EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 09 - 2015 Num. article: 2015/179

EU study on horizon scanning for invasive alien species


Horizon scanning is a systematic examination of potential threats and opportunities within a given context. It is an important tool in the management of invasive alien species for the EU. Through horizon scanning exercises, invasive alien plants that are currently absent or have a limited occurrence in the EU, can be identified and preventative action can be taken. The EU funded horizon scanning exercise (ENV. B.2/ETU/2014/0016) compiled a list of 250 species from across five thematic groups (plants, vertebrates, terrestrial invertebrates, marine species and freshwater invertebrates and fish) and through workshops, discussions and consensual agreement between experts species were ranked in priority for risk assessment. The study identified 95 species that present a very high or high risk of arrival, establishment, spread and threat to biodiversity and associated ecosystem services across the EU over the next ten years. Of these 95 species, 24 are plant species (Table 1).


Table 1. Twenty four alien plant species that were found by the study to represent a very high (bold) or high risk to the EU within the next ten years.

Species
Family
Native range
Risk score
Alternanthera philoxeroides (EPPO A2 List)
Amaranthaceae
South America
625
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides (EPPO Observation List)
Asteraceae
Asia/South America
625
Lygodium japonicum
Lygodiaceae
Asia
625
Andropogon virginicus (EPPO Observation List)
Poaceae
North America
500
Celastrus orbiculatus
Celastraceae
Asia
500
Cortaderia jubata
Poaceae
South America
500
Euonymus fortunei
Celastraceae
Asia
500
Euonymus japonicus
Celastraceae
Asia
500
Lespedeza juncea
Fabaceae
Asia/Australia
500
Ligustrum sinense
Oleaceae
Asia
500
Lonicera maackii
Caprifoliaceae
Asia
500
Lonicera morrowii
Caprifoliaceae
Asia
500
Microstegium vimineum (EPPO A2 List)
Poaceae
Asia
500
Prosopis juliflora
Fabaceae
North/South America
500
Prunus campanulata
Rosaceae
Asia
320
Rubus rosifolius
Rosaceae
Asia/Australia
320
Triadica sebifera
Euphorbiaceae
Asia
300
Cinnamomum camphora
Lauraceae
Asia
400
Clematis terniflora
Ranunculaceae
Asia
400
Ehrharta calycina
Poaceae
Africa
400
Sphagneticola trilobata
Asteraceae
South America
400
Chromolaena odorata
Asteraceae
South America
320
Cryptostegia grandiflora
Apocynaceae
Madagascar
320
Albizia lebbeck
Fabaceae
Asia/Australia
300



Sources

EU website

Roy HE, Adriaens T, Aldridge DC, Bacher S, Bishop JDD, Blackburn TM, Branquart E, Brodie J, Carboneras C, Cook, EJ, Copp GH, Dean HJ, Eilenberg J, Essl F, Gallardo B, Garcia M, García-Berthou E, Genovesi P, Hulme PE, Kenis M, Kerckhof F, Kettunen M, Minchin D, Nentwig W, Nieto A, Pergl, J, Pescott O, Peyton J, Preda C, Rabitsch W, Roques A, Rorke S, Scalera R, Schindler S, Schönrogge K, Sewell J, Solarz W, Stewart A, Tricarico E, Vanderhoeven S, van der Velde, G, Vilà M, Wood CA, Zenetos A (2015) Invasive Alien Species - Prioritising prevention efforts through horizon scanning ENV.B.2/ETU/2014/0016. European Commission.