Frequently occurring alien plants in Sicily
A large dataset of plant species presence/absence in vegetation plots in Sicily was analysed to evaluate frequently occurring alien plant species. The dataset comprised 3 655 plots, 1 601 species and 75 969 species occurrence records. There were 70 alien species recorded in the dataset. The plots encompassed a variety of different habitats which differed strongly in their level of invasion by alien species, from both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean origin. The man-made habitats had the highest numbers of alien species. The vegetation of coastal saltmarshes, sandy coasts, perennial dry grasslands and riparian thickets were also prone to colonization by alien species. Some habitats were alien-free, such as Mediterranean temporary ponds, standing and running water, volcanic fields and rocky grasslands. Oxalis pes-caprae was the commonest and most ubiquitous alien species in the dataset, with 302 occurrences in 13 different habitats.
Table 1. A selection of frequently occurring alien plant species in Sicily. Species in bold are listed on the EPPO List of Invasive Alien plants.
Species | Family | Origin | Life form |
Oxalis pes-caprae | Oxalidaceae | African | Herb |
Xanthium orientale | Asteraceae | North American | Annual |
Erigeron bonariensis | Asteraceae | South American | Annual |
Lycium intricatum | Solanaceae | Mediterranean | Shrub |
Symphyotrichum squamatum | Asteraceae | South American | Annual |
Rhus coriaria | Anacardiaceae | Mediterranean | Shrub |
Opuntia ficus-indica | Cactaceae | North American | Shrub |
Erigeron sumatrensis | Asteraceae | South American | Annual |
Veronica persica | Plantaginaceae | Eurasian | Annual |
Amaranthus retroflexus | Amaranthaceae | North American | Annual |
Galinsoga parviflora | Asteraceae | South American | Annual |
Erigeron canadensis | Asteraceae | North American | Annual |
Arundo donax | Poaceae | Eurasian | Shrub, Herb |
Dactyloctenium aegyptium | Poaceae | Subtropical | Annual |
Sisymbrium orientale | Brassicaceae | Wide-Mediterranean | Annual |
Amaranthus deflexus | Amaranthaceae | South American | Annual |
Acacia saligna | Fabaceae | Oceanian | Shrub, Tree |
Cichorium pumilum | Asteraceae | Mediterranean | Annual |
Megathyrsus bivonianus | Poaceae | Mediterranean | Herb |
Cenchrus setaceus | Poaceae | Subtropical | Herb |
Sources
Guarino R, Chytrý M, Attorre, F et al. (2021) Alien plant invasions in Mediterranean habitats: an assessment for Sicily. Biological Invasions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02561-0