Salvinia molesta: first report for Türkiye
Salvinia molesta (Salviniaceae: EPPO A2 List) is an aquatic floating plant species native to South America. It can form dense mats that reduce access to the water for recreation, interfere with various engineering structures such as weirs, block drains and cause flooding. It can have negative impacts on biodiversity by preventing photosynthesis in the water below the mat which can impact aquatic invertebrates and plants. Cultural ecosystem services are negatively affected by the mat forming habit, reducing opportunities for swimming, fishing and boating. During field studies conducted in 2017 in Muğla–Köyceğiz/Toparlar (Western Türkiye), S. molesta was identified in water channels and drainage channels opened for field irrigation. It is likely that it has spread into the drainage channels from ornamental pools in the Palmiye Merkezi Botanical Garden. In this area, it is estimated that S. molesta occupies 1.38 hectares comprised of an estimated 550 000 individual plants. This population should be managed and controlled to avoid any spread to other locations and regions of Türkiye.
Sources
Şenol SG, Bozyel D, Pelit NB (2023) A new record of an invasive aquatic fern from Türkiye; Salvinia molesta. EPPO Bulletin 53, 411-415.