Worst invasive alien species threatening biodiversity in Europe
A list of the worst invasive alien species threatening biodiversity in Europe was established by a group of experts in the framework of a European initiative (Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators). This list is not an inventory of IAS in Europe, but focuses on the most harmful species that threaten European biodiversity. It is a very powerful tool for raising awareness about the problem that alien species pose for biodiversity and society. Criteria for selection of species for this list are:
- Severe impacts on ecosystem structure and function (e.g. alteration of habitats, competing with native species, entering the food chain, altering energy and nutrient flow, etc.)
- Replacement of native species throughout a significant proportion of its range
- Hybridization with native species
- Threat to unique biodiversity (e.g. habitats in need of conservation measures, isolated ecosystems, endemic species).
In addition to its impact on biodiversity, the species may have negative consequences for human activities, health and/or economic interests (e.g. is a pest, pathogen or a vector of disease).
Confronting the list of “Worst invasive alien species threatening biodiversity in Europe” with the EPPO A2 List of Invasive Alien plants and the EPPO List of Invasive Alien Species, it appears that many species are common to these lists: Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae), Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asteraceae), Amorpha fruticosa (Fabaceae), Azolla filiculoides (Azollaceae), Bidens frondosa (Asteraceae), Carpobrotus edulis and C. spp. (Aizoaceae), Crassula helmsii (Crassulaceae), Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis, F x bohemica (Polygonaceae) Helianthus tuberosus (Asteraceae), Heracleum mantegazzianum, H. sosnowskyi (Apiaceae), Impatiens glandulifera (Balsaminaceae), Ludwigia peploides (Onagraceae), Lysichiton americanus (Araceae), Oxalis pes-caprae (Oxalidaceae), Prunus serotina (Rosaceae), Rhododendron ponticum (Ericaceae), Senecio inaequidens (Asteraceae), Solidago canadensis, S. gigantea (Asteraceae).
Nevertheless, two species were not listed by EPPO since they are considered too widespread: Elodea canadensis (Hydrocharitaceae) and Robinia pseudoacacia (Fabaceae).
Moreover, the following species are part of the “Worst invasive alien species threatening biodiversity in Europe” list, and will be considered by EPPO. For each of these 120 exotic species, their family, origin, and known invasive behaviour in the EPPO region are given (NOBANIS database and various other sources). The status of each species in the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW) is given, to indicate their invasive behaviour elsewhere in the world.
|
Species
|
Family
|
Origin
|
GCW*
|
Known invasiveness in EPPO countries
|
|
Acacia saligna
|
Fabaceae
|
Australia
|
AW, EW, W, NW
|
CY, ES, IS, IT, PO,
|
|
Acer negundo
|
Aceraceae
|
N-Am.
|
AW, EW, W, SW
|
AT, BE, CZ, DE, DK, EE, FI, HU, ES, FR, IT, LV, LT, NL, PL, RU, SE, YG,
|
|
Aster novi-belgii agg.
|
Asteraceae
|
N-Am.
|
EW, W, SW
|
AT, CZ, DE, DK, FR, HU, LT, NO, PL, RU, SE, UK, YG
|
|
Bunias orientalis
|
Brassicaceae
|
temp Asia, E-Eur (Pontic)
|
AW, EW, W
|
CH, CZ, DE, DK, EE, FI, LV, LT, NO, PL, RU, SE
|
|
Hedychium gardnerianum
|
Zingiberaceae
|
India
|
EW, W, NW
|
PT (AZ)
|
|
Echinocystis lobata
|
Cucurbitaceae
|
N-Am.
|
AW, EW, N, NW
|
CZ, DE, DK, EE, HU, LV, LT, PL, RU, YG
|
|
Epilobium ciliatum
|
Onagraceae
|
N-Am.
|
AW, EW, W
|
AT, CZ, FI, HU, RU
|
|
Rosa rugosa
|
Rosaceae
|
Temp. Asia
|
AW, EW, W, NW
|
DE, DK, EE, FI, LV, LT, NO, PL, RU, SE
|
|
Spartina x townsendii/anglica
|
Poaceae
|
Eur.
|
EW, W, NW
|
DE, DK, FR, UK
|
* Abbreviations for the Global Compendium of Weeds column:
AW: Agricultural Weed; EW: Environmental Weed; W: Weed; NW: noxious weed.
AW: Agricultural Weed; EW: Environmental Weed; W: Weed; NW: noxious weed.
Sources
|
European Community Clearing House Mechanism
North European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species (NOBANIS)
A Global Compendium of Weeds
|