Diversity, Ecology, and Genetics of Invasive Plants

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Invasive alien species (IAS) are those plants and animals introduced accidentally or deliberately into an area where they do not normally occur and where they expand, causing serious negative consequences for the environment, for the ecosystem services and even for the economy and human health. The spread of alien species is a growing threat to our planet’s biodiversity (IAS are already considered the second cause of biodiversity loss); indeed, IAS have become important components of the floras and faunas of the world, with their occurrence having grown unprecedentedly over the past few decades. Sadly, the threat that they represent might considerably increase in the near future as the global change is consolidating: the growing urbanization, the increase of global trade, and global warming will definitely help alien species to establish in new ranges.

This topic is aimed to collect scientific contributions on diversity, ecology, and genetics of (actual) invasive alien plants or plants still in early stages of invasion (casual, naturalized) of any taxonomic group and of any geographic region.

Papers on diversity may cover aspects such as early detection and inventorying of alien flora (e.g. checklists, catalogues, or floras), identifying areas of IAS richness, identifying origin and introduction pathways, or delineating temporal trends of invasion. Papers dealing with taxonomic questions are also welcomed.

Ecological aspects of IAS may include demography, reproduction biology, ecological niche modelling, plant-plant or plant-animal interactions, risk analysis, and community ecology, but not physiological and/or biochemical aspects.

As for genetics, papers could be focus on population genetics, phylogeography, phylogeny, or landscape genetics and genomics, but also on changes in the structure, composition and organisation of the genome (e.g. hybridization, polyploidy, chromosome rearrangements).

Dr. Jordi López-Pujol
Dr. Neus Nualart
Dr. Roser Vilatersana
Dr. Ileana Herrera
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Diversity diversity	2.4	3.1	2009	17.8 Days	CHF 2600
Ecologies ecologies	-	-	2020	19.8 Days	CHF 1000
Plants plants	4.5	5.4	2012	15.3 Days	CHF 2700
Genes genes	3.5	5.1	2010	16.5 Days	CHF 2600
Sustainability sustainability	3.9	5.8	2009	18.8 Days	CHF 2400

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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All Diversity Ecologies Plants Genes Sustainability

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17 pages, 5296 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Montjuïc Hill (Barcelona): A Hotspot for Plant Invasions in a Mediterranean City

by Neus Ibáñez, Carlos Gómez-Bellver, Paula Farelo, Josep Maria Montserrat, Samuel Pyke, Neus Nualart and Jordi López-Pujol

Plants 2023, 12(14), 2713; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12142713 - 21 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1153

Abstract

Cities are often hotspots for biological invasions, showing much higher percentages of alien species than non-urbanized settings. The reasons are multiple and are mostly related to two main factors: their heterogeneous, highly disturbed habitats and their many gateways that allow alien species introduction [...] Read more.

Cities are often hotspots for biological invasions, showing much higher percentages of alien species than non-urbanized settings. The reasons are multiple and are mostly related to two main factors: their heterogeneous, highly disturbed habitats and their many gateways that allow alien species introduction (e.g., airports, roads, train stations, or gardens). In addition to being a sink of biological invasions, cities can also be a source of the spread of alien species into surrounding landscapes, which adds further complexity to this issue. Herein, we are presenting the results of a five-year survey of the alien flora of Montjuïc, the largest urban hill in Barcelona (Spain). In just about 3.4 km², we recorded up to 247 alien plant taxa, a figure much higher than those of many other Mediterranean cities and which clearly points to the role of Montjuïc as a hotspot for alien plants. The comparison with the alien flora of its surrounding region (coastal Catalonia) suggests that the alien flora of Montjuïc would have become enriched through many immigration episodes from close geographic areas. The hill, however, would have also acted as a source of the spread of alien plants, and indeed, some species have not been detected yet beyond the confines of Montjuïc. This study aims to be a key tool to ensure early detection and also to develop appropriate management and/or eradication actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diversity, Ecology, and Genetics of Invasive Plants)

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13 pages, 2001 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of a West African Coastal Lagoon System: Case of Lake Nokoué with Its Inlet (Cotonou, South Benin)

by Sèlomè Wilfried Sintondji, Zacharie Sohou, Katrijn Baetens, Geneviève Lacroix and Emile Didier Fiogbé

Ecologies 2022, 3(4), 467-479; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies3040033 - 06 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1674

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to investigate the physical and chemical dynamics of Lake Nokoué for its efficient management. For this purpose, two sampling campaigns per month from five stations (North, South, Central, East and West) were conducted for a period of [...] Read more.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the physical and chemical dynamics of Lake Nokoué for its efficient management. For this purpose, two sampling campaigns per month from five stations (North, South, Central, East and West) were conducted for a period of one year (November 2020 to November 2021). Physic and chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, depth, water transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solids) were measured and wet substrate samples were collected to study the granulometry. Data analysis revealed that Lake Nokoué is mainly affected by two regimes: flooding and low water. Flooding, which is not directly related to rainfall, did not begin until one month after the major rainy season in June. The sources that contributed to the flooding of Lake Nokoué were the freshwater tributaries coming mainly from the Ouèmé River and the flow of the Sô River from August to November. The inflow of fresh water contributed to the decrease in salinity and transparency of the lake from the east to the south. During the low water period (from December to July), Lake Nokoué is characterized by an increase in salinity and transparency from the south to the northeast due to the massive intrusion of sea water into the lake. The highest dissolved oxygen levels are observed in the south and center (5.92 ± 0.46 mg/L) while it varies greatly in the north and west (Eichhornia crassipes concentration zone) during flooding. The average annual depth of Lake Nokoué was 1.47 ± 0.66 m with an average annual pH of 6.85 ± 0.56. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diversity, Ecology, and Genetics of Invasive Plants)

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