Invasive Alien Vascular Plants in Bulgaria Vladimir Vladimirov Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research Sofia, Bulgaria EPPO training workshop, 8-11 July 2013, Belgrade
The flora of Bulgaria ca. 111 000 sq. km 4 100 species of vascular plants ca. 440 Balkan and Bulgarian endemics ca. 350 neophytes Haberlea rhodopensis
Cumulative number of alien plants (by year of first recording in Bulgaria) 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 < 1900 1900-1909 1910-1919 1920-1929 1930-1939 1940-1949 1950-1959 1960-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2010
Invasive Alien Species of Vascular Plants in Bulgaria (book) Introductory chapter devoted to IAS issue 60 species included
Selection criteria for the species no strict criteria-based approach adopted due to lack of sufficient data Selection of species was based on: Current distribution and abundance Trends in distribution and abundance Impacts, incl. environmental, economic and on human health Recorded invasiveness in other parts of Europe with similar climatic conditions
List of invasive and potentially invasive species (with top 10 ) Acer negundo Ailanthus altissima Amaranthus albus/ hybridus/retroflexus Ambrosia artemisiifolia Amorpha fruticosa Asclepias syriaca Bidens bipinnatus/ frondosus/vulgatus Broussonetia papyrifera Buddleja davidii Cenchrus incertus Chenopodium ambrosoides/ pumilio Cuscuta campestris Datura stramonium Echinocystis lobata Eclipta prostrata Elaeagnus angustifolia Elodea canadensis/ nuttallii Erigeron annuus/ bonariensis/ canadensis/ sumatrensis Euphorbia davidii/ maculata Fallopia bohemica Galinsoga parviflora/ quadriradiata Gleditsia triacanthos Grindelia squarrosa Helianthus tuberosus Impatiens glandulifera/ parviflora Iva xanthiifolia Juncus tenuis Koelreuteria paniculata Laburnum anagyroides Lycium barbarum Matricaria discoidea Oenothera biennis Opuntia humifusa Oxalis corniculata Panicum capillare/ dichotomiflorum Parthenocissus inserta/ quinquefolia Paspalum distichum Phytolacca americana Robinia pseudoacacia Senecio inaequidens Sicyos angulatus Solidago gigantea Sorghum halepense Symphyotrichum novibelgii agg. Xanthium italicum/ spinosum
Taxonomic structure (families) 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Astera- Poa- Faba- Balsami- Chenopo- Cucurbi- Euphorb- Hydrocha- Solana- Vitaother 14
Biological type Worst IAS ann - bien - per; 6 trees; 8 shrubs; 2 shrubs; 6 trees; 3 annual; 26 perennials; 3 perennial; 13 annuals; 2 biennial; 1
Origin of IAS Europe; 2 other; 4 Worst IAS Europe; 1 Asia; 9 Asia; 1 North America; 29 Africa & America; 1 America; 1 North America; 6 America; 12 South America; 4
Introduction (deliberate vs. accidental) Worst IAS Unintentional; 23 unintentional; 4 intentional; 6 Intentional; 37
Wide distribution / high environmental impact Ailanthus altissima Other similar species: Amorpha fruticosa Robinia pseudoacacia
Wide distribution / low environmental impact / high impact on human health & agriculture Iva xanthiifolia Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Limited distribution / high environmental impact Opuntia humifusa
Wide distribution / low (?no) environmental impact / high economic impact G. quadriradiata Galinsoga parviflora Galinsoga quadriradiata Other similar species: Amaranthus spp., Erigeron annuus, E. bonariensis E. canadensis, E. sumatrensis, Sorghum halepense
Emerging environmental weeds limited distribution / low impact /?high dispersal potential Bidens bipinnatus Cenchrus incertus
Acknowledgements Two major projects: 1. Biology, ecology and control of the invasive aliens species in the Bulgarian flora (2009-2012) funded by the National Science Fund 2. Assessment of the alien species for the Bulgarian flora and mycota and measures for mitigation of their impact on the natural ecosystems and native species (2004-2006), funded by the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water Other colaborators: Ana Petrova, Valeri Georgiev Krasimira Petkova, Senka Milanova Petka Yurukova-Grancharova, Iva Apostolova, Hristo Pedashenko
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