EU study on horizon scanning for invasive alien species
Horizon scanning is a systematic examination of potential threats and opportunities within a given context. It is an important tool in the management of invasive alien species for the EU. Through horizon scanning exercises, invasive alien plants that are currently absent or have a limited occurrence in the EU, can be identified and preventative action can be taken. The EU funded horizon scanning exercise (ENV. B.2/ETU/2014/0016) compiled a list of 250 species from across five thematic groups (plants, vertebrates, terrestrial invertebrates, marine species and freshwater invertebrates and fish) and through workshops, discussions and consensual agreement between experts species were ranked in priority for risk assessment. The study identified 95 species that present a very high or high risk of arrival, establishment, spread and threat to biodiversity and associated ecosystem services across the EU over the next ten years. Of these 95 species, 24 are plant species (Table 1).
Table 1. Twenty four alien plant species that were found by the study to represent a very high (bold) or high risk to the EU within the next ten years.
|
Species
|
Family
|
Native range
|
Risk score
|
|
Alternanthera philoxeroides (EPPO A2 List)
|
Amaranthaceae
|
South America
|
625
|
|
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides (EPPO Observation List)
|
Asteraceae
|
Asia/South America
|
625
|
|
Lygodium japonicum
|
Lygodiaceae
|
Asia
|
625
|
|
Andropogon virginicus (EPPO Observation List)
|
Poaceae
|
North America
|
500
|
|
Celastrus orbiculatus
|
Celastraceae
|
Asia
|
500
|
|
Cortaderia jubata
|
Poaceae
|
South America
|
500
|
|
Euonymus fortunei
|
Celastraceae
|
Asia
|
500
|
|
Euonymus japonicus
|
Celastraceae
|
Asia
|
500
|
|
Lespedeza juncea
|
Fabaceae
|
Asia/Australia
|
500
|
|
Ligustrum sinense
|
Oleaceae
|
Asia
|
500
|
|
Lonicera maackii
|
Caprifoliaceae
|
Asia
|
500
|
|
Lonicera morrowii
|
Caprifoliaceae
|
Asia
|
500
|
|
Microstegium vimineum (EPPO A2 List)
|
Poaceae
|
Asia
|
500
|
|
Prosopis juliflora
|
Fabaceae
|
North/South America
|
500
|
|
Prunus campanulata
|
Rosaceae
|
Asia
|
320
|
|
Rubus rosifolius
|
Rosaceae
|
Asia/Australia
|
320
|
|
Triadica sebifera
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Asia
|
300
|
|
Cinnamomum camphora
|
Lauraceae
|
Asia
|
400
|
|
Clematis terniflora
|
Ranunculaceae
|
Asia
|
400
|
|
Ehrharta calycina
|
Poaceae
|
Africa
|
400
|
|
Sphagneticola trilobata
|
Asteraceae
|
South America
|
400
|
|
Chromolaena odorata
|
Asteraceae
|
South America
|
320
|
|
Cryptostegia grandiflora
|
Apocynaceae
|
Madagascar
|
320
|
|
Albizia lebbeck
|
Fabaceae
|
Asia/Australia
|
300
|
Sources
EU website
Roy HE, Adriaens T, Aldridge DC, Bacher S, Bishop JDD, Blackburn TM, Branquart E, Brodie J, Carboneras C, Cook, EJ, Copp GH, Dean HJ, Eilenberg J, Essl F, Gallardo B, Garcia M, García-Berthou E, Genovesi P, Hulme PE, Kenis M, Kerckhof F, Kettunen M, Minchin D, Nentwig W, Nieto A, Pergl, J, Pescott O, Peyton J, Preda C, Rabitsch W, Roques A, Rorke S, Scalera R, Schindler S, Schönrogge K, Sewell J, Solarz W, Stewart A, Tricarico E, Vanderhoeven S, van der Velde, G, Vilà M, Wood CA, Zenetos A (2015) Invasive Alien Species - Prioritising prevention efforts through horizon scanning ENV.B.2/ETU/2014/0016. European Commission.