Effects of human infrastructure on the abundance of alien plant species in protected areas of the Anaga Rural Park in Tenerife (Canary Islands, ES)
Island ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to invasions by alien species, due often to the fragility of their ecosystems and high levels of endemicity in both species and ecosystems. This is particularly relevant to the Canary Islands which is regarded as a biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemic plants. In the current study, surveys were conducted throughout the Anaga Rural Park in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) to record the alien plant species present in areas with different levels of human impact. In total, 216 alien plant species were identified belonging to 53 families and 141 genera – representing 14.7 % of the total vascular plants recorded for Tenerife. Of these 216 species, 51.9 % have been introduced into the Canary Islands unintentionally, 20.4 % as weeds associated with farming and the rest introduced for use in gardening (20.8 %) and agriculture (6.9%). The surveys showed that human infrastructure and human activities favour the presence and diversity of alien plant species. The largest diversity of alien plant species was concentrated near roads and human settlements. The village with the highest number of alien plant species with invasive behaviour was also the most populated village.
Sources
Exposito AB, Siverio A, Bermejo LA, Sobrino-Vesperinas E (2018) Checklist of alien plant species in a natural protected area: Anaga Rural park (Tenerife, Canary Islands); effect of human infrastructure on their abundance. Plant Ecology and Evolution 151, 142-152.