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Alien Plant Species
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Alien Plant Species

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 5904

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ilda Vagge

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, I-20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: geobotany; plant community; landscape ecology; agroforestry; landscape design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Alien species invasion is described as one of the causes of biodiversity loss by many scientific studies and reports from world organizations such as the IUCN and UN. This not only concerns natural and semi-natural habitats but also anthropic environments. Biodiversity loss alters the structure of ecosystems as well as their functionalities, and it leads to a decline in the supply of ecosystem services as well as economic losses and human health issues.

The aim of this Special Issue is to take stock of the impact of alien plant species on plant communities. It is necessary to understand how alien plant species impact ecosystems in different environmental contexts, from the simple role of companion species to the role of dominant and invasive species. What are the strategies of colonisation and adaptation to environmental conditions of alien plant communities? Which natural phytocoenoses do they replace? The aim is also to understand the most effective strategies for containing and combating the invasion of the most dangerous and impactful alien species.

For this Special Issue, we would like to collect work covering many geographical areas of the world, so as to have a complete overview of the impact of alien plant communities, which is also useful for nature conservation and environmental restoration and recovery work. 

Prof. Dr. Ilda Vagge
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • invasive species
  • plant interactions
  • biological invasion
  • alien flora
  • biogeography
  • molecular ecology
  • biodiversity conservation
  • climate change

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 11768 KiB  
Article
The Invasive Weed Trianthema portulacastrum in Israel
by Yaakov Goldwasser, Onn Rabinowitz, Guy Achdary, Omer Kapiluto, Jackline Abu-Nasser, Evgeny Smirnov and Hanan Eizenberg
Plants 2024, 13(4), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040518 - 14 Feb 2024
Viewed by 572
Abstract
Trianthema portulacastrum L. (Aizoaceae), commonly known as desert horse purslane or black pigweed, is a C4 dicot succulent annual herb that is widespread in Southeast Asia, tropical America, Africa, and Australia. In Israel, it is an invasive weed of increasing importance in agricultural [...] Read more.
Trianthema portulacastrum L. (Aizoaceae), commonly known as desert horse purslane or black pigweed, is a C4 dicot succulent annual herb that is widespread in Southeast Asia, tropical America, Africa, and Australia. In Israel, it is an invasive weed of increasing importance in agricultural fields. The aim of this study was to investigate the biology of this invasive weed and its spread in the Hula Valley of Israel. Initial studies included the investigation of the T. portulacastrum specimens held at the Israel National Herbarium. On-site surveillance for the identification of weed infestation locations was conducted in the Hula Valley throughout 2019–2022, and an infestation map was assembled. In a study of the plant biology, greenhouse pot experiments revealed that T. portulacastrum seeds emerge best from the upper soil levels, and as seed depth increases, the emergence rate decreases, so that at 6 cm soil depth, there was no emergence. In controlled-environment growth chamber studies, there were no significant differences in germination with or without light. A maximum germination of 81% was observed for a 12 h night/day of 25/35 °C regime. Germination rates decreased with the decrease in temperature. A seed germination thermal time model that was developed for estimating the minimum temperature required for germination (Tbase) computed this temperature to be 10 °C. This study revealed the biology, in particular seed germination and emergence requirements, of the invasive weed T. portulacastrum that has spread in the Hula Valley in Israel and beyond. Future research will focus on an examination of control measures to combat this invasive weed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alien Plant Species)
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11 pages, 890 KiB  
Article
Difference in Germination Traits between Congeneric Native and Exotic Species May Affect Invasion
by Julieta Salomé-Díaz, Jordan Golubov, Luis E. Eguiarte and Alberto Búrquez
Plants 2024, 13(4), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040478 - 07 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1313
Abstract
Germination traits are components of invasion potential, and comparing seed traits in sympatric native and invasive species can offer insights into the invasion process. We characterized seed germination traits and how they influenced the success of Eragrostis mexicana, a native species, and [...] Read more.
Germination traits are components of invasion potential, and comparing seed traits in sympatric native and invasive species can offer insights into the invasion process. We characterized seed germination traits and how they influenced the success of Eragrostis mexicana, a native species, and Eragrostis tenuifolia, an exotic species (Poaceae) in Mexico, in the context of their potential for biological invasion. Seeds from both species were collected from four sites in a natural protected area in Mexico City, and the germination of seeds of different ages was conducted in experiments at different temperatures. E. tenuifolia exhibited higher germination percentages than the native E. mexicana across all treatments. Seed age had differential effects, with older seeds of the native E. mexicana germinating better, while E. tenuifolia performed better with younger seeds. Temperature positively impacted germination for both species, although E. mexicana was limited at lower temperatures. Exotic E. tenuifolia can germinate over a wider temperature range with earlier germination rates, and generate a seed bank lasting several years, which may contribute to naturalization. The importance of germination traits in the context of invasive species establishment underscores the potential role of seed banks in facilitating biological invasions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alien Plant Species)
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15 pages, 4138 KiB  
Article
Leaf Extracts of Invasive Woody Species Demonstrate Allelopathic Effects on the Growth of a Lawn Grass Mixture
by Olga V. Shelepova, Ekaterina V. Tkacheva, Aleksandr A. Ivanovskii, Ludmila V. Ozerova and Yulia K. Vinogradova
Plants 2023, 12(24), 4084; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12244084 - 06 Dec 2023
Viewed by 697
Abstract
Biochemical composition was studied in the leaf litter of alien woody species included in the 100 most aggressive invasive species of Europe: Ailanthus altissima, Quercus rubra, Acer negundo, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Elaeagnus angustifolia. Using GC-MS, we detected 187 [...] Read more.
Biochemical composition was studied in the leaf litter of alien woody species included in the 100 most aggressive invasive species of Europe: Ailanthus altissima, Quercus rubra, Acer negundo, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Elaeagnus angustifolia. Using GC-MS, we detected 187 metabolites in the leaf litter, which are phenolic acids and their derivatives, carbohydrates and their derivatives, polyphenolic compounds, cyclic esters, glycosides, and amino acids and their derivatives. Species-specific metabolites were identified for each species. The main allelochemicals in the leaf litter extract of Q. rubra are determined mainly by the relative abundance of phenolic and fatty acids and their esters, whereas those in the leaf litter extract of R. pseudoacacia are determined by carbohydrates and their derivatives and ester of fatty acid, and those in the leaf litter extract of A. altissima are determined by glycosides. Profiles of macro- and microelements were characterized. It was found that aqueous extracts of leaf litter from all the invasive woody plants under study have a negative effect on the seed germination and initial growth of Vicia cracca and Avena strigosa used for the reclamation of disturbed urban and industrial lands. At the same time, V. cracca is potentially more sensitive. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alien Plant Species)
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12 pages, 669 KiB  
Article
Dense Cover, but Not Allelopathic Potential, of Naturalized Alien Cenchrus echinatus L. Threatens the Native Species in Urban Vegetation
by Mahmoud O. Hassan, Howida Y. Mohamed, Mohammad K. Okla, Bushra Hafeez Kiani and Ahmed Amro
Plants 2023, 12(21), 3736; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12213736 - 31 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 984
Abstract
Exotic plants usually exhibit problems for native species where they coexist. This study evaluated the effect of naturalized alien Cenchrus echinatus L. on native plants in urban vegetation. A field trial was conducted to assess the effect of this species on the cover [...] Read more.
Exotic plants usually exhibit problems for native species where they coexist. This study evaluated the effect of naturalized alien Cenchrus echinatus L. on native plants in urban vegetation. A field trial was conducted to assess the effect of this species on the cover and diversity of the native vegetation. The allelopathic potential of such species was examined. Sites comprising C. echinatus had a lower cover than some native species. Lower floristic diversity was observed at higher densities of this plant. The soil under this plant attained lower N, P, and K contents. This soil had no effect on the germination and growth of native species. It also comprised germinable seeds of some species which were absent from the standing vegetation. Exotic C. echinatus may exert negative effects on the native vegetation of the urban plant communities. A dense cover of this species may inhibit the germination of native species, leading to a reduction in their cover. Reduction in cover and diversity of native species may not be attributed to allelopathy. These results suggest that naturalized C. echinatus may be more competitive than the native ones, particularly at higher densities. Furthermore, it may represent a threat to the native plants in the urban vegetation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alien Plant Species)
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28 pages, 4119 KiB  
Article
Road Impact on Plant Colonization in the Arid Timanfaya National Park
by María Bernardos, Natalia Sierra Cornejo, Antonio Daniel Torres Hassan, Raimundo Cabrera and José Ramón Arévalo
Plants 2023, 12(20), 3568; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203568 - 13 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 768
Abstract
Roads have the potential to alter local environmental conditions, such as the availability of water and nutrients, and rapidly create suitable habitats for the establishment of both native and non-native plant species, transforming the ecosystems. This is a challenge in Timanfaya National Park [...] Read more.
Roads have the potential to alter local environmental conditions, such as the availability of water and nutrients, and rapidly create suitable habitats for the establishment of both native and non-native plant species, transforming the ecosystems. This is a challenge in Timanfaya National Park and Los Volcanes Natural Park on Lanzarote Island, protected areas that have experienced primary succession after recent volcanic eruptions. In arid ecosystems, changes in abiotic conditions along roadsides might facilitate colonization and plant growth. We analyzed the effect of roads and road type on plant species composition and richness at a spatiotemporal scale. Vascular plant species were systematically recorded at three distances from the road edge on both sides, across fourteen zones in the wet and dry seasons, for three years. Results showed that there were slight differences on species composition depending on the distance to the road edge, as well as on the zones. Species richness was also determined by the interaction of the position, zones, and season, being higher at the road edge. Furthermore, zones with higher traffic intensity showed a higher presence of both native and non-native species. This study highlights the importance of the awareness about the road impacts on species composition by enhancing the colonization capacity of species while facilitating the entry of invasive ones. Good management practices regarding infrastructures in natural protected areas are crucial for the conservation of their unique flora, landscapes, and natural succession processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alien Plant Species)
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12 pages, 1966 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Potential Distribution of Oxalis latifolia, a Rapidly Spreading Weed, in East Asia under Global Climate Change
by Anil Poudel, Pradeep Adhikari, Chae Sun Na, June Wee, Do-Hun Lee, Yong Ho Lee and Sun Hee Hong
Plants 2023, 12(18), 3254; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12183254 - 13 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1194
Abstract
Oxalis latifolia, a perennial herbaceous weed, is a highly invasive species that poses a threat to agricultural lands worldwide. East Asia is under a high risk of invasion of O. latifolia under global climate change. To evaluate this risk, we employed maximum [...] Read more.
Oxalis latifolia, a perennial herbaceous weed, is a highly invasive species that poses a threat to agricultural lands worldwide. East Asia is under a high risk of invasion of O. latifolia under global climate change. To evaluate this risk, we employed maximum entropy modeling considering two shared socio-economic pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). Currently, a small portion (8.02%) of East Asia is within the O. latifolia distribution, with the highest coverages in Chinese Taipei, China, and Japan (95.09%, 9.8%, and 0.24%, respectively). However, our projections indicated that this invasive weed will likely be introduced to South Korea and North Korea between 2041 and 2060 and 2081 and 2100, respectively. The species is expected to cover approximately 9.79% and 23.68% (SSP2-4.5) and 11.60% and 27.41% (SSP5-8.5) of the total land surface in East Asia by these time points, respectively. South Korea and Japan will be particularly susceptible, with O. latifolia potentially invading up to 80.73% of their territory by 2081–2100. Mongolia is projected to remain unaffected. This study underscores the urgent need for effective management strategies and careful planning to prevent the introduction and limit the expansion of O. latifolia in East Asian countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alien Plant Species)
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