EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 02 - 2024 Num. article: 2024/045

Horizon scanning for potential invasive alien species for Spain


Horizon scanning for potential invasive alien species is an important exercise which can identify threats early on and therefore enable mitigation measures against certain species before they enter a region. Horizon scanning was conducted for Spain in a three staged approach involving (1) thematic groups of experts were established (e.g. on plants, terrestrial invertebrates), (2) data collection and preliminary evaluation of species, and (3) consensus ranking of potential invasive alien species. The final consensus found 47 invasive alien species pose a very high risk of arrival, establishment and negative ecological impact in Spain. Of these, 11 species were alien plant species (Table 1).


Table 1. Potential invasive alien species for Spain.


Species

Family 

EPPO Status

Cabomba caroliniana

Cabombaceae

List of Invasive Alien Plants

Crassula helmsii

Crassulaceae

EPPO A2 List

Fallopia x bohemica

Polygonaceae

List of Invasive Alien Plants

Hydrilla verticillata

Hydrocharitaceae

List of Invasive Alien Plants

Lagarosiphon major

Hydrocharitaceae

List of Invasive Alien Plants

Ligustrum sinense

Oleaceae


Miscanthus sinensis

Poaceae

EPPO Observation List

Prunus serotina

Rosaceae

List of Invasive Alien Plants

Pueraria montana var. lobata

Fabaceae

EPPO A2 List

Salvinia molesta

Salviniaceae

EPPO A2 List

Sphagneticola trilobata

Asteraceae



Sources

Cano-Barbacil C, Carrete M, Castro-Díez P, Delibes-Mateos M, Jaques JA, Lopez-Darias M, Nogales M, Pino J, Ros M, Traveset A, Turon X, Vilá M, Altamirano M, Álvarez I, Arias A, Boix D, Cabido C, Cacabelos E, Cobo F, Cruz J, Cuesta JA, Dáder B, del Estal P, Gallardo B, Gómez Laporta M, González-Moreno P, Hernández JC, Jiménez-Alfaro B, Lázaro Lobo A, Leza M, Montserrat M, Oliva-Paterna FJ, Piňeiro L, Ponce C, Pons P, Rotchés-Ribalta R, Roura-Pascual N, Sánchez M, Trillo A, Viňuela E, García-Berthou E (2023) Identification of potential invasive alien species in Spain through horizon scanning. Journal of Environmental Managementhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118696