Mapping of alien species of Asclepias syriaca and Fallopia japonica populations in the agricultural landscape

Abstract

In recent years, Asclepias syriaca, a invasive neophyte, has spread aggressively in intensively farmed agricultural landscape in the Central Slovakia. In 2011, it had colonized the area of 100 654 m 2 in abandonment vineyards and permanent grasslands in the district of Veľký Krtíš (South Slovakia). We found the infiltration of these plants into the stands of Triticum aestivum and Helianthus annuus. No management measures were taken. In contrast, the second studied invasive plant Fallopia japonica had occupied area lower by 93 % (7276 m 2 ), but spread across higher number of sites (19) on the banks of the brooks and along the roads. Regulated populations accounted for only 11% of the total area occupied by F. japonica. Low correlation dependence was found between the size of the area and population density of A. syriaca (r = 0.50) and F. japonica (r = 0.56). . Šírenie druhu sme zaznamenali pozdĺž cestných komunikácií (59,8 %) a pozdĺž obidvoch brehov potoka Krtíš (40,2 %). Regulované populácie tvorili iba 11 % z celkovej plochy obsadenej pohánkovcom japonským. Nízka korelačná závislosť bola zistená medzi plochou a hustotou jedincov A. syriaca (r = 0,50) a F. japonica (r = 0,56). Predpokladáme ďalšie šírenie obidvoch druhov neofytov, najmä prenikanie glejovky americkej do poľných kultúr. Keywords

Multi-Year Monitoring of Asclepias syriaca L. Spread in the Deliblato Sands Protected Reserve in Serbia

“…As there is no natural vegetation on these areas, the spread of the common milkweed is strongly favoured. Similar results have been published by Paukova et al [68]. They found that A. syriaca spreads into natural habitats from abandoned vineyards as well as from uncultivated areas where monocultures such as sunflowers were grown.…”

Invasive alien plants along roadsides in Europe

“…In other European countries, namely in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, it occurs noticeably along roadsides (e.g. Pauková et al ., ; Rutkowski et al ., ). Thus, A. syriaca may become more widespread in the future along roadsides, aided by its strong colonizing abilities and the turbulence of passing vehicles that may enhance the wind dispersal of its seeds (Wyatt et al ., ).…”

Roads support the spread of invasive Asclepias syriaca in Austria

“…In its native range, A. syriaca is a common element of the roadside vegetation (e.g., Hartzler and Buhler, 2000). In its invaded range, likewise in the Marchfeld region, the species can be found along roadsides in neighboring countries such as Hungary (Bagi, 2008), Slovakia (Pauková et al, 2014), the Czech Republic (Kaplan et al, 2017), Serbia (Popov, 2016), Poland (Rutowski et al, 2015, and the Ukraine (Dvirna, 2018). The specific ecological properties of roadsides (e.g., light and soil conditions) seem to favor A. syriaca, and, concurrently, it is also believed that its life history characteristics (i.e., rhizomes up to 1 m depth) buffer the species against harsh environmental conditions (e.g., drought).…”

“…A. syriaca is a strong competitor because it develops large, dense, and persistent populations (Bagi, 2008) and it has effective chemical defense mechanisms against herbivory (Agrawal, 2004). It has become increasingly abundant in central and southern Europe (e.g., Bagi, 2008;Pauková et al, 2014;Rutkowski et al, 2015;Popov, 2016;Dvirna, 2018). In Austria, its spatiotemporal distribution has not been systematically investigated, although the species is considered to be at an early stage of invasion.…”