The Possible Role of Bird Migrations on Introduction and Spread of Invasive Alien Plants: A Case Study, Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.

Abstract

Solanum elaeagnifolium (SOLEL), a native plant of the Americas is a highly spread invasive alien species worldwide with impacts on biodiversity and agriculture worldwide. It has a long history in Mediterranean basin and the Middle East where is Türkiye located but there was no record except one recorded in 2006 from the eastern Mediterranean of Türkiye of which introduction was attributed to migrating birds. Despite widespread and large populations in neighboring countries, not detecting SOLEL in Türkiye was questionable. The aim of the study to check populations of SOLEL in Türkiye and understand why less population Turkey already have had. Two areas were selected near the country borders of Türkiye where also have known as migrating bird routes. Areas were visited several times in 2020 to 2023 to find out SOLEL populations. New populations were detected in 2020-2023 in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Regions of Turkey, where are over 1000 km apart from each other. SOLEL populations and bird migration routes through Türkiye and countries SOLEL has already been recorded were compared to find out the role of birds as an introductory pathway for an invasive alien plant as well as spread of plants. The introduction pathway for SOLEL as speculated in the first record in Türkiye migrated bird’s routes which has been shown for some other plants in other geographies in earlier literature.