EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 03 - 2024 Num. article: 2024/074

Invasive alien plants on the Island of Pantelleria (Italy)


Island biodiversity is typically more vulnerable to invasive alien species compared to mainland areas. The volcanic island of Pantelleria (Italy) is a designated national park, located in the centre of the Sicily Channel, between Tunisia and Sicily and has a native vascular flora comprising over 600 taxa. The island has a surface area of 85 km2 with a maximum altitude of 836 m a.s.l. As with many island habitats, Pantelleria is at risk from anthropogenic influences, climate change, and invasive alien plant species. Although most taxa showed a relatively limited distribution, many of the non-native species are increasing their abundance and area, with the potential to be invasive species on the island in the near future (Table 1). The currently limited occurrences of these species suggests they are in the early stages of the invasion curve, when intervention is feasible and most likely to succeed. Prioritizing species for management can contribute to the conservation of native species and the preservation of the ecosystem of Pantelleria. Cenchrus setaceus (Poaceae) is reported for the first time as established on the island and it shows invasive behaviour.


Table 1. Examples of alien plant species on the island of Pantelleria.

Species

Family

EPPO Status

Origin

Acacia saligna

Fabaceae

L IAP*

Australia

Ailanthus altissima

Simaroubaceae

L IAP

Asia

Boerhavia coccinea

Nyctaginaceae

None

Americas

Carpobrotus edulis

Aizoaceae

L IAP

South Africa

Cenchrus setaceus 

Poaceae

L IAP

Africa, Asia

Leucaena leucocephala subsp. glabrata

Fabaceae

L IAP

North & Central America

Malephora crocea

Aizoaceae

None

South Africa

Melia azedarach

Meliaceae

None

Asia, Oceania

Nicotiana glauca

Solanaceae

None

South America

Opuntia ficus-indica

Cactaceae

None

Central America

Parkinsonia aculeata

Fabaceae

None

Americas

Washingtonia robusta 

Arecaceae

None

North America

* L IAP = EPPO List of Invasive Alien Plants 



Sources

Minissale P, Cambria S, Montoleone E, Tavilla G, Giusso del Galdo G, Sciandrello S, Badalamenti E, La Mantia T (2023) The alien vascular flora of the Pantelleria Island National Park (Sicily Channel, Italy): new insights into the distribution of some potentially invasive species. BioInvasions Records 12(4), 861–885.