Search

The Antarctic is an extreme environment for plants. Several invasive plant species, however, have invaded the sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean islands and increasingly threaten the vulnerability of maritime and continental Antarctica, particularly with changes in climate. We provide an overview of issues to consider with regard to the impact, ecology and management of non-native plants in the Antarctic, focusing on knowledge gained and recent research results from the sub-Antarctic with possible application to Antarctica. We provide a brief review of literature and bring together experience and previously unpublished research with Poa annua and Stellaria media on Macquarie Island. While no one set of biological characteristics predicts plant invasiveness in the sub-Antarctic, all are adapted to survive extreme cold conditions and persistence is enabled through large and long-lived soil seed banks. Ecological drivers for invasion include accidental human introductions and continuing movement, along with animal and other disturbance to soil. The invasive cold-tolerant plant species now prevalent on sub-Antarctic islands also pose a threat to Antarctica due to a warming climate and so efforts should continue to prevent further spread, while developing effective, low-impact control and eradication options to protect these high-value extreme ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Animals' body coloration can be implied in several ecological and behavioral processes, but it is understudied in ants. In this study, we compared the differences between the facial coloration of sixty-year-old imported populations of the red wood ant Formica paralugubris and their source populations, using a shape-based analytical approach for the first time. We found that, except for a case we discuss, the facial coloration is overall similar between introduced and source populations, suggesting a stable genetic background. Interestingly, we found that the large difference in the habitat in which populations naturally dwell or were established—forests dominated by spruce, beech, fir, and a mix of these—has a low effect on shaping this trait, as we might expect from previous studies. However, the within-population variability suggests that facial coloration is probably affected by very localized external factors at the population and nest level. Finally, we found that the ant size affects the trait, a result in line with previous studies. The variation in the typical black-reddish color of red wood ants (Formica rufa group) has been recently suggested as a good indicator of habitat quality, being dependent on environmental conditions. However, the relative contribution of external factors and heritability in shaping this trait is poorly investigated. In this study, we compared the facial coloration of workers from four introduced populations of Formica paralugubris with those of the two Alpine populations from which they had been taken. We used a Relative Warp Analysis to describe the variations in the shape of this trait. We expected each introduced population to be more similar to its population of origin if the color pattern was predominantly genetically determined. On the contrary, due to the considerable differences in habitat type and climate between the Alps and the Apennines, we expected to observe differences between the introduced population and their origin population if the coloration was mostly environmentally determined. With one exception that we discuss, the results showed that ants from the two source populations had different phenotypes, and that the introduced populations had a shape similar to the population of origin, suggesting a stable genetic background. Surprisingly, the habitat type seems to have a less clear effect, even if within-population differences suggest the influence of very localized environmental factors. Finally, we found that the facial coloration shape is affected by the ant's size, a result in line with previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-native species pose a threat to native organisms. When non-native and native species are closely related, the former can often competitively exclude the latter. Many studies have focused on competitive exclusion of native insect species by non-native eusocial hymenopterans, including ants, hornets, paper wasps and bees. Although solitary species of wasps have been introduced in many regions, few studies have investigated the effects of these insects on their native congeners. We investigated competitive interactions between native and non-native solitary wasps belonging to the same genus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae: Anterhynchium). Specifically, we compared resource use and natural enemies of the native Anterhynchium flavomarginatum and supposedly non-native A. gibbifrons at a forest edge in Takasago, Hyogo, Japan, in June-October 2019, using trap nests (bamboo canes). Of 950 bamboo canes, 70 (7.4%) and 50 (5.3%) were used as nests by A. flavomarginatum and A. gibbifrons, respectively. Anterhynchium flavomarginatum produced two generations over the period studied, whereas A. gibbifrons produced only one. Although A. gibbifrons began nesting two weeks after A. flavomarginatum, the nesting period of A. gibbifrons overlapped that of the first nesting period of A. flavomarginatum. Nest architecture and the inner diameter of the canes used by both species were similar, suggesting potential competition for nesting resources. Anterhynchium flavomarginatum used larvae of 14 species of moths (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Pyralidae, Tortricidae) as food for their larval offspring, whereas A. gibbifrons used only a single species, Demobotys pervulgalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Prey species were exclusive to each wasp species, indicating no competition for this resource. Three parasitoid species, Macrosiagon nasutum (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae), Amobia distorta (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and Megaselia sp. (Diptera: Phoridae), attacked both Anterhynchium species. The percentage parasitism by Amobia distorta was higher for the native A. flavomarginatum. Anterhynchium gibbifrons may indirectly affect A. flavomarginatum via shared parasitoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trachymela sloanei (Blackburn, 1897) is a non‐indigenous beetle of the Iberian Peninsula herbivorous of several species of Eucalyptus trees. Since its first detection in Europe in 2014, little information is available about the populations of this beetle in this distribution range. Therefore, a complete chorological update of the Australian tortoise beetle in the Iberian Peninsula is carried out. The ecology, phenology and potential distribution are discussed. Certain features of its morphology are fully illustrated to increase knowledge of this species. Finally, other remarks of interest that could be useful for the future management perspectives of this plague of Eucalyptus in the European continent are commented on briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large-scale green tide caused by Ulva has occurred successively in the Yellow Sea since 2007, and new events of green tide also continued to appear in nearby sea areas, indicating an undergoing rapid development of occurrence patterns for harmful macroalgal blooms (HMBs) along coastal China. In August 2021, a green tide occurred for the first time in Bayuquan sea area of Yingkou city, Liaoning Province in the Bohai Sea. In this study, morphological and molecular approaches were used to identify the causative species as U. meridionalis, an alien subtropical alga previously found to dominate green tides in the South China Sea. According to the hydrological data of Bayuquan in summer 2021, combined with morphological and developmental observations for this alga, we hypothesized that the disturbance caused by the typhoon In-Fa might have detached the local U. meridionalis from substrates, especially for those thalli with poorly developed holdfasts, and the ensuing wave-free period with unusually high temperature, which fell in the reported optimum growth temperature for U. meridionalis, might have provided the favorable conditions for the final bloom of the floating seaweeds. This is the first report on the bloom of subtropical U. meridionalis in the north temperate sea zone, indicating that the ecological risk of causing green tides in the future by this rapidly spreading species deserves high attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Score-based decision-support tools are increasingly used to identify potentially invasive non-native species as part of the risk screening (initial risk identification) component of non-native species risk analysis. Amongst these tools are the Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) and its derivatives, e.g. the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (ASISK), which have been extensively used on a large variety of terrestrial and aquatic plants and of aquatic animals worldwide. In this paper, a correction is made to the previous guidance on the use of two separate thresholds to risk-rank species, i.e. one for current climate conditions (basic risk assessment: BRA threshold) and one for future climate conditions (BRA + climate change assessment: BRA+CCA threshold). Re-evaluation of this practice reveals that, to avoid the incorrect risk-ranking of species, only the BRA threshold should be used in all future applications of WRAtype toolkits that include a separate set of climate-change questions - at present, this involves the AS-ISK and the newly released Terrestrial Animal Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (TAS-ISK). As a result of this revised guidance, all published studies containing AS-ISK applications to date are reviewed here, and where approrpiate corrected risk ranks are provided for species that were risk-ranked using a BRA+CCA threshold. Corrections are also made whenever applicable to published errors or incorrect risk ranks based on the BRA threshold in the AS-ISK applications reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angola is a tropical country with many biogeographical units and, therefore, has a high floristic diversity. Although an increasing number of floristic studies has been carried out in Angola in recent years, the country is still considered to be underinvestigated as many species being collected were previously unknown there. Several scientific groups working in different parts of Angola contributed to this paper their data from biodiversity assessments. With this we can add 67 species newly recorded for Angola, including two new generic records and five alien species, to the almost 7,300 vascular plant taxa known so far for Angola. Most of the new records for Angola are also present in different neighbouring countries, but they are little known, and their IUCN threat status has not been assessed yet. However, ongoing fieldwork and exploration are needed to complete the floristic knowledge of the understudied country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The appearance of a species outside its native area due to human activities (e.g., canal openings, shipping, aquaculture) is described as a biological invasion, and these species are called non-indigenous. The Mediterranean Sea is prone to such an invasion, which is further enhanced by water temperature rising. Moreover, species from the Atlantic further expand their distribution in the Mediterranean, called neonative species, entering through the Gibraltar. Here, we examined the biological traits (e.g., preferred habitat and temperature, length, feeding habits) of fishes present in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as those from the neighboring Atlantic and Red Sea areas, and those that are neonative and non-indigenous in the Mediterranean. We applied state-of-the-art statistical analyses, aiming to describe their biological traits and spot those that could serve as predictors of species that could become neonative and non-indigenous for the Mediterranean. Overall, the results presented here could serve as a baseline for future research, and provide us with a useful tool to plan in advance measures for the protection of native Mediterranean fishes from such invasions. The Mediterranean Sea (MED) is prone to species' introductions, induced by human activities and/or climate change. Recent studies focus on the biological traits that result in such introductions, yet on a single-area-type approach. Here, we used, analyzed, and compared biological traits derived from FishBase for MED, non-indigenous (NIS) and neonative (NEO) in the Mediterranean, and adjacent Atlantic (ATL) and Red Sea (RS) species. A quantitative trait-based analysis was performed using random forest to determine the importance of traits in the successful establishment in the Mediterranean. MED fishes were mainly demersal, slow growing and small-medium sized, preferring intermediate temperatures. Conversely, ATL were mainly deep-dwelling species, preferring low temperatures. RS and NIS were predominantly reef-associated, thermophilus, and stenothermic. NEO species were stenothermic with preference to intermediate-high temperatures. Omnivores with preference to animals was the most common trophic group among regions. MED species exhibited higher phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50) compared to RS and NIS, indicating that they have long ancestral branches and few descendants. Preferred temperature, habitat type preference and maximum reported length (Lmax) and infinite length (Linf) were the most important predictors in the establishment process. Overall, the results presented here could serve as a baseline for future research, especially by using more refined and/or additional biological trail estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Unravelling the ecological and historical factors that underlie species distributions has challenged ecologists for a long time. Thus, our objective is to understand the role of environmental variables explaining the distribution of three major eco‐evolutionary groups of inland fishes (Darlington's divisions: primary, i.e. strict freshwater; secondary, i.e. salt‐tolerant; and peripheral, i.e. diadromous and marine origin), and how these variables are related to fish traits. Location: Iberian Peninsula. Taxon: 51 native and 17 alien inland fish species from the Iberian Peninsula. Methods: We modelled distributions of the most common inland fish species across the Iberian Peninsula to compare the importance of different predictors among the three Darlington's divisions and between native and alien species. To explore the importance of specific environmental variables in determining the distribution of different traits of inland fish, variable importances obtained from species distribution models were subjected to a redundancy analysis. Results: Darlington's divisions differ significantly in salinity tolerance, in distribution overlap, in the importance of distribution predictors and associated life‐history traits. Topographic and climatic variables were generally more important than land use and anthropogenic factors in explaining fish distributions. We found significant differences in the importance of variables explaining the distribution of native vs. alien species and especially among Darlington's divisions. River basin was most important for primary native and many alien species. Increasing mean temperature and damming were positively associated with the presence of tolerant, large‐bodied and warm‐water alien species from more hydrologically stable habitats. Main conclusions Despite marked differences in the distribution patterns of native and alien species, evolutionary and introduction histories as well as seawater tolerance are central factors explaining the current distribution of inland fishes. Darlington's divisions proved useful for addressing ecological and biogeographical questions at broader spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is increasingly recognized that the factors facilitating plant invasions depend on the stage along the introduction–naturalization–invasion continuum. Adaptative strategies, that is, combinations of functional traits that represent overall fitness in the face of one or more selection pressures, have shown promise in explaining plant invasions. However, whether adaptive strategy patterns change with stages of plant invasion is not yet known.Using the Pladias Database of the Czech Flora and Vegetation, we explored how Grime's adaptive strategies (competitors, stress‐tolerators, ruderals; CSR) and introduction pathways (deliberate vs. accidental) relate to plant invasion along the introduction–naturalization–invasion continuum.Phylogenetically corrected ANOVAs showed that naturalized species (referring to non‐invasive naturalized species in this study) were mostly R‐selected, whereas invasive species tended to be C‐selected. The results of phylogenetic regression analysis further confirmed that across the deliberately and accidentally introduced species, R‐ and C‐selection were positively related to naturalization and invasion success respectively. We also found that deliberate introduction was negatively related to naturalization success and grid‐cell occupancy of naturalized species, likely due to the different CSR strategies of deliberately and accidentally introduced aliens.Our study provides empirical evidence that different adaptive strategies are associated with species that have reached different invasion stages and confirms the usefulness of the CSR strategy framework for understanding plant invasion. This has implications for predicting and preventing potential high‐impact invaders. For example, our results show that naturalized C‐selected species have a higher probability of becoming invasive than naturalized R‐selected species. Therefore, management actions are essential to prevent further introductions and spread of competitors. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flood pulse is the main driving force influencing river floodplain ecosystems. The dominant role of the flood pulse on the success of non-native species (NNSs) is what differentiates floodplains from other ecosystems, in terms of invasion. In this review, I discuss some patterns related to the performance of NNSs in response to the flood pulse. First, floods connect floodplain habitats and spread propagules of NNSs, causing 'propagule pulses' in these ecosystems. After the establishment of NNSs, floodplains may function as steppingstones for future invasions, because propagule pulses enhance invasions in nearby landscapes. Second, the flood pulse changes environmental filters, with consequences for invasion success and for the coexistence of native and NNSs. Flooding represents a disturbance that enhances the success of some NNSs by reducing biotic resistance and changing resource availability, but diminishes the success of others. Drought enhances the invasion success mainly of NNSs that colonize the aquatic-terrestrial transition zone. Third, impacts caused by river regulation and global changes alter the flood pulse, which in turn affects invasion success. There is a great degree of idiosyncrasy in these patterns, but they pose a broad perspective that helps to understand and manage NNSs in floodplains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abandonment of marginally productive habitats and the intensification of land use on productive sites have caused transformative changes in vegetation composition in Central Europe. In this study, after 25 years we resurveyed a total of 145 grassland relevés from the mid-1990s in a grassland-dominated valley of the Northern Alps of Upper Austria. We studied changes in richness and composition, and related these to underlying drivers. We found that the average species number in plots increased from 46 in the first survey period to 49 in the second one. Median species richness across sites significantly increased from 1995 to 2020 for Festuco-Brometea (55-61 species) and Galio-Urticetea (24-32 species), but did not show any significant change for the other classes. Further, we recorded substantial species turnover, with winners consisting mostly of species that prefer nutrient-rich sites, while losers were predominantly species of nutrient-poor sites. In particular, using Ellenberg Indicator Values for calculating community indices, we found an indication for ongoing eutrophication in vegetation types of nutrient-poor vegetation classes (Festuco-Brometea and Calluno-Ulicetea), and in wet habitats (Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae). Community indices of wet habitats also showed clear signs of becoming more mesic. Thermophilization of community indices was evident across several vegetation classes. Further, alien species that were very rare in the mid-1990s became more abundant in the resurveyed plots, although the level of invasion is still low. Finally, community values for nutrients of plots that are located in a protected area that has been established in 2014 did not increase significantly, while this was the case in plots outside the protected area, indicating that the management of the protected area has positive effects in halting eutrophication. We conclude that despite overall species richness changing only moderately between both surveys, substantial changes in community composition toward more nitrophilic and thermophilic conditions occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The introduction of exotic plants can both increase (homogenize) and decrease (differentiate) floristic similarity between areas. We have a poor understanding of the degree to which plant species introductions tend to homogenize or differentiate floras, and relevant studies covering large spatial extent are scarce. China has been heavily invaded by exotic plants. Here, we analyse a comprehensive dataset of vascular plants to determine whether the introduction of exotic plant species has homogenized or differentiated species composition in regions across China. Location: China. Methods: We calculated the Jaccard index and Simpson index of similarity for each pair of province‐level regions for native and exotic species separately and jointly, and calculated a homogenization index for each pair of regional floras. We correlated species richness of native and exotic plants to climatic factors, and correlated the Jaccard index and Simpson index to geographic and climatic distances. We used variation partitioning analysis to determine the relative importance of geographic and climatic distances on species turnover. We also examined the effect of human population density on florisitic similarity of exotic species. Results: We found that the geographic range of each species was, on average, larger for exotics than for natives; floristic similarity between regions was greater for exotics than for natives; the vast majority of pairwise regional floras have been homogenized; the introduction of exotic species has caused stronger biotic homogenization for pairwise floras with greater dissimilarity in their species composition; geographic distributions of exotic and native species were determined by different sets of climatic factors; and distributions of exotic species were determined by climatic factors more strongly, compared to those of native species. Human population density had a moderate effect on florisitic similarity of exotic species. Main conclusions: The introduction of exotic plant species has homogenized regional floras across China. Because strong international trades between China and other countries and dramatic development of transportation systems are continuing in China, which help spread of exotic species, we predict that exotic species will continue to spread and will strengthen biotic homogenization in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater fish biodiversity is experiencing an alarming decline worldwide. Understanding the main factors behind its deterioration is a key step for ecosystem restoration. In this work, large‐scale and long‐term data were used to identify the causes of the decline of native species richness in Castilla‐La Mancha. This region in central Spain covers part of six river basins belonging to four of the 11 biogeographical provinces for freshwater fish in the Iberian Peninsula.Firstly, we built a dataset that associates the presence of several fish species and a wide range of environmental variables (e.g. hydrological and hydromorphological indicators, land use classes, presence of alien fish species) at selected river sites for two different time periods (1980–2000 and 2001–2020). Secondly, we conducted an exploratory data analysis to identify possible temporal trends in the dataset. Finally, we applied the random forest algorithm to predict the response of different ecological guild‐based metrics of fish richness to the selected variables.The exploratory data analysis revealed a decrease in native fish species richness in 74% of the area studied. There was no sustained temporal trend for stressor variables, except for the number of alien species, which increased in most river sites (63%). The models of the richness of native rheophilic, native intolerant, alien rheophilic, and alien limnophilic species performed satisfactorily. Magnitude of maximum discharge, presence of alien species, land use in the catchment area and altitude were the most important predictors of richness of native intolerant and rheophilic species. Alien limnophilic species proved to be sensitive to variables related to flow regime alteration, such as the presence of dams and the number of river flow reversals, while a less degraded habitat was found to be favourable to alien rheophilic species.The results suggest that the cumulative effect of persistent altered flow regimes and water pollution, coupled with a strong increase in the number of alien species, have led to the decline of native species in the area studied. The restoration of near‐natural magnitudes of high flows when implementing environmental flows emerged as a key measure to restore ecosystem integrity.Starting from a long‐term and large‐scale dataset, this study provides new, quantitative insights into stressor–ecosystem relationships in rivers and could inform future environmental policy initiatives because it has identified the main factors leading to native fish decline and alien fish proliferation. Our findings emphasise the importance of considering metrics based on fish assemblage composition and ecological functional groups in order to disentangle the effects of stressors on fish communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraspecific variation in personality traits is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of invasion success and is associated with the dispersal ability of several invasive species. However, previous studies have focused on the dispersal of invasive species through continuous habitats, despite the high levels of anthropogenic fragmentation in modern environments. This study investigated how personality influences the behaviour of aquatic invasive species at an anthropogenic barrier to dispersal, using the passage behaviour of American signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus , at an experimental Crump weir as a model system. Personality was characterized by determining the repeatability of boldness, activity and sociability, with correlations between traits indicating behavioural syndromes, while passage behaviour was quantified as motivation and subsequent ability to pass the weir. Boldness and activity were repeatable and positively correlated, indicating a boldness–activity syndrome. However, sociability was not repeatable and was therefore not classified as a personality trait, potentially as a result of the confounding effects of social hierarchy formation. Bolder individuals tended to be more motivated to pass the weir, although motivation was not related to activity. Few individuals passed the weir, and personality was not related to passage success. This study evidences the presence of behavioural syndromes in signal crayfish and demonstrates that personality can influence the motivation of invasive species to expand their range in a fragmented habitat. Although no relationship with passage success was observed, the higher levels of motivation in bold individuals may lead to differential passage success in natural situations where the time to attempt passage is not constrained by experimental conditions. • Signal crayfish personality and barrier passage behaviour were assessed. • Boldness and activity, but not sociability, were repeatable personality traits. • Crayfish demonstrated a boldness–activity behavioural syndrome. • Bolder crayfish were more motivated to pass the weir, but were not more successful. • Activity and sociability were not related to crayfish passage behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gracillariidae is one of the richest families of leaf mining moths, known by its ornamental and orchard plant pests expanding their primary ranges. We here provide a revised checklist of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) of Slovenia that presently accounts for 123 species. Among them, four species, Dialectica imperialella (Zeller, 1847), Phyllonorycter abrasella (Duponchel, 1843), Ph. trifoliella (Gerasimov, 1933), and Phyllocnistis valentinensis M. Hering, 1936, are new records for the country. The distribution of the other three species in Slovenia, Caloptilia honoratella (Rebel, 1914), Dialectica scalariella (Zeller, 1850), and Ph. messaniella (Zeller, 1846), is clarified. For the above seven species, short synopses of the bionomics, a current range, and images of biotopes, adult moths and their genitalia are provided. For P. valentinensis sampled at a larval stage, the DNA barcode was obtained to confirm the species identification. Given the known distribution of some of the newly recorded moths in Europe, we believe that these species do not represent a new invasion but rather are discoveries of native species, except for the newly documented Ph. trifoliella in Slovenia, which is likely to be an alien species for the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the occurrence of an invasive alien species, palometa Serrasalmus maculatus, in the Patos Lagoon drainage. Primary occurrence data were based on three specimens captured and preserved as vouchers in scientific collections. Additionally, we searched for secondary records from unpublished scientific sources, public agencies reports and media news to find additional reports. We discussed the possible pathways of invasion, suggesting as the vector of introduction transpositions from the Uruguay River basin. Ecological implications for ichthyofauna, environmental impacts and risk of other events of invasion in the adjoining basins are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The blue swimming crab Portunus segnis is native to the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. It entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal at the end of the 19th century and has colonized most of the eastern Mediterranean coasts, becoming an invasive species. This study describes the distribution, aggregation patterns, and spatial structure of this species in the Mediterranean Sea through a series of ecological indicators. The results indicated a long phase of establishment and a recent, rapid expansion phase. Several settlement areas, where the species continues to be reported, were found. Since 2015 P. segnis has shown a conspicuous presence in Tunisia from where it is spreading northward and eastward. The study provides an insight on the impact of P. segnis on biodiversity and ecosystem services and proposes a series of desirable management actions to mitigate the expansion of its population. Invasive alien species represent one of the main environmental emergencies and are considered by the scientific community as being among the leading causes of biodiversity loss on a global scale. Therefore, detecting their pathways, hotspot areas and invasion trends becomes extremely important also for management purposes. A systematic review on presence of Portunus segnis in the Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea was carried out in order to study the invasion paths from its entry from the Red Sea into the Suez Canal (1886) until recently (2021) through ecological indicators elaborated with GIS spatial–temporal statistics. Arrival, establishment and expansion phases and areas of P. segnis in the Mediterranean were identified. Settlement areas were detected along the Suez Canal as well as in the Levantine Sea, western Ionian Sea and Tunisian plateau ecoregions. Since 2015 a persistent area has formed in Tunisia from where the species is spreading northward and eastward. The study provides an insight on the impact of P. segnis on biodiversity and ecosystem services and proposes a series of desirable management actions to mitigate the expansion of its population. Following the 8Rs model that introduces the rules to mitigate non–indigenous species pollution, six of them (Recognize, Reduce, Replace, Reuse, Remove, and Regulate) have been identified as applicable and are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that species interactions between exotic and native species are important for determining the success of biological invasions and how influential exotic species become in invaded communities. The strength and type of interactions between species can substantially vary, however, from negative and detrimental to minimal or even positive. Increasing evidence from the literature shows that exotic species have positive interactions with native species more often than originally thought. Gaps in our theory for how population growth is limited when interactions are positive, however, restrict our understanding of the mechanisms by which exotic "facilitators" contribute to diversity maintenance in invaded systems. Here, we quantified interactions between seven native and four exotic (established nonnative) common annual plant species in the highly diverse, York Gum woodlands of Western Australia. We used a Bayesian demographic modeling approach that allowed for interaction coefficients to be positive or negative, and explored key sources of variation in species responses to native and exotic neighbors at per capita (individual) and neighborhood levels. We observed positive per capita effects from exotic neighbors on exotic focal species as well as on several native focal species. However, all focal species were, on average, inhibited by their interaction neighborhood, when the variance in identity and abundance of observed neighbors was considered. At the neighborhood scale, exotic species were found to suppress all focal species, particularly those with high intrinsic fecundity. Our study demonstrates that within‐neighborhood heterogeneity can regulate per capita positive effects of invaders, limiting runaway population growth of both natives and exotic invaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades, many Mediterranean and Ponto-Caspian aquatic invertebrate species have dispersed northwards and established as non-native species in colder regions. We hypothesized that these species have cold-tolerant traits, which facilitate dispersal into colder climates. Thanks to these traits, Southern European aquatic species are able to cross biogeographic boundaries. We downloaded the list of all alien invertebrate species that were fully aquatic (i.e. lacking terrestrial adults) from the GRIIS database and picked out those Mediterranean and Ponto-Caspian species that have undergone northwards range expansion. We identified traits that may facilitate dispersal to colder climates including the following: small size; capacity for behavioural thermoregulation; feeding habit (omnivorous, filter-feeders, food generalists); quiescence and dormancy (or diapause); freezing avoidance (presence of cryoprotectants); tolerance to low temperatures or eurythermicity; active dispersal; and enhanced reproduction. We statistically tested the null hypotheses that Mediterranean and Ponto-Caspian alien aquatic invertebrate species that dispersed into the north have all of these traits. We used contingency tables populated with raw frequency data with χ2—tests and assessed statistical significance at α of 0.05. We identified 95 Mediterranean and Ponto-Caspian alien aquatic invertebrate species that have shown northwards range extension, 10 (10%) of which were of Mediterranean origin and 85 (90%) of Ponto-Caspian origin. We found that this northwards dispersal from Southern Europe is mainly limited to a few following groups of aquatic invertebrates: small crustaceans, molluscs, cnidarians and annelids. Ability to go to diapause, hibernation or resting period, temperature tolerance and small size were the traits most commonly shared by these organisms. We conclude that Mediterranean and Ponto-Caspian aquatic invertebrate species showing northwards range expansion have cold-tolerant strategies. The traits analysed can favour the establishment of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cruise 89 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh was organized by the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology in the framework of the Program "Marine Ecosystems of the Siberian Arctic" and was conducted from September 19 to October 10, 2022. Sixty scientists from institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow State University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, VNIRO, and MES participated in the cruise. Coordinated hydrophysical, hydrochemical, biooceanological, and geochemical research and assessments of greenhouse gas concentrations in the near-surface atmosphere were carried out over the shelf and continental slope of the poorly studied eastern Kara Sea. The ecosystem of Blagopoluchiya Bay (Novaya Zemlya) and the conditions of radioactive waste disposal there were also objectives of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased mobility of people around the globe has facilitated transferring species to new environments, where some have found suitable conditions and even become invasive. False indigo‐bush (Amorpha fruticosa L.) is a plant native to North America but has intentionally or unintentionally spread over the Northern Hemisphere, where it often becomes invasive. The plant is especially easily dispersed within the watersheds of large rivers, where seasonal flooding is regular. Seeds and other propagules are buoyant, and when the water recedes, new plants emerge, forming dense thickets where only a few other species can co‐exist. In order to sustain native biodiversity, spread control is needed. However, mechanical control and eradication measures currently in use are labor demanding and costly, while application of herbicides is limited. On the other hand, the plant possesses a number of beneficial properties, such as phytochemical applications (medical and insecticidal effects), biocoenotic uses (honey plant, ornamental features), and ecosystem services (soil stabilization, provision of food for animals, and fiber and biomass for industry, e.g., nanocellulose). For the reasons above mentioned, the plant is considered quite controversial, and the paper discusses both aspects: potential detrimental effects when introduced to new habitats and its beneficial uses for human society. In addition, the paper presents alternative measures of spreading control (e.g., grazing) and argues that exploiting it for beneficial purposes might help spread control, thus covering the expenses of controlling its distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a relatively long-term pollution monitoring study between 2015 and 2021 (annually between 2015 and 2019; triennially after 2019), a total of 257 polychaete species belonging to 40 families were identified at 17 soft bottom stations (depth range: 11–89 m) along the Levantine coast of Turkey. Among them, four species belonging to Hesionidae (Oxydromus digitifera sp. nov.), Orbiniidae (Leitoscoloplos mediterranea sp. nov.), Paraonidae (Paraonis lobulata sp. nov.) and Capitellidae (Barantolla cryptogenica sp. nov.) are new to science, two species belonging to Cirratulidae (Chaetozone elakata) and Ampharetidae (Anobothrus amoureuxi) are new additions to the Mediterranean fauna and 28 species are new additions to the marine fauna of Turkey. Among the families, Spionidae (29 species), Syllidae (22 species) and Paraonidae (22 species) accounted for 28% of the total number of species, and Capitellidae, Lumbrineridae and Spionidae comprised 45% of the total number of individuals. The most dominant species in the region were Lumbrineris geldiayi, Notomastus mossambicus and Prionospio saccifera. A total of 20 alien species belonging to 12 families were found in the region, with N. mossambicus and P. saccifera accounting for more than 85% of the total number of individuals of alien species. The new species are described and compared to the closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malvastrum coromandelianum subsp. capitato‐spicatum is reported as a new record for the United Arab Emirates. Current information on the occurrence of the genus Malvastrum in the Arabian Peninsula is discussed. A key to the subspecies of Malvastrum coromandelianum and a description and illustration of the subspecies capitato‐spicatum are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oenothera speciosa Nutt. is a non-indigenous plant that is widespread in Europe, South America, Asia, and Oceania. Although in its native range it is rarely pollinated by sphingid moths, in Europe and Asia, it was found to be associated with the hummingbird hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum (Linnaeus, 1758). However, the plant–insect interaction was negative, and the moths were found with proboscides stuck to the flowers of this plant. This interaction is a relevant conservation issue that requires further studies to assess its ecological impact. This work represents the first record of the negative interaction between O. speciosa and M. stellatarum in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identified an alien praying mantis found in Japan as the giant Asian mantis Hierodula chinensis by observing the characteristics of male genitalia. Nymphs hatched from oothecae collected in Nara Prefecture, Japan, were reared in a breeding room and compared with nymphs of the native Japanese species H. patellifera. Different from H. patellifera, the H. chinensis individuals passed through 5–7 nymphal instars before emerging as adults. The body color of the H. chinensis nymphs was brownish gray in the first instar, whereas the second and later instars were green. Unlike H. chinensis, H. patellifera had mottled patterns all over its body during the first to third instar. The first to third instar nymphs of H. chinensis had mottled patterns on the femurs of their forelegs, which is a diagnostic characteristic that no native praying mantis species has. From the fourth instar, 7–10 dorsal spines were observed on the foreleg coxa of H. chinensis, whereas only 3 or 4 spines were observed in H. patellifera. These findings show that H. chinensis and H. patellifera can be distinguished in all nymphal instars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Invasive species such as vertebrate herbivores cause threats to native ecosystems through causing changes to vegetation composition and structure, competition, ecosystem engineering, impacts on soil, and through spreading disease. In the mountainous country of Australia, Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor) are becoming an increasing threat to fragile and endangered ecosystems, which are also facing other significant threats such as climate change. Methods for ameliorating these impacts are currently limited to lethal control programmes through shooting or fencing key areas. Fencing is not a viable option for large areas and can have large logistical costs as well as negative ecological outcomes. This study aimed to compare two shooting methods (ground shooting vs thermally assisted aerial culling with thermal image operator) for controlling sambar at low densities in a mountainous area. This programme was the first to use this specific thermal technique for deer in mountainous country in Australia. We found that thermally assisted aerial culling was more effective for removing Sambar than ground shooting. Thermally assisted aerial culling removed more Sambar in total, shot more animals per hour, covered a larger search area, was cheaper per hectare covered, and had very high "seen", "targeted", and "shot" ratios. Ground shooting sessions were lower in cost overall, but the cost per hectare was higher and rate of Sambar shot was lower than that of thermally assisted aerial culling. Ground shooting did remove more Sambar per hectare as ground shooting focuses on a smaller area, but this advantage is outweighed by the fact that thermally assisted shooting also allowed the concurrent removal of Feral Pigs. This work indicates that thermally assisted aerial culling is the preferred method for effective management of Sambar in an alpine environment. Ground shooting may be beneficial when Sambar are concentrated in key areas or to complement initial knock down by thermally assisted aerial culling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ecological replacements (analogue species to replace extinct taxa) to restore ecosystem functioning is a promising conservation tool. However, this approach is controversial, in part due to a paucity of data on interactions between analogue species and established taxa in the ecosystem.We conducted ecological surveys, comprehensively DNA barcoded an ecosystem's flora and inferred the diet of the introduced Aldabra giant tortoise, acting as an ecological replacement, to understand how it might have modified island plant communities on a Mauritian islet. Through further dietary analyses, we investigated consequential effects on the threatened endemic Telfair's skink.Dietary overlap between tortoises and skinks was greater than expected by chance. However, there was a negative correlation between tortoise and skink preferences in herbivory and minimal overlap in the plants most frequently consumed by the reptiles.Changes in the plant community associated with 7 years of tortoise grazing were characterised by a decrease in the percentage cover of native herbs and creepers, and an increase in the cover of an invasive herb when compared to areas without tortoises. However, tortoise dietary preferences themselves did not directly drive changes in the plant community.Tortoises successfully dispersed the seeds of an endemic palm, which in time may increase the extent of unique palm‐rich habitat. We found no evidence that tortoises have increased the extent of plant species hypothesised to be part of a lost Mauritian tortoise grazed community.Synthesis and applications. Due to a negative correlation in tortoise and skink dietary preferences and minimal overlap in the most frequently consumed taxa, the presence of tortoises is unlikely to have detrimental impacts on Telfair's skinks. Tortoise presence is likely to be beneficial to skinks in the long term by increasing the extent of palm‐rich habitat. Although tortoises are likely to play a role in controlling invasive plants, they are not a panacea for this challenge. After 7 years, tortoises have not resurrected a lost tortoise grazed community that we hypothesise might have existed in limited areas on the islet, indicating that further interventions may be required to restore this plant community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: It has been suggested that establishment of one alien invader might promote further invasions. Such a so‐called invasional meltdown could be mediated by differences in soil‐legacy effects between alien and native plants. Whether such legacy effects might depend on the diversity of the invaded community has not been explored to date.Here, we conducted a two‐phase plant–soil feedback experiment. In a soil‐conditioning phase, we grew five alien and five native species as invaders in 21 communities of one, two or four species. In the subsequent test phase, we grew five alien and five native species on the conditioned soils.We found that growth of these test species was negatively affected by soils conditioned by both a community and an invader, and particularly if the previous invader was a conspecific (i.e. negative plant–soil feedback). Alien test species suffered less from soil‐legacy effects of previous allospecific alien invaders than from the legacy effects of previous native invaders. However, this effect decreased when the soil had been co‐conditioned by a multispecies community.Our findings suggest that plant–soil feedback‐mediated invasional meltdown may depend on community diversity and therefore provide some evidence that diverse communities could increase resistance against subsequent alien invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Marketed globally, freshwater turtles are popular pets. However, the introduction of non-native species can pose a serious threat to biodiversity as well as to human health as carriers of potentially zoonotic pathogens. This update reports the distribution of two species of the Chelydridae family, i.e., the snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). Their potential impact on human health and biodiversity is also discussed. Marketed globally, freshwater turtles are popular pets. Two species of the Chelydridae family are increasingly reported in Italy: the snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). Both pose potential threats to public safety and habitat biodiversity. This update reports on their distribution and impact on biodiversity and human health. The recent increase in the number of C. serpentina in urban and rural areas suggests illegal importation into the country. Findings are reported for the north (35% and 100% for C. serpentina and M. temminckii, respectively) and the central-northern regions (60% for C. serpentina), predominantly Umbria and Latium, and the Tiber River catchment area in particular. Because omnivorous, Chelydridae species can affect native biodiversity; because they are carriers of pathogens, they endanger public health. Monitoring plans need to take account of this neglected threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long time, the systematics of Atriplex was based solely on morphological characters and leaf anatomy. The latest worldwide phylogenetic study of Atriplex significantly improved our knowledge about the relationships within the genus, but a new classification has not been put forward thus far. Here we reevaluate the taxonomy of C4-species of Atriplex that are native to Russia. Seven species are classified into two sections, A. sect. Obione (incl. A. sect. Sclerocalymma, syn. nov.) (A. altaica, A. centralasiatica, A. rosea, A. sibirica, and A. sphaeromorpha), and A. sect. Obionopsis (incl. A. sect. Psammophila, syn. nov.) (A. fominii and A. tatarica). Although the majority of Eurasian C4-species have similar morphology, leafy inflorescence is a typical character for A. sect. Obione. The members of A. sect. Obionopsis are characterised mostly by aphyllous inflorescences, but some species (A. laciniata, A. pratovii, and A. tornabenei) have leafy inflorescences. Geographically, almost all members of A. sect. Obione are confined to Central Asia, although A. rosea is a typical Mediterranean element and A. argentea occurs in North America. The representatives of A. sect. Obionopsis are distributed mostly in the Mediterranean and the Irano-Turanian floristic region. The alien status of A. rosea, A. sibirica and A. tatarica is discussed. Atriplex flabellum, a desert species from the Irano-Turanian region, is reported for the first time from Russia (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, North Siberia) as a casual alien. This species occupies a phylogenetic position distant from both aforementioned sections. An identification key to all C4-species of the genus growing in Russia is given, and a sectional checklist with updated nomenclature and revised synonymy is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the interactions involving oak acorns and associated arthropods focusing on the role of the introduced Quercus rubra in Italy.We conducted our study in areas where native oaks coexist with Q. rubra. We carried out a survey on the arthropods inhabiting fallen acorns and a colonisation experiment. Furthermore, we conducted laboratory experiments documenting the interactions among the most abundant arthropod species on Q. rubra.Acorns were colonised by ant species and carpophagous insects showing different preferences concerning acorns' position within the leaf litter and oak species. Acorns of Q. rubra were colonised frequently by ants (mostly Temnothorax nylanderi) and Cydia fagiglandana. Cydia splendana preferred native acorns, while Curculio beetles were ubiquitous. Our data suggest that ants occupy exclusively acorns previously attacked by Cydia, killing or displacing their caterpillars if still developing inside the acorns. Vertebrates may prefer to feed on Q. rubra acorns over native species.Quercus rubra has a meaningful influence on native arthropods associated with oak acorns. The ecological consequences of this interaction are still not fully clear, yet our data suggest an increase in acorn‐consuming insects, partly affecting the acorns of neighbouring native oaks, but also an increase of predatory ants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic costs of non-indigenous species (NIS) are a key factor for the allocation of efforts and resources to eradicate or control baneful invasions. Their assessments are challenging, but most suffer from major flaws. Among the most important are the following: (1) the inclusion of actual damage costs together with various ancillary expenditures which may or may not be indicative of the real economic damage due to NIS; (2) the inclusion of the costs of unnecessary or counterproductive control initiatives; (3) the inclusion of controversial NIS-related costs whose economic impacts are questionable; (4) the assessment of the negative impacts only, ignoring the positive ones that most NIS have on the economy, either directly or through their ecosystem services. Such estimates necessarily arrive at negative and often highly inflated values, do not reflect the net damage and economic losses due to NIS, and can significantly misguide management and resource allocation decisions. We recommend an approach based on holistic costs and benefits that are assessed using likely scenarios and their counter-factual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien species are considered the second greatest global threat to biodiversity. This study is aimed at determining the impacts of Parthenium hysterophorus on herbaceous and woody plant species diversity in the Ginir district, southeast Ethiopia. Data on vegetation were collected from the three study sites' four land use types, with each land use type having invaded and non-invaded land units. A systematic random sampling method was used for establishing sampling plots. To examine the impacts of the invasive on native plant diversity, a total of 160 plots (120 plots of 1 m2 on grazing lands, roadsides, and abandoned agricultural lands and 40 plots of 20 m2 for sampling herbaceous and tree (shrub) species, respectively) were established. The number of plots was equally distributed in both invaded and adjacent non-invaded areas. Plant species from each plot were recorded and identified. In each plot, all the individuals of P. hysterophorus were counted, the heights of the five tallest individuals were measured, and the mean height was calculated. The percentage cover of P. hysterophorus was visually estimated. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 105 plant species (45 trees/shrubs and 60 herbaceous) belonging to 84 genera and 42 families were documented in the study area. The result showed a strong negative relationship between the density of P. hysterophorus and other plant species richness (r = −0.82, p = 0.013) and species abundance (r = −0.917, p = 0.001) per study site of the invaded community. Species richness in the non-invaded site was higher (105 species) than in the invaded area (63 species), demonstrating the negative impact of P. hysterophorus on local biodiversity. Furthermore, the number of plant families was 42 in the non-invaded area, in contrast to only 32 in the invaded areas, a 23.8% decline. Of the plant communities, similarity indices between non-invaded and invaded sites among different land use types were >50%. It was concluded that P. hysterophorus was one of the most dominant invasive alien species in the study area that reduced the species diversity of various plant species. Putting in place a strategy and effective planning for the control and management of this invasive alien species is strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify habitat conditions, indirect ordination methods on the basis of environmental scales are used widely in Europe. However, many alien plants are absent from those scales. Bidens frondosa (Asteraceae) is an invasive alien species distributed widely in Europe. It is becoming a significant part of natural plant communities, sometimes forming monospecific stands. This study aimed to empirically determine environmental factor values using analysis of the flora accompanying B. frondosa in 22 regions of European Russia collected in a 34-year time span. In European Russia, Tsyganov environmental scales are widely used for such analyses. We determined intervals of values for each environmental factor according to Tsyganov environmental scales, namely thermoclimatic scale (TM: 7.3–9.4), climate continentality (KN: 6.0–9.4), climate aridity/humidity (OM: 6.1–8.6), cryoclimatic scale (CR: 5.3–8.8), soil moisture (HD: 9.9–17.6), scale of the soil salt regimen (TR: 5.1–10.7), soil nitrogen availability (NT: 4.4–8.5), soil pH (RC: 4.8–8.8), habitat shading (LC: 2.0–4.5), and soil-moisture variability (FH: 0.7–5.9). These data on environmental factor values can be further used in ordination analyses of plant communities where B. frondosa appears in the subzone of coniferous-deciduous forests of Eastern Europe. Results of this study demonstrate the ecological preferences of this species and can be used to determine conditions of habitats invaded by B. frondosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the experimental plantings of the alien species Bethlehem lungwort Pulmonaria saccharata, the transport of phytotoxic phenols with leaf leachates into the soil of the subcronal area was detected. At a concentration from 0 to 15.7 µg/mL in the leachates, the phenol content in the soil reached 13.9 µg/g. The biomass of vegetation growing from the seed bank depended significantly on the accumulation of phenolic substances by the soil, the intensity of vegetative reproduction of P. saccharate, and the solar illumination. The effect of density-dependent allelopathy caused a lag-phase in the accumulation of phenols by the soil. A model of the phenologically ordered interaction of competitive traits of a species, including an allelopathic factor, is proposed. It is noted that the proposed approach can help clarify the specificity of the influence of alien species on native species and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of invasive insect species causes enormous ecological damage and economic losses worldwide. A reliable method that tracks back an invaded insect's origin would be of great use to entomologists, phytopathologists, and pest managers. The spongy moth (Lymantria dispar, Linnaeus 1758) is a persistent invasive pest in the Northeastern United States and periodically causes major defoliations in temperate forests. We analyzed field‐captured (Europe, Asia, United States) and laboratory‐reared L. dispar specimens for their natal isotopic hydrogen and nitrogen signatures imprinted in their biological tissues (δ2H and δ15N) and compared these values to the long‐term mean δ2H of regional precipitation (Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation) and δ15N of regional plants at the capture site. We established the percentage of hydrogen–deuterium exchange for L. dispar tissue (Pex = 8.2%) using the comparative equilibration method and two‐source mixing models, which allowed the extraction of the moth's natal δ2H value. We confirmed that the natal δ2H and δ15N values of our specimens are related to the environmental signatures at their geographic origins. With our regression models, we were able to isolate potentially invasive individuals and give estimations of their geographic origin. To enable the application of these methods on eggs, we established an egg‐to‐adult fraction factor for L. dispar (Δegg‐adult = 16.3 ± 4.3‰). Our models suggested that around 25% of the field‐captured spongy moths worldwide were not native in the investigated capture sites. East Asia was the most frequently identified location of probable origin. Furthermore, our data suggested that eggs found on cargo ships in the United States harbors in Alaska, California, and Louisiana most probably originated from Asian L. dispar in East Russia. These findings show that stable isotope biomarkers give a unique insight into invasive insect species pathways, and thus, can be an effective tool to monitor the spread of insect pest epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. material 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impacts of biological invasions are diverse and can have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems. The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, is a major invasive pest of fruits, which negatively affects fruit and wine production. However, little is known about the ecological impact of this fly species on more natural ecosystems it has invaded, such as forests. In this study, we investigated the use of potential host plants by D. suzukii at 64 sites in different forest communities in Switzerland from mid-June to midOctober 2020. We examined more than 12,000 fruits for egg deposits of D. suzukii to assess its direct impact on the plants. We recorded symptoms of fruit decay after egg deposition to determine if D. suzukii attacks trigger fruit decay. In addition, we monitored the drosophilid fauna with cup traps baited with apple cider vinegar, as we expected that D. suzukii would outnumber and potentially outcompete native controphics, especially other drosophilids. Egg deposits of D. suzukii were found on the fruits of 31 of the 39 potential host plant species studied, with 18 species showing an attack rate > 50%. Overall, fruits of Cotoneaster divaricatus (96%), Atropa bella-donna (91%), Rubus fruticosus corylifolius aggr. (91%), Frangula alnus (85%) and Sambucus nigra (83%) were attacked particularly frequently, resulting also in high predicted attack probabilities that varied among forest communities. Later and longer fruiting, black fruit colour, larger fruit size and higher pulp pH all positively affected attack rates. More than 50% of the plant species showed severe symptoms of decay after egg deposition, with higher pulp sugar content leading to more severe symptoms. The high fruit attack rate observed was reflected in a high abundance and dominance of D. suzukii in trap catches, independent of forest community and elevation. Drosophila suzukii was by far the most abundant species, accounting for 86% (81,395 individuals) of all drosophilids. The abundance of D. suzukii was negatively associated with the abundance of the native drosophilids. Our results indicate that the invasive D. suzukii competes strongly with other frugivorous species and that its presence might have far-reaching ecosystem-level consequences. The rapid decay of fruits attacked by D. suzukii leads to a loss of resources and may disrupt seed-dispersal mutualisms through the reduced consumption of fruits by dispersers such as birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cosmopolitan black field earwig, Nala lividipes (Dufour, 1820) (Dermaptera: Labiduridae) is observed for the first time in Greece. A photographic record was obtained by the first author in 2016, from Salamis Island followed by a photographic citizen-science observation from Rhodes in 2021. Despite frequent inspections and efforts to raise public awareness, no additional samples or observations have been recovered. The poor study of Dermaptera in Greece and the absence of early warning systems for alien insects, may have delayed the detection of this alien species in the country. However, given the agricultural significance of N. lividipes, a short description is given to assist further data collection and monitoring. Finally, the potential establishment of the earwig in Greece, along with the impacts on the native flora and fauna are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera Royle) belongs to invasive alien species of European Union concern. Acquisition of the new molecular data from a geographical point of view might be valuable getting ideas about the nowadays invasion steps of I. glandulifera to more northern and eastern parts of the Europe, the source population(s) in the local scale as well as for elucidation of the patterns of the spread of alien species in Lithuania. In the period of 2010-2019, 95 sites of I. glandulifera were recorded in Lithuania. The present study was aimed at evaluation of genetic diversity at microsatellite loci of Lithuanian populations of I. glandulifera. For molecular analysis employing 9 microsatellite (simple sequence repeats, SSR) markers, a total of 20 Lithuanian populations of I. glandulifera (15 individuals in each) were used. Allelic richness (AR) ranged from 1.1 to 1.39 per population, and the expected heterozygosity (HE) ranged from 0.10 to 0.39 per one. No significant correlation (according to Mantel test) between the geographic distances and genetic differentiation was determined between the Lithuanian populations of I. glandulifera. AMOVA showed that variability within the populations (56.2%) was higher than that among the populations (43.7%). According to the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), three principal axes explained 60% of the total genetic variation of populations. Significant results were obtained when the populations were grouped according to the five geographical areas of Lithuania: variation among the groups comprised 5.73% of the total variation. Bayesian clustering analysis indicated the highest ΔK values at K = 12, and the next highest value was K = 3. It may indicate the multiple introductions of I. glandulifera to Lithuania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien animals cause drastic and negative impacts on biota and ecosystems. The feral donkey Equus asinus is an invasive alien species in Saudi Arabia. Damage to farms and plants consumed by feral donkeys was studied between Al-Ula and Al-Wajh governorates to spot their harmful effects in this region and propose possible solutions to the problems they caused. Surveys and direct interviews, and conversations with farmers and villagers were the selected methods used to collect information. As a result, prevention and management actions were suggested to decrease the number of feral donkeys. In addition, a good investment potential was proposed to get some benefits from them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive models of species distribution, including several parakeets, may be very useful for understanding the actual and potential distribution of alien species. The Ring-necked Parakeet and the Monk Parakeet are two alien species found in the Veneto region (north-east Italy) that are well-suited for conducting potential distribution studies to identify suitable areas of occurrence. In this paper, I use the MAXENT algorithm to predict the potential distribution maps of these species in the Veneto region, which finds the probability distribution of maximum entropy that is constrained by the ecological parameters considered. The authors of the Veneto photo-sound atlas kindly provided presence data for the two species. The potential distribution models for the two parakeets performed very well overall (AUC = 0.966 for Ring-necked Parakeet and AUC = 0.987 for Monk Parakeet) and indicated that high suitability areas correspond primarily to areas near known occurrences of the species. Overall, the study found that the presence of the species in provinces other than those with large populations is highly unlikely. The distribution maps produced can aid in the selection of monitoring areas for these two alien species' populations and potential expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knotweeds (Fallopia spp., syn. Reynoutria spp.) are among the most invasive plants globally, mainly due to their ability to regenerate from rhizomes and their extremely high biomass production. Spraying with glyphosate is a common control method, yet little is known about its effectiveness on underground rhizomes. In addition, there are concerns about the negative environmental impact of glyphosate. Therefore, it is essential to use appropriate dosages and application times to avoid overuse. Based on a pot trial and field experiments, we assessed the effectiveness of glyphosate concentration, application time, and influence of glyphosate on rhizomes from different soil depths to determine their effect on the aboveground and belowground parts of knotweed plants of different taxa. The study demonstrates that sampling rhizomes is a more consistently accurate indicator of knotweed regeneration rate than sampling shoots. Regeneration of shoots and rhizomes was affected differently by glyphosate spraying depending on the application time. The effect on rhizomes was much greater with early season spraying than late season spraying, which primarily reduced shoot biomass. However, no differences were found between rhizome vitality at different soil depths. F. sachalinensis was sufficiently controlled by early season foliar spray with 5% glyphosate (3.65 kg a.i. ha−1) in contrast to F. japonica and F. ×bohemica. For rapid and targeted control, early season foliar spray with 8% glyphosate (5.85 kg a.i. ha−1) is needed and, in the case of the hybrid, for a minimum of two consecutive seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spider family Pholcidae includes several species that have followed humans to other continents and around the world. Negative impacts of these species on the local faunas have never been reported. Here, we present results of a short collecting trip to Galápagos in 2019, focusing on two species that have been introduced to the archipelago by humans and whose spread appears correlated with, if not causally linked to, the decline or disappearance of two native species occupying the same micro-habitats: 1) the local abundance of the introduced Modisimus culicinus (Simon, 1893) appears negatively correlated with the abundance of the native Galapa bella (Gertsch & Peck, 1992), and 2) the recently introduced Smeringopus pallidus (Blackwall, 1858) is now abundant in caves where a few decades ago the native Aymaria jarmila (Gertsch & Peck, 1992) was present. The last species was not found in any of the six caves visited on Santa Cruz Island in 2019, suggesting that it may be seriously threatened. In addition, we present new records of Pholcidae from Galápagos and re-emphasize the need to reconsider the distinction between the two epigean Aymaria species on Galápagos: A. conica (Banks, 1902) and A. insularis (Banks, 1902). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spider family Pholcidae includes several species that have followed humans to other continents and around the world. Negative impacts of these species on the local faunas have never been reported. Here, we present results of a short collecting trip to Galápagos in 2019, focusing on two species that have been introduced to the archipelago by humans and whose spread appears correlated with, if not causally linked to, the decline or disappearance of two native species occupying the same microhabitats: 1) the local abundance of the introduced Modisimus culicinus (Simon, 1893) appears negatively correlated with the abundance of the native Galapa bella (Gertsch & Peck, 1992), and 2) the recently introduced Smeringopus pallidus (Blackwall, 1858) is now abundant in caves where a few decades ago the native Aymaria jarmila (Gertsch & Peck, 1992) was present. The last species was not found in any of the six caves visited on Santa Cruz Island in 2019, suggesting that it may be seriously threatened. In addition, we present new records of Pholcidae from Galápagos and re-emphasize the need to reconsider the distinction between the two epigean Aymaria species on Galápagos: A. conica (Banks, 1902) and A. insularis (Banks, 1902). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking into account that the previous quantitative data relating to the Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri of Genoa (Liguria, Italy) dates back to 2009 and considering the potential impact that an alien species can have on native ones and the environment, the Genoese population of this species was studied during the years 2016-2018 to quantify its size and trend in recent years. Counts at roost resulted in a total of approximately 630 individuals, allowing us to outline the increase of the population since the first records in the 1970s: the number of individuals has rised from 46 in 1993 to more than 600 today. Data on food resources used were collected and the list of plants that parakeets feed on has been expanded. Interactions with local fauna were investigated: they turned out to be few and related to Jackdaw Corvus monedula and Urban Pigeon Columba livia var. domestica. Impacts on citizens and their activities were more consistent: damages to vegetables and garden crops were observed and the presence of roosting sites caused filth and noise. The main travel routes to and from the main dormitories were also detected during the censuses. We could also confirm the disappearance from the territory of Genoa city of the Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Non‐native species threaten ecosystems worldwide, but we poorly know why some species invade more. Functional traits, residence time and native range size have been often used as invasion predictors. Here, we advance in the field by linking invasion success to native range parameters derived from dark diversity – a set of species present in the surrounding region that are absent in a study location even if ecological conditions are suitable. We tested whether those parameters improve the description of species success outside their native range. Location: North America; Europe and Mediterranean Basin. Methods: For 170 tree species native in one and non‐native in another region, we defined their invasion success as the number of locations occupied at the non‐native range. The probabilistic dark diversity was estimated based on the species co‐occurrences in their native ranges. It specifies how suitable is a species for a location, even if the species is absent. We calculated two parameters: sum of native location suitabilities (niche breadth proxy) and dark diversity probability (how often a species is absent from suitable locations, indicating niche realization limitations). We explored whether models including the dark diversity parameters performed better than one with a common species range measure, the number of locations occupied. We accomplished our models by adding functional traits, residence time and invasion direction. Results: Invasion success increased with the sum of native location suitabilities and decreased with dark diversity probability. This model with dark diversity parameters outperformed an alternative using the number of native locations occupied. Our best model included invasion direction, functional traits (including mycorrhizal status) and residence time, but dark diversity parameters remained important predictors. Main conclusions: The dark diversity parameters can contribute to invasion ecology by linking the species performance in the non‐native range to its niches parameters, derived from the native range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquatic ornamental industry, whilst providing socio-economic benefits, is a known introduction pathway for non-native species, which if invasive, can cause direct impacts to native species and ecosystems and also drive disease emergence by extending the geographic range of associated parasites and pathogens and by facilitating host-switching, spillover and spill-back. Although current UK temperatures are typically below those necessary for the survival and establishment of commonly-traded tropical, and some subtropical, non-native ornamental species, the higher water temperatures predicted under climate-change scenarios are likely to increase the probability of survival and establishment. Our study aimed primarily to identify which of the commonly-traded non-native ornamental aquatic species (fish and invertebrates), and their pathogens and parasites, are likely to benefit in terms of survival and establishment in UK waters under predicted future climate conditions. Out of 233 ornamental species identified as traded in the UK, 24 were screened, via literature search, for potential parasites and pathogens (PPPs) due to their increased risk of survival and establishment under climate change. We found a total of 155 PPPs, the majority of which were platyhelminths, viruses and bacteria. While many of the identified PPPs were already known to occur in UK waters, PPPs currently absent from UK waters and with zoonotic potential were also identified. Results are discussed in the context of understanding potential impact, in addition to provision of evidence to inform risk assessment and mitigation approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most risk analysis studies in invasion biology have focused on the invasiveness of non-native species, even though some native species also can pose a high risk to the environment and human well-being. This is especially true under current global change, which may cause dominant native species to expand their range of distribution and have substantial effects on the ecosystem. In this study, the risk of invasiveness of five non-native and five native plant species in Turkey was evaluated using a standard risk screening protocol. All ten species selected for screening are known to be invasive in several parts of the world, i.e. non-native Ailanthus altissima, Cuscuta campestris, Phytolacca americana, Robinia pseudoacacia and Sicyos angulatus, and native Cirsium arvense, Hedera helix, Onopordum acanthium, Phragmites australis and Sorghum halepense. The Australian Weed Risk Assessment decision-support tool adapted to Turkey's geographical and climatic conditions was used for screening the study species based on their biological traits, ecology and management approaches. All species were classified as high-risk, with R. pseudoacacia among non-natives and P. australis among natives achieving the highest scores followed by S. halepense, C. campestris, C. arvense, O. acanthium, P. americana, S. angulatus, A. altissima and H. helix. Based on their risk scores, all non-native species were classified as invasive and all native species as 'expanding' for Turkey. An ordination based on the risk scores showed similarities between invasive and expanding species. The outcomes of this study indicate that species can have several risk-related traits resulting in high risk scores irrespective of their origin. Such species can modify their environment and interact with other species with severe consequences for biodiversity. It is argued that dominant species with highly negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts in their habitats should be included in priority lists for management measures irrespective of their origin (i.e. native or non-native). More studies are needed to evaluate the magnitude and prevalence of the present findings for other regions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]