European map of alien plant invasions based on the quantitative assessment across habitats

Abstract

Aim Recent studies using vegetation plots have demonstrated that habitat type is a good predictor of the level of plant invasion, expressed as the proportion of alien to all species. At local scale, habitat types explain the level of invasion much better than alien propagule pressure. Moreover, it has been shown that patterns of habitat invasion are consistent among European regions with contrasting climates, biogeography, history and socioeconomic background. Here we use these findings as a basis for mapping the level of plant invasion in Europe. Location European Union and some adjacent countries. Methods We used 52,480 vegetation plots from Catalonia (NE Spain), Czech Republic and Great Britain to quantify the levels of invasion by neophytes (alien plant species introduced after ad 1500) in 33 habitat types. Then we estimated the proportion of each of these habitat types in CORINE land‐cover classes and calculated the level of invasion for each class. We projected the levels of invasion on the CORINE land‐cover map of Europe, extrapolating Catalonian data to the Mediterranean bioregion, Czech data to the Continental bioregion, British data to the British Isles and combined Czech–British data to the Atlantic and Boreal bioregions. Results The highest levels of invasion were predicted for agricultural, urban and industrial land‐cover classes, low levels for natural and semi‐natural grasslands and most woodlands, and the lowest levels for sclerophyllous vegetation, heathlands and peatlands. The resulting map of the level of invasion reflected the distribution of these land‐cover classes across Europe. Main conclusions High level of invasion is predicted in lowland areas of the temperate zone of western and central Europe and low level in the boreal zone and mountain regions across the continent. Low level of invasion is also predicted in the Mediterranean region except its coastline, river corridors and areas with irrigated agricultural land.

Alien plant species and factors of invasiveness of anthropogenic vegetation in the Northwestern Balkans — a phytosociological approach

“…The Mediterranean region is less invaded than temperate Europe [53], but a high level of invasion is still evident on the coast and in larger urban areas. Gasso et al [44] designate these areas as hot spots of invasive plant richness.…”

The genus Acacia as invader: the characteristic case of Acacia dealbata Link in Europe

“…Therefore, it is difficult to separate the effect of changing environmental factors, biotic factors (e.g. species interactions) and human activities on species diversity (Chytrý et al, 2009). Some authors, on a local scale, thought that habitat types explain the level of invasion much better than alien propagule pressure.…”

Comparison of leaf decomposition and macroinvertebrate colonization between exotic and native trees in a freshwater ecosystem

“…Exotic species can cause alterations on nutrient cycles and community structures (Royer et al 1999;Ehrenfeld 2003;Harner et al 2009). River corridors, lowland areas, and irrigated lands are among the most susceptible habitats to plant invasions in Europe (Chytry et al 2009), especially in Mediterranean regions, where summer aridity prevents many exotics from establishing. Our study focuses on two widely distributed exotic species: the tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima (Mill.)…”