Increase in distribution of invasive alien plants in Slovakia
An assessment of the distribution and temporal changes in distribution of invasive alien plants was carried out between 2017–2021 in areas of non-forest and forest habitats in the central part of Slovakia. The study area was located in the western part of the Revúcka Highlands and covered 169 024 km2 with an altitudinal range from 200 to 700 m above sea level. During the study period, 242 locations with invasive alien plant occurrences were recorded. In total, 11 species were recorded (Table 1). 10 of the 11 species showed an increase in distribution (occurrences m2) over the course of the study. Asclepias syriaca was recorded in the studied area for the first time in 2020 and the area in which it occurred increased by 60 % in the second year. Datura stramonium increased by 2 150 % in 2021 compared to the values from 2017. Fallopia japonica increased by 507 % in 2021 compared to the distribution measured in 2017. Helianthus tuberosus was recorded for the first time in 2018. The increase in area in 2021 was 119 %. Impatiens glandulifera increased up to 833 % between 2017 and 2021. Acer negundo did not increase its area or the number of individuals in the studied area. The area with the occurrence of Robinia pseudoacacia increased by 487 % from 2017 to 2021. Solidago canadensis was shown to increase by 193 % from 2017 to 2021 and Erigeron annus by 1 680 %. The spread of invasive alien plants seen in the central part of Slovakia can be attributed to a number of factors including natural wind dispersal of seeds, such as Erigeron annus, as well as human assisted spread through land management and agricultural practices (contaminants of machinery).
Table 1. Eleven invasive alien plants recorded in the current study (EPPO List of IAP = EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants)
Species | Family | EPPO Status | Origin |
Acer negundo | Sapindaceae | Americas | |
Ailanthus altissima | Simaroubaceae | EPPO List of IAP | Asia |
Asclepias syriaca | Apocynaceae | EPPO List of IAP | N. America |
Datura stramonium | Solanaceae | Americas | |
Erigeron annuus | Asteraceae | N. America | |
Fallopia japonica | Polygonaceae | EPPO List of IAP | Asia |
Helianthus tuberosus | Asteraceae | EPPO List of IAP | N. America |
Impatiens glandulifera | Balsaminaceae | EPPO List of IAP | India, Pakistan, Nepal |
Impatiens parviflora | Balsaminaceae | C. Asia | |
Robinia pseudoacacia | Fabaceae | N. America | |
Solidago canadensis | Asteraceae | EPPO List of IAP | Americas |
Sources
Wittlinger L, Petrikovičová L, Petrovič F, Petrikovič J (2022) Geographical distribution and spatio-temporal changes in the occurrence of invasive plant species in Slovak Republic. Biosystems Diversity 30, 105-118.