Search

Background: Orenburg Region is located in the South Urals, mostly in the steppe zone and is characterised by various landscapes suitable for many Chenopodiaceae. The species of Chenopodiaceae are present in all major plant communities (saline vegetation, steppes, on limestone, chalk and sand, and as degraded or ruderal communities). In the steppe zone, many native subshrubby species (Atriplex cana, Caroxylon laricinum, Suaeda physophora) playing a crucial role in semi-deserts (known as southern steppes in the recent Russian literature) located southwards of Orenburg Region are locally found, and several annuals (Salicornia perennans, Suaeda spp.) are most common dominants in plant communities. Some typical semi-desert species (Kalidium foliatum, Bassia hyssopifolia, Soda foliosa, Spirobassia hirsuta) are found in the easternmost part of the region. New information: We compiled a checklist of Chenopodiaceae in Orenburg Region, with two new records ( Chenopodium virgatum, Corispermum laxiflorum), based on our critical revision, comprehensive inventory of herbarium specimens and documented observations and field research. In total, we report 76 species in the Region, which is the third-highest number of the Chenopodiaceae species compared with other administrative territories of European Russia, North Caucasus and West Siberia. Alien and native taxa are distinguished. Zonal patterns of species distributions are confirmed. A preliminary conservation status is proposed for each native species. Three species are recommended for exclusion from the Red Data Book of Orenburg Region: Petrosimonia triandra (because of its extensive distribution), Kalidium foliatum and Anabasis salsa (because of the lack of actual threat to their populations). Arthrophytum lehmannianum and Salsola rosacea are considered threatened (Vulnerable) because of their restricted occurrence and population size and because their localities are under anthropogenic pressure. Atriplex hortensis, Atriplex rosea, Chenopodium acuminatum, C. karoi, C. praetericola, C. vulvaria, Climacoptera affinis, C. crassa, Halimocnemis karelinii, Salsola paulsenii and Xylosalsola arbuscula are excluded from the checklist, based on various reasons as discussed in the paper. Point distribution maps are provided for each species. Agriophyllum pungens (Vahl) Link is accepted as the correct authorship instead of "M.Bieb. ex C.A.Mey." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper specifies the invasibility of common plant community types in the natural habitats of the Middle Urals. Invasibility was defined as the vulnerability of a community to alien plant species invasions, regardless of the conditions in which the community existed. We analyzed 749 vegetation relevés made in natural bogs, floodplains, rocky grasslands, meadows, and forest communities. We surveyed urban and non-urban habitats (30–40 km from the city). Invasibility was calculated in two different ways based on two parameters: the number and proportion of alien species in the relevé. These invasibility parameters are widely applicable and comparable, scale-independent, measurable, and reliable, based on data that do not require the destruction of ecosystems or biota and are based on available data. Based on the invasibility degree, we identified three community-type groups with two subgroups in one group. In ascending order of invasibility degree, the community types were arranged as follows: (1) bogs with and without trees; (2a) coniferous forests; grass communities in floodplains; (2b) deciduous forests, coniferous plantations, floodplain communities with woody plants; and (3) dry meadows and rocky grasslands. Obtained results of the assessment of different plant community invasibility may be used to understand patterns of alien plant distribution in local habitats and the reasons for the different vulnerability of communities to plant invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Forestry Review is the property of Commonwealth Forestry Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents the main directions and range of man-made changes to the vascular flora and their effects at the vegetation level. The native flora of Poland, located in the temperate zone of Central Europe, comprises approximately 2639 species. The effect of human pressure, which began in the Neolithic and has intensified in the last 200 years, has caused changes in the native flora and has included an inflow of 975 alien species, 560 of which have become permanently established. Currently, at least 704 native species are recognized as endangered, and only 623 are recognized as being able to occupy habitats that were created or strongly transformed by humans. Native species (apophytes) and aliens (anthropophytes) have co-created completely new plant communities in these habitats. Among the alien plants, neophytes (399 species) outnumber archaeophytes (161 species). Additionally, many neophytes (123 species) can penetrate seminatural and natural communities. Research has shown that the proportions of apophytes, alien plants, and declining species can be used to clearly differentiate plant communities and be used as an indicator of anthropogenic changes. A comparison of the man-made changes in Polish flora and vegetation in other countries showed that the changes in Poland are part of the global process of environmental degradation and are aggravated by the country's economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the naturalization of alien plants cultivated at the Caucasian flora exhibition in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Naturalized and nonnaturalized species were compared to identify traits contributing to a potentially successful invasion. Over the period of 76 years, 1246 taxa were intentionally introduced; of them, 57 species (4.5%) have successfully naturalized, while 12 species (less than 1%) have actually "escaped" beyond the boundaries of the exhibition. Poor maintenance of the plant collection in the 1990s facilitated the spread of resistant unpretentious plants. A revision performed in 2020 showed that 17 more species have entered the naturalization phase. Species of the families Apiaceae and Boraginaceae demonstrate the highest degrees of naturalization. Natural regeneration was recorded for 440 species. The greatest number of naturalized taxa (19%) are represented by plants propagating both vegetatively and by self-seeding. Of species propagating only by self-seeding, 16% have naturalized; of those propagating only vegetatively, only 6%. Representatives of subalpine tall grasses and forest communities of the Caucasus adapted to the conditions of Moscow to the greatest extent. None of species confined to semideserts, arid sparse forests, upland xerophytic communities, steppes, alpine meadows, high-altitude rocks and screes, and subtropical forests of Colchis and Talysh became invasive. Short-rhizome and long-rhizome perennial herbaceous plants prevail among the naturalized species. The common opinion that the introduction of endemic plants is a difficult process was not confirmed. Endemic plants are insignificantly inferior to plants with wide distribution ranges in terms of the proportion of naturalized species, but surpass them in terms of the numbers of highly invasive and invasive species. A set of traits indicating with a high probability that an intentionally introduced plant species can transform into an invader was identified. The invasiveness of Caucasian species was analyzed; the results of analysis will be used to prevent the introduction of aggressive alien plants and develop a scientifically based approach to exhibition of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movements of organisms through distinct places can change the dynamics of ecological interactions and make the habitat conducive to the spread of diseases. Faced with a cyclical scenario of invasions and threats in a One Health context, we conducted a scientometric study to understand how disturbances in environments with invaded vegetation affect the incidence of parasites and disease prevalence rates. The search was carried out in Web of Science and Scopus databases, with keywords delimited by Boolean operators and based on the PRISMA protocol. Thirty-sixarticles were full-read to clarify the interaction between diseases and invaded areas. The analysis covered publications from 2005 to 2022, with a considerable increase in the last ten years and a significant participation of the USA on the world stage. Trends were found in scientific activities, and we explored how invasive species can indirectly damage health, as higher concentrations of pathogens, vectors, and hosts were related to structurally altered communities. This paper reveals invaded plants threats that enhance disease transmission risks. It is likely that, with frequent growth in the number of introduced species worldwide due to environmental disturbances and human interventions, the negative implications will be intensified in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien plants (weeds) are a growing, worldwide problem. Importation ('classical') biological control, using exotic insects, may be a key component in controlling invasive plants. Two‐thirds of plant species targeted worldwide by biocontrol programs experience some level of control, but the success rates are geographically variable and still hard to predict. Better understanding of the interactions of the species involved, and the effects of changing climate, may help to further improve both the efficacy and the predictability of this method. This requires pre‐release studies, as well as post‐release studies that quantify the impact at the population level to validate methodologies and assumptions of pre‐release studies. The 12 original papers of this special issue include pre‐ and post‐release studies on 13 insect species from five orders. The studies cover a wide range of methodologies and altogether they highlight that both target and non‐target impact are highly context dependent. This dedicated issue includes directions for methodological improvements to better assess ecological host ranges of agents and to avoid rejection of safe agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agriculturae Serbica is the property of University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Knowledge of the weed flora of a certain area, as well as knowledge of the relationship between cultivated plants and weed plants, is important for successful weed control and the efficient application of agrotechnical measures. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the weed flora in maize fields in the area of Novi Grad, as well as a taxonomic analysis, an analysis of the biological spectrum, a phytogeographical analysis and an analysis of ecological indicators of the maize weed flora. During field research on two maize fields in the area of Donji Rakani village (Novi Grad), a total of 38 species of vascular plants were collected, which were systematized into 35 genera and 16 families. The most abundant in terms of species numbers were the families Compositae (31.58%) and Poaceae (18.42%), as well as the genera Erigeron, Ranunculus and Setaria. Hemicryptophytes (36.84%) and therophytes (31.58%) dominated the biological spectrum. Phytogeographical analysis revealed the dominance of the Eurasian (25.81%) floral element. A total of seven adventive species were recorded. The paper also presents the results of the analysis of ecological indicators for soil moisture, soil reaction, nutrients, light and temperature. The results of our research contribute to a better knowledge of the weed flora in maize fields, which could be useful for creating more efficient weed control measures.

By the method of data re‐collection and re‐assessment, we here test the completeness of distribution areas of the species and species aggregates of Rosa in Eastern Europe as mapped in volume 13 of Atlas Florae Europaeae (AFE), and discuss insights into the issues connected with the data. We found many new occurrences which are additions to the published maps: 1068 records of species and 570 records of species aggregates. The new occurrences are listed with references to the sources, and the updated AFE maps are provided. The greatest increase by new native occurrences was revealed for the species that are widespread or taxonomically complicated, and by new alien occurrences for the species that currently expand their secondary distribution areas. The mapping work published in 2004 is considered good, with minor omissions caused by possible oversights and incomplete sampling. The majority of new additions originated in the period after the original data collection. Nearly the same amount of new data originated from larger and smaller herbarium collections, underlining the value of small collections for chorological studies. We found that only ca 20% of new records based on herbarium specimens have been published, thus highlighting the need for data papers for publication of distributional data. The greatest increase by new records based on herbarium specimens was found for insufficiently studied territories (Belarus, central, northern and eastern parts of Russia), whereas the same level of increase for the territories with reasonably good coverage (Latvia) was achieved by observations. We conclude that the overall sparsity of published records in Eastern Europe is caused by a lower level of data collection rather than by poor data availability, and that floristic surveys based on herbarium specimens cannot compete in speed and density of records with observation‐based surveys, which may become the main source of distributional information in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Boletín de la Sociedad Argentina de Botánica is the property of Sociedad Argentina de Botanica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Biological control is an effective and sustainable method for management of invasive alien plants (IAPs), and has been implemented on 68 of the 367 plant species that are listed as legally requiring management strategies under South Africa's National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10/2004): Alien and Invasive Species Regulations. With limited resources and funding available, it can realistically only be considered for a subset of the remaining alien plants for which biocontrol has not yet been implemented. Considerable funding has been allocated towards biocontrol in South African in the past, principally through the Working for Water Programme of the Nature Resource Management Programmes (Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries), and this support is expected to continue with the intention of increasing the number of IAPs under this management approach in the future. To ensure appropriate targets are selected, the Biological Control Target Selection (BCTS) system was applied to the alien plants on this list that are not under biocontrol (299 species). This paper presents the resultant list of top priority species that represent good investments for biocontrol when funds are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Indonesian Journal of Forestry Research is the property of Indonesian Journal of Forestry Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Botanica Complutensis is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Green infrastructure is a strategic network of green spaces designed to deliver ecosystem services to human communities. Green infrastructure is a convenient concept for urban policy makers, but the term is used too generically and with limited understanding of the relative values or benefits of different types of green space and how these complement one another. At a finer scale/more practical level, little consideration is given to the composition of the plant communities, yet this is what ultimately defines the extent of service provision. This paper calls for greater attention to be paid to urban plantings with respect to ecosystem service delivery and for plant science to engage more fully in identifying those plants that promote various services. Scope: Many urban plantings are designed based on aesthetics alone, with limited thought on how plant choice/ composition provides other ecosystem services. Research is beginning to demonstrate, however, that landscape plants provide a range of important services, such as helping mitigate floods and alleviating heat islands, but that not all species are equally effective. The paper reviews a number of important services and demonstrates how genotype choice radically affects service delivery. Conclusions: Although research is in its infancy, data are being generated that relate plant traits to specific services, thereby helping identify genotypes that optimize service delivery. The urban environment, however, will become exceedingly bland if future planting is simply restricted to monocultures of a few 'functional' genotypes. Therefore, further information is required on how to design plant communities where the plants identified (1) provide more than a single benefit (multifunctionality), (B) complement each other in maximizing the range of benefits that can be delivered in one location, and (3) continue to maintain public acceptance through diversity. The identification/ development of functional landscape plants is an exciting and potentially high-impact arena for plant science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia botanica hungarica is the property of Hungarian Natural History Museum and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Oecologica Carpatica is the property of Acta Oecologica Carpatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

India has numerous invasive alien plant species (IAPSs), which seriously impact biodiversity, ecosystem services, and economic development. The availability of reliable occurrence records of IAPSs is of great importance for their successful management, prediction of distribution across time and space, and other research and development efforts. Global databases of occurrence data, like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), are often not exhaustive, especially for India, and poorly represent the actual distribution of IAPSs in the country. Our objective in creating this data set was threefold: (1) to compile occurrence data for the invasive and naturalized alien plant species of India, (2) to collect spatial and temporal information associated with occurrence records, and (3) to share the data in an accessible format so every record is traceable to its sources and allow users to submit data to increase the resolution of the data set. To achieve these objectives, we extracted data from 3137 literature records and 357 herbarium sheets. For each occurrence record, we curated information for 20 variables, which were arranged in a table with the Darwin Core (DwC) terms as column names. All data were subjected to technical validation before being included in the database. A total of 12,347 occurrence records were obtained for 362 species (195 invasive aliens and 167 naturalized aliens). The number of collected occurrence records was much higher for the invasive aliens (73.7%) than for the naturalized alien species (26.3%). Our data set will supplement the GBIF data by 60.39%, and occurrence records will be added for 64 invasive and naturalized alien plant species. The data set, as a part of the larger database of the Indian Alien Flora Information (ILORA) database, is made available without any restrictions on use as long as this data paper is properly cited. We have also made provisions for users to submit occurrence‐related data following a data standard. The users are encouraged to cite the original reference when using a specific data record. The data set is expected to assist a wide range of stakeholders involved in India's scientific research, policy formulation, and decision‐making related to IAPSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orenburg Region is located in the South Urals, mostly in the steppe zone and is characterised by various landscapes suitable for many Chenopodiaceae. The species of Chenopodiaceae are present in all major plant communities (saline vegetation, steppes, on limestone, chalk and sand, and as degraded or ruderal communities). In the steppe zone, many native subshrubby species (Atriplex cana, Caroxylon laricinum, Suaeda physophora) playing a crucial role in semi-deserts (known as southern steppes in the recent Russian literature) located southwards of Orenburg Region are locally found, and several annuals (Salicornia perennans, Suaeda spp.) are most common dominants in plant communities. Some typical semi-desert species (Kalidium foliatum, Bassia hyssopifolia, Soda foliosa, Spirobassia hirsuta) are found in the easternmost part of the region.We compiled a checklist of Chenopodiaceae in Orenburg Region, with two new records (Chenopodium virgatum, Corispermum laxiflorum), based on our critical revision, comprehensive inventory of herbarium specimens and documented observations and field research. In total, we report 76 species in the Region, which is the third-highest number of the Chenopodiaceae species compared with other administrative territories of European Russia, North Caucasus and West Siberia. Alien and native taxa are distinguished. Zonal patterns of species distributions are confirmed. A preliminary conservation status is proposed for each native species. Three species are recommended for exclusion from the Red Data Book of Orenburg Region: Petrosimonia triandra (because of its extensive distribution), Kalidium foliatum and Anabasis salsa (because of the lack of actual threat to their populations). Arthrophytum lehmannianum and Salsola rosacea are considered threatened (Vulnerable) because of their restricted occurrence and population size and because their localities are under anthropogenic pressure. Atriplex hortensis, Atriplex rosea, Chenopodium acuminatum, C. karoi, C. praetericola, C. vulvaria, Climacoptera affinis, C. crassa, Halimocnemis karelinii, Salsola paulsenii and Xylosalsola arbuscula are excluded from the checklist, based on various reasons as discussed in the paper. Point distribution maps are provided for each species. Agriophyllum pungens (Vahl) Link is accepted as the correct authorship instead of "M.Bieb. ex C.A.Mey."

Alien species are often first introduced to urban areas, so it is unsurprising that towns and cities are often hotspots for invasions. However, while large cities are usually the first sites of introduction, small towns are more numerous and have a greater chance of launching invasions into natural areas as they have proportionally larger interfaces with their surroundings. In this paper we develop a set of scenarios as hypotheses to explore the role of small towns in facilitating within-country dispersal of alien plants. In particular, we developed ten scenarios for how introductions to small towns, agricultural and natural areas can lead to landscape-scale invasions. We tested a part of these scenarios using a case study of a highly invaded region in South Africa (the Berg River catchment in the Western Cape). We specifically investigated the main plant invasion routes between 12 small towns and their surrounding agricultural and natural areas. This was accomplished by conducting urban-specific alien plant surveys in towns, then comparing these results to regional databases of naturalized and/or invasive plants. Many of the alien plants found in urban areas were listed as invasive or naturalized in the catchment (over 30% of the total alien species pool). Despite marked environmental gradients across the study area, we found no relationships between the alien plant species richness in towns and climatic variables or with levels of anthropogenic disturbances. All towns hosted large numbers of invasive plant species and nearly half of the alien species found in towns were naturalized or invasive in surrounding areas. The likelihood of alien plants being naturalized or invasive outside urban areas increased in proportion to their local abundance in towns and if they were tall and woody. Ornamental horticulture was the main reason for introduction of these alien species (69%). Small towns can and do harbour significant populations of plant taxa that are able to spread to surrounding natural areas to launch invasions. Comparing lists of species from urban alien plant surveys with those from naturalisation records for the region is a useful protocol for identifying species which may be moving along the introduction-naturalization-invasion continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The actual state of neophyte invasion in Moldavia (Eastern Romania) is described in this paper on the basis of 11,055 phytosociological relevés. We analyzed the i) proportion of relevés with neophytes, ii) mean proportion of neophytes per relevés, and iii) mean coverage of neophytes per relevé for 36 EUNIS habitat types to identify general plant invasion patterns. The level of invasion differed considerably between habitats. The invasion of neophytes especially affected habitats strongly determined or influenced by man, such as anthropogenic woodlands, ruderal habitats, arable lands or trampled areas. Most natural habitats are either slightly invaded or entirely free of neophytes. Only riverine willow stands and wet tall-herb stands are relatively highly invaded. However, the absence of neophytes in some natural habitats less represented in the phytosociological dataset could be of artifactual nature. No significant relationship between the number of neophytes and non-neophytes was found in the analysis across different habitats. When the analyses were made within-habitats, both negative and positive relationships were found, which confirm that the relationship between alien and native species richness depends on the habitats. A total number of 105 neophyte species were recorded in the phytosociological relevés used in this study. Among these, 13 species that are currently considered invasive in Moldavia occur in at least 10 types of habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a number of seventeen alien plant species are presented, one of them being now for the first time reported in Romania (Sedum sarmentosum Bunge). Some species are mentioned for the first time in the flora of Moldavia (Aster novae-angliae L., Cenchrus incertus M. A. Curtis, Chenopodium pumilio R. Br., Fraxinus americana L., Lindernia dubia (L.) Pennell, Petunia × atkinsiana D. Don, Solidago gigantea Aiton, Tagetes erecta L.) or Transylvania (Kochia sieversiana (Pallas) C. A. Mey.), and some are reported from new localities (seven species). For each species, there are presented general data on the geographical origin, its distribution in Europe and worldwide, as well as its invasion history and current distribution in Romania. Some of these species manifest a remarkable spreading tendency, expanding their invasion area in Romania. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Iaşi (IASI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This paper reviews the main geographical determinants of naturalization in plants. Location Global. Methods Comparative studies of large data sets of alien floras are the main source of information on global patterns of naturalization. Results Temperate mainland regions are more invaded than tropical mainland regions but there seems to be no difference in invasibility of temperate and tropical islands. Islands are more invaded than the mainland. The number of naturalized species in temperate regions decreases with latitude and their geographical ranges increase with latitude. The number of naturalized species on islands increases with temperature. Naturalized species contribute to floristic homogenization, but the phenomenon is scale-dependent. Main conclusions Some robust patterns are evident from currently available data, but further research is needed on several aspects to advance our understanding of the biogeography of naturalization of alien plants. For example, measures of propagule pressure are needed to determine the invasibility of communities/ecosystems/regions. The patterns discussed in this paper are derived largely from numbers and proportions of naturalized species, and little is known about the proportion of introduced species that become naturalized. Further insights on naturalization rates, i.e. the proportion of aliens that successfully naturalize within regions, and on geographical and other determinants of its variation would provide us with better understanding of the invasion process. Comparative studies, and resulting generalizations, are almost exclusively based on numbers of species, but alien species differ in their impact on native biodiversity and ecosystem processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Setaria adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov. a pantropical plant species present in some parts of the European continent has been recorded for the first time in Croatia in two anthropogenic habitats in Dalmatia and one in Kvarner bay. The paper presents a short morphological description and photographs of the new alien species, as well as its distribution. A determination key is given for the Setaria taxa most frequently found in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some biological differences between native and alien plants are relevant to their dispersal mechanisms. One of them is the fruiting period: it is shifted in time, peaking later than in natives. Here we report the case study showing the temporal distance in fruiting phenology between native and alien plants and their seed dispersal via carnivorous mammals. From 2009 to 2011, scats of badgers Meles meles, foxes Vulpes vulpes, martens Martes spp. (M. martes and M. foina) and possibly also raccoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides (N = 820) were collected along transects totaling 30.4 km in length each month from June to November. We analyzed the frequency of occurrence of seeds (FO %) and the seed load in sampled scats; 61.7% of the sampled feces contained seeds of 18 fleshy-fruited native and alien plant taxa, and the most abundant seeds were from species with multi-seeded fruits such as Vaccinium myrtillus (94.6%), Rubus sp. (2.0%), and drupes of Prunus serotina (1.0%). The structure of dominance was characterized by seeds of Vaccinium myrtillus (15.0%), Pyrus sp. (14.8%) and Prunus serotina (13.0%) with aliens reaching high frequency of occurrence (FO %). The shares of seed FO % in the samples differed between alien and native plants. For seed load there were also significant interactions between the status of the seeds (alien or native) and the month of the vegetation period. Our data show the coincidence of two factors – the late fruiting period of alien plants and the decreasing availability of native fruits during the vegetation period. Such a set of factors may promote the dispersal of alien plant seeds by carnivorous mammals, which, unlike migrating birds, are constantly present in autumn. The limited availability of native fruits after their fruiting period, creating a phenological gap, makes alien plants the main source of fleshy-fruits at the end of vegetation period in forest ecosystems; this is expressed in high proportion of alien plants in seed FO %, and in significant interactions in the seed load in carnivore scats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acmella radicans (Jacquin) R.K. Jansen is a new invasive species recorded in Yunnan Province, China, and little is known about its allelopathic potential and allelochemicals. In this study, the allelopathic effects of the essential oil (EO) of A. radicans on seed germination and seedling growth of four common plants, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Lolium multiflorum, were explored. The results showed that the seed germination index, germination rate, root length, stem length, and biomass of B. napus and B. rapa ssp. chinensis were significantly inhibited at all EO concentrations of A. radicans, but there was a 'low-promotion and high-inhibition effect' on the root length of D. sanguinalis and L. multiflorum at low concentrations of 0.5 μL·mL−1 and 0.5–1.0 μL·mL−1, respectively. With increasing concentrations of EO, the inhibition rates of seed germination and seedling growth of four common plants gradually increased, and D. sanguinalis and L. multiflorum were the most inhibited, followed by B. rapa ssp. chinensis, and the least inhibited was B. napus. Thirty-two components were identified using GC–MS, representing 99.07% of the EO in A. radicans. The major components were 2-tridecanone (30.46%), caryophyllene oxide (19.18%), 4,8,11,11-tetramethylbicyclo[7.2.0]undec-3-en-5-ol (7.84%), β-caryophyllene (7.67%), and widdrol (4.7%). Among the compounds we identified, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 2-tridecanone, γ-cadinene, δ-cadinene, (E)-α-cadinol, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, and widdrol have been previously reported as having possible allelopathic effects. Our study was the first to show that A. radicans could potentially release allelochemicals to influence neighboring plants during its invasion and expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of afforestation is increasing worldwide and has represented a common land use and a very important resource for centuries. The use of exotic species in the afforestation process may have a negative impact on ecosystem function and structure, including changes in shading, microclimate, nutrient cycles, and water balance, which may, in turn, affect biodiversity. The objective of this paper was to document and investigate the impact of forest plantations that use alien plants on the native ground-dwelling fauna, specifically using spiders as bioindicators. Spider species showed a great difference in both univariate measurements (diversity indices, richness and evenness) and multivariate analysis (species composition and indicator species). Five spider species were newly recorded in Egypt during this study; four of them were found in the forest habitat (Micaria dives, Odontodrassus aravaensis, Pholcus opilionoides and Scytodes univittata) while Halodromus patellidens was recorded in the control area. The experimental nature of this study confirmed that assessing the risks of forest plantation activities is urgently needed before introducing any species. It highlights the fact that the use of endemic trees is preferred in order to avoid altering native diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to report data about the distribution, habitat preferences and naturalisation success of three ornamental taxa cultivated in Bulgaria. Hemerocallis fulva (Asphodelaceae), a native species to temperate Asia, has been recorded as an established alien in eight floristic regions in the country. Oxalis articulata (Oxalidaceae), native to temperate South America, has been recorded as a casual species in three floristic regions. Phalaris arundinacea var. picta (Poaceae) has white variegated leaves and is a popular garden cultivar of a native to Bulgaria species. It has been recorded as an established alien in three floristic regions. Although H. fulva and Ph. arundinacea var. picta may form relatively wide, monodominant stands through vegetative reproduction, at this stage the two taxa do not show invasive behaviour in the Bulgarian flora. Photographs and distribution maps of the species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornamental horticulture is a significant contributor to the introduction of invasive plant species, such as Impatiens glandulifera. Native to the temperate and humid regions of Asia, particularly the Himalaya Mountains, the species was first reported in Europe in 1839, introduced for ornamental and nectar-producing purposes. Its presence in Romania dates since 1882. Over the past few decades, the species' invasive nature has led to its inclusion in the List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern. The existing studies have systematically examined the plant's morphology, habitat requirements, ecology, life cycle, and genetic aspects, emphasizing the traits associated with its high invasive potential. The species exhibits a preference for moist to wet and nutrient-rich soils, commonly found in river valleys and associated riparian habitats. Our research, based on samples collected from Romania, aims to identify and detail the structural features of the vegetative body of Impatiens glandulifera that contribute to its adaptive ability to specific environmental conditions. The anatomical investigations revealed a secondary root and stem structure, enhancing this annual species' robustness and resistance in plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Most naturalized plants are escapees from cultivation. Inventories of cultivated introduced species thus offer unique, still underutilized, opportunities to assess naturalization drivers of introduced plants. We used a comprehensive inventory of 13,718 introduced species cultivated in China's botanical gardens to test which species characteristics distinguish the 739 species that have naturalized. Locations: China. Methods: We used generalized linear models to test whether the naturalization of cultivated introduced plants in China is associated with functional traits, propagule pressure, environmental niche and introduction history. To test direct and indirect effects of those variables and their relative importance in driving naturalization, we used structural equation models. Results: We showed that species were more likely to naturalize when they originate from the Americas, are more widely cultivated, and have a longer residence time. Moreover, species were more likely to naturalize if they have a good environmental match, are short‐lived herbs, are predominantly propagated from seeds, and, in the case of herbs, are relatively tall compared to other herbs. Part of the latter effects are mediated by how these variables relate to propagule pressure proxies, and this varies among short‐lived herbs, long‐lived herbs and woody plants. Main Conclusions: Naturalization is partly driven by life‐form‐dependent cultivation biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An updated inventory of the invasive flora of Bosnia and Herzegovina is presented. The checklist includes 66 taxa (63 species, one subspecies and two hybrids), distributed between 46 genera and 28 families. The most common family is Compositae (20 taxa; 30.30%) and the most diverse genera are Amaranthus (five taxa) and Erigeron, with four taxa. The predominant life forms are therophytes (54.54%) and hemicryptophytes (22.73%). Most invasive alien plant species are native in the Americas (46) and Asia (14). Most taxa in the invasive alien flora of Bosnia and Herzegovina (43 taxa, 65.15%) have been introduced accidentally, 19 taxa (28.79%) have been introduced deliberately, whereas the remaining four taxa (6.06%) have been introduced in both ways: deliberately and accidentally. Five invasive alien taxa of concern to the European Union have been recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

615I.615II.616III.618IV.622V.625VI.627VII.628628References628 Summary: Invasion science is a very active subdiscipline of ecology. However, some scientists contend that theoretical integration has been limited and that predictive power remains weak. This paper, focusing on plants, proposes a new multi‐pronged research strategy that builds on recent advances in invasion science. More intensive studies on particular model organisms and ecosystems are needed to improve our understanding of the full suite of interacting factors that influence invasions (‘model system research’). At the same time, comparative studies across many study systems are essential for unravelling the context‐dependencies of insights that emerge from particular studies (‘multi‐site studies’); and quantitative synthesis based on large datasets should be constrained to well‐defined theoretical domains (‘focused meta‐analysis’). We also suggest ways for better integration of information about species biology and ecosystem characteristics (‘invasion syndromes’). We expect that a resulting theory of invasions will need to be conceived as a somewhat heterogeneous conglomerate of elements of varying generality and predictive power: laws that apply to well‐specified domains, general concepts and theoretical frameworks that can guide thinking in research and management, and in‐depth knowledge about the drivers of particular invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This dataset provides the Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF) database, version 1.2. GloNAF represents a data compendium on the occurrence and identity of naturalized alien vascular plant taxa across geographic regions (e.g. countries, states, provinces, districts, islands) around the globe. The dataset includes 13,939 taxa and covers 1,029 regions (including 381 islands). The dataset is based on 210 data sources. For each taxon‐by‐region combination, we provide information on whether the taxon is considered to be naturalized in the specific region (i.e. has established self‐sustaining populations in the wild). Non‐native taxa are marked as "alien", when it is not clear whether they are naturalized. To facilitate alignment with other plant databases, we provide for each taxon the name as given in the original data source and the standardized taxon and family names used by The Plant List Version 1.1 (http://www.theplantlist.org/). We provide an ESRI shapefile including polygons for each region and information on whether it is an island or a mainland region, the country and the Taxonomic Databases Working Group (TDWG) regions it is part of (TDWG levels 1–4). We also provide several variables that can be used to filter the data according to quality and completeness of alien taxon lists, which vary among the combinations of regions and data sources. A previous version of the GloNAF dataset (version 1.1) has already been used in several studies on, for example, historical spatial flows of taxa between continents and geographical patterns and determinants of naturalization across different taxonomic groups. We intend the updated and expanded GloNAF version presented here to be a global resource useful for studying plant invasions and changes in biodiversity from regional to global scales. We release these data into the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero license waiver (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/). When you use the data in your publication, we request that you cite this data paper. If GloNAF is a major part of the data analyzed in your study, you should consider inviting the GloNAF core team (see Metadata S1: Originators in the Overall project description) as collaborators. If you plan to use the GloNAF dataset, we encourage you to contact the GloNAF core team to check whether there have been recent updates of the dataset, and whether similar analyses are already ongoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linking species traits to niche properties is fundamental to understand the spatial structure of invasive species assemblages and the invasion process itself. Using information on 74 invasive species in Spain, the aims of this paper are to (1) test whether invasive plant species assemblages follow a nested pattern at the regional scale, (2) inspect the relationship between range size and niche properties (position and breadth) of invasive species to test whether the nested pattern is a product of species niche overlap; and finally (3) examine how species traits of invaders are related to their niche properties. We show that regional invasive plant species assemblages in Spain are organized in nested subsets. Invasive species with restricted range occur in areas invaded by widespread invaders. By relating nestedness metrics to species' niche properties from multivariate analyses, we found that these restricted invaders are less tolerant of broad climatic and landscape conditions than widespread invaders. Finally, regarding the association between niche properties and species traits, we found that species with large environmental niche breadth commonly exhibit non N-fixing strategy, short-life span, and clonal growth, while those with niche position in anthropogenic coastal areas were perennial and clonal species of unintentional and agricultural origin. Using an integrative approach linking the regional spatial structure of invasive plant assemblages, species niche properties and species traits, we were able to understand the potential causes of invasive species distribution in Spain. The approach developed in this research could be easily applied to other areas to disentangle the mechanisms driving invasive species distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Biotic homogenization, the replacement of local biota by non-indigenous and locally expanding species, is among the major effects of species invasions. Almost all studies related to this topic are focused on the species level, on taxonomic homogenization. Homogenization effects on trait diversity (functional homogenization) may be very important for ecosystem functioning, but they are rarely analysed, especially not at different spatial scales within a single study. This paper aims to examine how the presence of alien species (species introduced since 1500ad) affects the distribution of ploidy levels in the German flora at different spatial scales. Location Germany. Methods We used a resampling method and the Morisita–Horn dissimilarity index to calculate dissimilarities of ploidy level within and between alien and indigenous plants at three different spatial scales in Germany: (1) the entire country as one location, (2) between grid cells, and (3) within grid cells of a lattice covering Germany. Results We found a significant differentiation effect within grid cells of c. 130 km2, with alien plants increasing the variability of ploidy levels. The differentiation effect varies according to the scale used. At the coarsest scale (entire Germany), ploidy levels of alien plants tend to be more homogeneous in composition compared with those of native plants. At the intermediate scale (between grid cells), and even more pronounced at a small scale (within grid cells), ploidy levels are more heterogeneously distributed across Germany than those of native plant species. Main conclusions Homogenization of ploidy levels at a large scale (entire Germany) and differentiation at a small scale (within grid cells) is comparable with the patterns found in taxonomic homogenization analyses. This analysis is a first step towards understanding the impacts of plant invasions on a trait level. Differentiation and homogenization of ploidy levels might mirror the distribution of related ecological traits and therefore might have an impact on ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an alien plant species that has recently migrated into Romania, namely Bidens bipinnata L. For this species, the following information is provided: occurrence in Romania, a short botanical description, general distribution, way of migration, and general aspects regarding its biology, ecology, and invasive character. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuelwood is the primary energy for most households throughout the developing world. With increasing urbanization and declining local availability of fuelwood, a growing proportion of households obtain their fuelwood by purchasing it. These fuelwood markets are the key nexus in supply and demand scenarios and can be potentially significant points for intervention to address energy security amongst the urban poor. This paper reports on the fuelwood demand and marketing in a small town in South Africa. Despite the availability of more modern fuels mad state subsidization of electricity, fuelwood was still used by half the households. Annual demand was 1.2 t per household. Over half of the households bought their fuelwood requirements because local stocks were limited. Those households that did collect their own fuelwood were significantly poorer than households that purchased fuelwood, as well as households that did not use fuelwood at all. Fuelwood markets operated through 45-60 vendors who transported fuelwood from further afield. Income from the fuelwood trade was low, but was strongly linked to hours worked. Thus, vendors working a fun week did earn a meaningful income, especially in the context of high unemployment in the area. Fuelwood vendors also provided casual employment opportunities for unskilled labour. Most vendors harvested fuelwood from commonage lands, with most of the wood being from alien species. Local stocks of wood are declining in the face of constant transformation of commonage to residential areas, and a national water and biodiversity conservation programme to eradicate alien plants. This decline poses a threat to the financial viability of fuelwood markets. Yet, an opportunity exists to incorporate the vendors into the alien plant clearing programme, since they already perform such a function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents the inventory and brief analysis of 82 alien vascular plant taxa of the urban and suburban area of the city of Sarajevo. The checklist is based on field work that has been carried out from summer 2015 to autumn 2017. Each taxon is given with information concerning its life-form, time and mode of introduction, geographic origin and previously reported occurrence in the area. Most alien plants were the memebers of the Asteraceae (incl. Cichoriaceae), therophytes, neophytes, originating from the Americas and were introduced deliberately. The values of indicators of anthropogenic changes showed the considerable anthropogenic influence on the total flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both urban and rural environments around the globe have become dominated by alien plant species to the extent that plantscapes from one region or country have become difficult to distinguish from many others. This process of plant community homogenisation comes at a cost to cultural identity and undermines people's sense of place. Although invasive alien plant species have received considerable attention in recent decades, issues with non‐invasive alien plant species have largely been ignored, and yet they contribute significantly to biotic homogeneity and impose an ever accumulating invasion debt: a debt that increases in proportion with their population sizes. By contrast, an abundance of native species in the places where people live is important for strengthening commitment to biodiversity conservation. Is there therefore sufficient evidence of harm from increasing numbers of non‐invasive alien plants to justify local and central governments introducing measures to substantially reduce the proportion of non‐invasive aliens in both urban and rural environments? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]