Threat to Native Terrapin Populations? DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14121018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Island wetlands are considered crucial to biodiversity due to their unique ecological, biogeographical, and socioeconomic dynamics. However, these habitat types are particularly vulnerable to invasion; invasive species can cause severe ecological, evolutionary, and epidemiological impacts on native species. One of the most important invasive species, the common slider Trachemys scripta, an opportunistic inhabitant of freshwater habitats, has been released in multiple localities across Greece in recent years, and has expanded its range through random and unintentional releases in the Aegean islands. Since its first documented record on the island of Crete in 1998, the species has been observed on six more islands. Here, we report, for the first time, two subspecies of the common slider (T. scripta scripta and T. scripta elegans) on the wetlands of the island of Lesvos. We discuss the potential threats to native terrapins and we examine whether the introduction of this invasive species has affected native terrapins by monitoring their populations for 12 consecutive years (2010–2022). We found the common slider in 3 out of 110 wetlands surveyed. At one site, we document the presence of invasive terrapins belonging to two different subspecies. In all surveyed wetlands, we found stable populations of the two native freshwater terrapins, Mauremys rivulata and Emys orbicularis, with the first species found in much larger populations than the second. Despite these reassuring findings, the presence of this introduced species on the island of Lesvos raises serious concerns regarding its negative effects on the local terrapin populations. We propose that systematic and thorough monitoring of insular wetlands, as in the case of Lesvos, should be adopted on other islands as well, with priority on those where the common slider has been recorded.
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Spatial Distribution Pattern and Risk Assessment of Invasive Alien Plants on Southern Side of the Daba Mountain Area. DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14121019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The southern side of the Daba Mountain area is a hotspot of global biodiversity and an essential barrier promoting ecological security. However, knowledge about the distribution status and transmission pathways of invasive alien species (IAS) in this area is limited. We counted the IAS on the southern side of the Daba Mountain area through sample transects and analyzed the factors affecting their spatial distribution. We also assessed IAS risk using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), which found 64 IAS belonging to 23 families and 53 genera. Around rivers and roads, the results showed a vertical two-way dispersal pattern. Human and environmental factors, such as a very dense transportation network, can affect the distribution pattern of IAS. AHP assessed 43 IAS (67.19%), primarily distributed in villages and towns, as being of high or medium risk. High- and medium-risk IAS should be the focus of invasion prevention and control, and priority should be given to controlling the spread of IAS around rivers and roads.
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6
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Dimitrakopoulos PG, Koukoulas S, Michelaki C, Galanidis A. Anthropogenic and environmental determinants of alien plant species spatial distribution on an island scale. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150314. [PMID: 34543797 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mediterranean islands are considered especially vulnerable to biological invasions by alien plants. However, there is a lack of studies on island scale regarding the factors that determine alien plant's spatial distribution, and the way they affect invasion process. A roadside survey of alien plant species was conducted on Lesvos, the 8th largest island in Mediterranean basin. Data on species counts and explanatory variables were aggregated to a 1 sq. km vector grid and brought together into a single GIS layer. Alien species counts were modelled by using a Negative-binomial model while a Generalised Additive Model was used to examine possible non-linear relationships to the predictors by using splines. A subset of significant factors, related both to human activities and the environment, shaped the spatial distribution of aliens and influenced, in various ways, their future invasion outcome. Transformed areas with high levels of anthropogenic pressures and disturbances, including high population numbers, dense road network, ports, and intensive land use, as is the case for coastal zones, promoted the presence of alien species. Contrary, modified areas, such as grazed lands, seemed to restrict alien species occurrences, possibly due to the long grazing history these areas present, a regime in which aliens are not adapted. Alien plants presence was positively associated with high levels of NPP, diversity of geological substrates, and a west-facing aspect. Anthropogenic determinants of alien spatial patterns were primarily connected to increased propagule pressure, whereas environmental factors demonstrated the preference of alien plants for resource-rich environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiotis G Dimitrakopoulos
- Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece.
| | - Sotirios Koukoulas
- Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
| | - Chrysanthi Michelaki
- Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
| | - Alexandros Galanidis
- Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
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Pratt RB. Vegetation-type conversion of evergreen chaparral shrublands to savannahs dominated by exotic annual herbs: causes and consequences for ecosystem function. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2022; 109:9-28. [PMID: 34636412 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Woody, evergreen shrublands are the archetypal community in mediterranean-type ecosystems, and these communities are profoundly changed when they undergo vegetation-type conversion (VTC) to become annual, herb-dominated communities. Recently, VTC has occurred throughout southern California chaparral shrublands, likely with changes in important ecosystem functions. The mechanisms that lead to VTC and subsequent changes to ecosystem processes are important to understand as they have regional and global implications for ecosystem services, climate change, land management, and policy. The main drivers of VTC are altered fire regimes, aridity, and anthropogenic disturbance. Some changes to ecosystem function are certain to occur with VTC, but their magnitudes are unclear, whereas other changes are unpredictable. I present two hypotheses: (1) VTC leads to warming that creates a positive feedback promoting additional VTC, and (2) altered nitrogen dynamics create negative feedbacks and promote an alternative stable state in which communities are dominated by herbs. The patterns described for California are mostly relevant to the other mediterranean-type shrublands of the globe, which are biodiversity hotspots and threatened by VTC. This review examines the extent and causes of VTC, ecosystem effects, and future research priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Brandon Pratt
- Department of Biology, California State University, Bakersfield, CA, USA
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How Effective Are the Protected Areas of the Natura 2000 Network in Halting Biological Invasions? A Case Study in Greece. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10102113. [PMID: 34685922 PMCID: PMC8541334 DOI: 10.3390/plants10102113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Invasive alien plant species represent an important threat to various protected areas of the world, and this threat expected to be further enhanced due to climate change. This is also the case for the most important network of protected areas in Europe, the Natura 2000 network. In the current study we evaluated the distribution pattern of alien plant taxa across selected continental and insular Natura 2000 sites in Greece and their potential spread 15 years since first being recorded in the field. A total of seventy-three naturalized plant taxa were recorded in the 159 sites under study. At the site level and regardless of the habitat group, the ratio of invaded areas increased between the two monitoring campaigns. An increase in the ratio of invaded plots was also detected for all habitat groups, except for grassland and riparian—wetland habitats. Precipitation during the dry quarter of the year was the factor that mainly controlled the occurrence and spread of alien plant taxa regardless of the site and habitat group. It is reasonable to say that the characterization of an area as protected may not be sufficient without having implemented the proper practices for halting biological invasions.
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Kourantidou M, Cuthbert RN, Haubrock PJ, Novoa A, Taylor NG, Leroy B, Capinha C, Renault D, Angulo E, Diagne C, Courchamp F. Economic costs of invasive alien species in the Mediterranean basin. NEOBIOTA 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.67.58926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Invasive alien species (IAS) negatively impact the environment and undermine human well-being, often resulting in considerable economic costs. The Mediterranean basin is a culturally, socially and economically diverse region, harbouring many IAS that threaten economic and societal integrity in multiple ways. This paper is the first attempt to collectively quantify the reported economic costs of IAS in the Mediterranean basin, across a range of taxonomic, temporal and spatial descriptors. We identify correlates of costs from invasion damages and management expenditures among key socioeconomic variables, and determine network structures that link countries and invasive taxonomic groups. The total reported invasion costs in the Mediterranean basin amounted to $27.3 billion, or $3.6 billion when only realised costs were considered, and were found to have occurred over the last three decades. Our understanding of costs of invasions in the Mediterranean was largely limited to a few, primarily western European countries and to terrestrial ecosystems, despite the known presence of numerous high-impact aquatic invasive taxa. The vast majority of costs were attributed to damages or losses from invasions ($25.2 billion) and were mostly driven by France, Spain and to a lesser extent Italy and Libya, with significantly fewer costs attributed to management expenditure ($1.7 billion). Overall, invasion costs increased through time, with average annual costs between 1990 and 2017 estimated at $975.5 million. The lack of information from a large proportion of Mediterranean countries, reflected in the spatial and taxonomic connectivity analysis and the relationship of costs with socioeconomic variables, highlights the limits of the available data and the research effort needed to improve a collective understanding of the different facets of the costs of biological invasions. Our analysis of the reported costs associated with invasions in the Mediterranean sheds light on key knowledge gaps and provides a baseline for a Mediterranean-centric approach towards building policies and designing coordinated responses. In turn, these could help reach socially desirable outcomes and efficient use of resources invested in invasive species research and management.
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Arianoutsou M, Bazos I, Christopoulou A, Kokkoris Y, Zikos A, Zervou S, Delipetrou P, Cardoso AC, Deriu I, Gervasini E, Tsiamis K. Alien plants of Europe: introduction pathways, gateways and time trends. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11270. [PMID: 34141463 PMCID: PMC8176916 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) pathways classification framework used in the implementation of the European Union’s (EU) Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species (IAS Regulation) has recently been adopted by the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN), the official information system supporting the implementation of the IAS Regulation. In the current paper, the result of an alignment of the primary introduction pathways of all alien plants in Europe included in the EASIN catalogue is presented, based on the CBD framework. In total, 6,250 alien plant taxa (marine plants excluded), both alien to Europe (native range outside Europe) and alien in Europe (native range partially in Europe) are reported. Altogether 5,175 plant taxa had their primary introduction pathway aligned based on the CBD framework, while for the rest the pathway remains unknown. In addition, the taxonomy, year and country of its first record in the wild are provided for each taxon. Our analyses reveal that the main primary introduction pathways of alien plants into Europe are linked to accidental escapes from ornamental and horticultural activities. Northwestern European countries seem to act as the main gateway areas of alien plants into Europe. Recent first observations of new alien taxa growing spontaneously exhibit a contemporary accelerating trend for plants alien to Europe, particularly linked to ornamental and horticultural activities. On the other hand, the number of new plants alien in Europe seems to have stabilized over the last few decades. The present work can assist in the prioritization of introduction pathways control, with the target of slowing down the rate of alien plants introductions into Europe, following also the requirements of the IAS Regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Arianoutsou
- Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Ecology and Systematics, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Bazos
- Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Ecology and Systematics, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Christopoulou
- Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Ecology and Systematics, Athens, Greece.,Nicolaus Copernicus University, Institute for the Study, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, Toruń, Poland
| | - Yannis Kokkoris
- Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Ecology and Systematics, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Zikos
- Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Ecology and Systematics, Athens, Greece
| | - Sevasti Zervou
- Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Ecology and Systematics, Athens, Greece
| | - Pinelopi Delipetrou
- Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Botany, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ivan Deriu
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
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Functional segregation of resource-use strategies of native and invasive plants across Mediterranean biome communities. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02368-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Lullfitz A, Pettersen C, Reynolds R(D, Eades A, Dean A, Knapp L, Woods E, Woods T, Eades E, Yorkshire-Selby G, Woods S, Dortch J, Guilfoyle D, Hopper SD. The Noongar of south-western Australia: a case study of long-term biodiversity conservation in a matrix of old and young landscapes. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Occurring across all southern hemisphere continents except Antarctica, old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (OCBILs) are centres of biological richness, often in biodiversity hotspots. Among a matrix of young, often disturbed, fertile landscapes (YODFELs), OCBILs are centres of endemism and diversity in the exceptionally rich flora of the south-west Australian global biodiversity hotspot, home to Noongar peoples for ≥ 48 000 years. We analysed contemporary traditional Noongar knowledge of adjacent OCBILs (e.g. granite outcrops) and YODFELs (e.g. creekline fringes) both at a single site and in two larger areas to test whether patterns of disturbance dictated by Noongar custom align with OCBIL theory. We found that Noongar traditional knowledge reflects a regime of concentrated YODFEL rather than OCBIL disturbance—a pattern which aligns with maximal biodiversity preservation. SIMPER testing found traditional Noongar OCBIL and YODFEL activities are 64–75% dissimilar, whereas Pearson’s chi-square tests revealed camping, burning, travelling through country and hunting as primarily YODFEL rather than OCBIL activities. We found that Noongar activities usually avoid OCBIL disturbance. This combined with high floristic diversity following enduring First Peoples’ presence, suggests that traditional Noongar knowledge is valuable and necessary for south-west Australian biodiversity conservation. Similar cultural investigations in other OCBIL-dominated global biodiversity hotspots may prove profitable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Lullfitz
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Carol Pettersen
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Ron (Doc) Reynolds
- Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, Esperance, WA, Australia
| | - Aden Eades
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Averil Dean
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Lynette Knapp
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Eliza Woods
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Treasy Woods
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Eugene Eades
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Gail Yorkshire-Selby
- Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, Esperance, WA, Australia
| | - Steven Woods
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - Joe Dortch
- Centre for Rock Art Research and Management, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Stephen D Hopper
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
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13
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Plant Community Assembly in Invaded Recipient Californian Grasslands and Putative Donor Grasslands in Spain. DIVERSITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12050193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The introduction of exotic species to new regions offers opportunities to test fundamental questions in ecology, such as the context-dependency of community structure and assembly. Annual grasslands provide a model system of a major unidirectional introduction of plant species from Europe to North America. We compared the community structure of grasslands in two Mediterranean regions by surveying plots in Spain and in California with similar environmental and management conditions. All species found in Spanish grasslands were native to Spain, and over half of them (74 of 139 species) are known to have colonized California. In contrast, in California, over half of the species (52 of 95 species) were exotic species, all of them native to Spain. Nineteen species were found in multiple plots in both regions (i.e., shared species). The abundance of shared species in California was either similar to (13 species) or greater than (6 species) in Spain. In California, plants considered pests were more likely than non-pest species to have higher abundance. Co-occurring shared species tended to maintain their relative abundance in native and introduced communities, which indicates that pools of exotic species might assemble similarly at home and away. These findings provide interesting insights into community assembly in novel ecosystems. They also highlight an example of startling global and local floristic homogenization.
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14
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Veselkin DV, Dubrovin DI. Diversity of the Grass Layer of Urbanized Communities Dominated by Invasive Acer negundo. RUSS J ECOL+ 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s1067413619050114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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15
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Martín-Forés I, Casado MA, Castro I, del Pozo A, Molina-Montenegro M, De Miguel JM, Acosta-Gallo B. Variation in phenology and overall performance traits can help to explain the plant invasion process amongst Mediterranean ecosystems. NEOBIOTA 2018. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.41.29965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Plant traits such as phenological development, growth rate, stress tolerance and seeds production may play an important role in the process of acclimatisation to new environments for introduced plants. Experiments that distinguish phenotypic plasticity from ecotypic differentiation would allow an understanding of the role of plant traits in the invasion process. We quantified the variation in phenological and overall performance traits associated with the invasion process for three herbaceous species native to Spain and invasive to Chile (Trifoliumglomeratum, Hypochaerisglabra and Leontodonsaxatilis). We grew plants from native and exotic populations along rainfall gradients in outdoor common gardens, located in the native and the introduced ranges and measured plant survival, phenology (days to flowering), biomass and seed output. Days to flowering was positively correlated with precipitation of the origin population for T.glomeratum and the native populations of H.glabra, but this pattern was not adaptive, as it was not associated with an increase in performance traits of these species. Phenology may instead reflect ecotypic differentiation to the environmental conditions of the original populations. Comparison between ranges (i.e. performance in both common gardens) was only possible for L.saxatilis. This species showed little variation in phenology and both native and exotic populations had higher fitness in the introduced range. This suggests that plasticity enhances invasiveness through increased propagule pressure in the novel environment. Our findings highlight the utility of common garden experiments in examining patterns of phenological and performance traits that relate to species invasiveness.
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16
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Casado MA, Martín-Forés I, Castro I, de Miguel JM, Acosta-Gallo B. Asymmetric flows and drivers of herbaceous plant invasion success among Mediterranean-climate regions. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16834. [PMID: 30442993 PMCID: PMC6237776 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35294-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that support the arrival, establishment and spread of species over an introduced range is crucial in invasion ecology. We analysed the unintentionally introduced herbaceous species that are naturalised in the five Mediterranean-climate regions. There is an asymmetry in the species flows among regions, being the Iberian Peninsula the main donor to the other regions. At interregional scale, the species’ capacity to spread among regions is related to the ecological versatility of the species in the donor area (Iberian Peninsula). At intraregional scale, the species’ capacity to successfully occupy a complete region first depends on the time elapsed from its introduction and afterwards on the degree of occurrence in the region of origin, which is commonly related to its chance of coming into contact with humans. Information on exotic species in their origin region provides insights into invasion process and decision-making to reduce the risks of future invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Casado
- Ecology, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Irene Martín-Forés
- Ecology, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Biogeography and Global Change, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Spanish National Research Council, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Castro
- Department of Ecology, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M de Miguel
- Ecology, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Acosta-Gallo
- Ecology, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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17
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Jiménez-Lobato V, Martínez-Borda E, Núñez-Farfán J, Valverde PL, Cruz LL, López-Velázquez A, Santos-Gally R, Arroyo J. Changes in floral biology and inbreeding depression in native and invaded regions of Datura stramonium. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2018; 20 Suppl 1:214-223. [PMID: 29106048 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Plant populations invading new environments might compromise their fitness contribution to the next generation, because of the lack of native specialist pollinators and/or potential mates. Thus, changes in plant mating system and traits linked to it are expected in populations colonising new environments where selection would favour selfing and floral traits that maximise reproductive output. To test this, we studied native (Mexico) and non-native (Spain) populations of the obligate sexual reproducing annual weed Datura stramonium. Flower size, herkogamy, total number of seeds per plant, number of visits by and type of pollinators, and inbreeding depression were assessed in native and non-native populations. Finally, we measured phenotypic selection on corolla size and herkogamy in each population. Flower size and herkogamy showed wide and similar variation in both ranges. However, the largest average flower size was found in one non-native population whereas the highest average positive herkogamy was detected in one native population. On average, flowers in the native range received more visits by pollinators. Hawkmoths were the main visitors in the native populations while only bees were observed visiting flowers in Spain's populations. Only in the native range was inbreeding depression detected. Selection to reduce herkogamy was found only in one native population. Absence of both inbreeding depression and selection on floral traits suggest a change in mating system of D. stramonium in a new range where generalist pollinators may be promoting high reproductive success. Selection against deleterious alleles might explain the reduction of inbreeding depression, promoting the evolution of selfing.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Jiménez-Lobato
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - E Martínez-Borda
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - J Núñez-Farfán
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - P L Valverde
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, México
| | - L L Cruz
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - A López-Velázquez
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - R Santos-Gally
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, CONACyT, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - J Arroyo
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
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18
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Dimitrakopoulos PG, Koukoulas S, Galanidis A, Delipetrou P, Gounaridis D, Touloumi K, Arianoutsou M. Factors shaping alien plant species richness spatial patterns across Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation of Greece. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 601-602:461-468. [PMID: 28575824 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This paper aims to determine the main factors that shape the spatial patterns of alien plant species occurrence across Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Greece, and quantify their influence. A series of spatial analysis techniques for the development of a spatial database of the factors involved, followed by a boosted negative binomial Generalised Additive Model for location scale and shape, were implemented. Native plant species richness, topography and hydrography, human population density, and a spatial preference to the northern-western sites are the key factors that explain the variation in the occurrence of alien plant species. Native plant species richness and human population density have a positive effect on alien plant species presence, while topography aspects, such as elevation and slope, and the distance from the hydrographical network a negative one. All factors are indirectly linked to propagule pressure emphasizing the importance of human activities for the efforts on managing protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiotis G Dimitrakopoulos
- Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece.
| | - Sotirios Koukoulas
- Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece
| | - Alexandros Galanidis
- Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece
| | - Pinelopi Delipetrou
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Dimitris Gounaridis
- Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece
| | - Korina Touloumi
- Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece
| | - Margarita Arianoutsou
- Department of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784, Greece
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Malmstrom CM, Butterfield HS, Planck L, Long CW, Eviner VT. Novel fine-scale aerial mapping approach quantifies grassland weed cover dynamics and response to management. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181665. [PMID: 29016604 PMCID: PMC5633334 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive weeds threaten the biodiversity and forage productivity of grasslands worldwide. However, management of these weeds is constrained by the practical difficulty of detecting small-scale infestations across large landscapes and by limits in understanding of landscape-scale invasion dynamics, including mechanisms that enable patches to expand, contract, or remain stable. While high-end hyperspectral remote sensing systems can effectively map vegetation cover, these systems are currently too costly and limited in availability for most land managers. We demonstrate application of a more accessible and cost-effective remote sensing approach, based on simple aerial imagery, for quantifying weed cover dynamics over time. In California annual grasslands, the target communities of interest include invasive weedy grasses (Aegilops triuncialis and Elymus caput-medusae) and desirable forage grass species (primarily Avena spp. and Bromus spp.). Detecting invasion of annual grasses into an annual-dominated community is particularly challenging, but we were able to consistently characterize these two communities based on their phenological differences in peak growth and senescence using maximum likelihood supervised classification of imagery acquired twice per year (in mid- and end-of season). This approach permitted us to map weed-dominated cover at a 1-m scale (correctly detecting 93% of weed patches across the landscape) and to evaluate weed cover change over time. We found that weed cover was more pervasive and persistent in management units that had no significant grazing for several years than in those that were grazed, whereas forage cover was more abundant and stable in the grazed units. This application demonstrates the power of this method for assessing fine-scale vegetation transitions across heterogeneous landscapes. It thus provides means for small-scale early detection of invasive species and for testing fundamental questions about landscape dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn M. Malmstrom
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Laura Planck
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Christopher W. Long
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Valerie T. Eviner
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
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20
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Weed abundance is positively correlated with native plant diversity in grasslands of southern Australia. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178681. [PMID: 28570604 PMCID: PMC5453567 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Weeds are commonly considered a threat to biodiversity, yet interactions between native and exotic species in grasslands are poorly understood and reported results vary depending on the spatial scale of study, the factors controlled for and the response variables analysed. We tested whether weed presence and abundance is related to declines in biodiversity in Australian grasslands. We employed existing field data from 241 plots along a disturbance gradient and correlated species richness, cover and Shannon diversity for natives and exotics, controlling for seasonal rainfall, climatic gradients and nutrient status. We found no negative relationships in terms of emergent diversity metrics and occupation of space, indeed, many positive relationships were revealed. When split by land-use, differences were found along the disturbance gradient. In high-moderately disturbed grasslands associated with land-uses such as cropping and modified pastures, positive associations were enhanced. Tolerance and facilitation mechanisms may be involved, such as complementary roles through different life history strategies: the exotic flora was dominated mainly by annual grasses and herbs whereas the native flora represented more diverse growth-forms with a higher proportion of perennials. The positive relationships existing between native and exotic plant species in high-moderately disturbed grasslands of South Australia are most likely due to facilitation through different strategies in occupation of space given that the effect of habitat suitability was controlled for by including environmental and disturbance factors. Consequently, although particular weeds may negatively impact biodiversity, this cannot be generalised and management focusing on general weed eradication in grasslands might be ineffectual.
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21
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de Miguel JM, Martín-Forés I, Acosta-Gallo B, del Pozo A, Ovalle C, Sánchez-Jardón L, Castro I, Casado MA. Non-random co-occurrence of native and exotic plant species in Mediterranean grasslands. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2016.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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22
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Funk JL, Standish RJ, Stock WD, Valladares F. Plant functional traits of dominant native and invasive species in mediterranean-climate ecosystems. Ecology 2016; 97:75-83. [PMID: 27008777 DOI: 10.1890/15-0974.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The idea that dominant invasive plant species outperform neighboring native species through higher rates of carbon assimilation and growth is supported by several analyses of global data sets. However, theory suggests that native and invasive species occurring in low-resource environments will be functionally similar, as environmental factors restrict the range of observed physiological and morphological trait values. We measured resource-use traits in native and invasive plant species across eight diverse vegetation communities distributed throughout the five mediterranean-climate regions, which are drought prone and increasingly threatened by human activities, including the introduction of exotic species. Traits differed strongly across the five regions. In regions with functional differences between native and invasive species groups, invasive species displayed traits consistent with high resource acquisition; however, these patterns were largely attributable to differences in life form. We found that species invading mediterranean-climate regions were more likely to be annual than perennial: three of the five regions were dominated by native woody species and invasive annuals. These results suggest that trait differences between native and invasive species are context dependent and will vary across vegetation communities. Native and invasive species within annual and perennial groups had similar patterns of carbon assimilation and resource use, which contradicts the widespread idea that invasive species optimize resource acquisition rather than resource conservation. .
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