Invasive alien plants in European and Mediterranean inland waters
A review on invasive alien aquatic plants in the Euro-Mediterranean region has recently been published to discuss definitions, existing legislation and recommendations, introduction pathways and impacts. It underlined that freshwater ecosystems may indeed be the most highly endangered ecosystems in the world.
Plant invasions in inland waters may be considered as one of the factors that characterize degraded aquatic ecosystems. Although risk analyses and other prioritization tools are available throughout the EPPO region, the review concludes that successful management should include prevention, habitat restoration, dedicated risk assessment, prioritization, awareness raising, dedicated legislation, and collaboration between different stakeholders.
Sources
Brundu G (2014) Plant invaders in European and Mediterranean inland waters: profiles, distribution, and threats. Hydrobiologia DOI 10.1007/s10750-014-1910-9