Invasive alien plants in Croatia as a threat to biodiversity of South-Eastern Europe: distributional patterns and range size

Toni Nikolić; Božena Mitić; Boris Milašinović; Sven D Jelaska

doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2013.01.003

Invasive alien plants in Croatia as a threat to biodiversity of South-Eastern Europe: distributional patterns and range size

C R Biol. 2013 Feb;336(2):109-21. doi: 10.1016/j.crvi.2013.01.003. Epub 2013 Apr 4.

Authors

Toni Nikolić¹, Božena Mitić, Boris Milašinović, Sven D Jelaska

Affiliation

¹ Department of Botany and Botanical Garden, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.

PMID: 23608180
DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2013.01.003

Abstract

During the analysis of alien and invasive flora of Europe, as a threat to biodiversity, data for Croatia were missing. The aim of our research was to analyse distributional patterns and range size of all invasive alien plants (64) for the state area (57,000 km(2)). They were detected on 49% of the state territory, averaging five taxa per 35 km(2). The greatest number of invasive plants (>30 per grid cell) was recorded in the major urban centres, increasing in the south-east direction and reflecting positive correlation with temperature and negative with altitude. The most endangered areas are in the Mediterranean region, especially on islands. The number of invasive plants increased with habitat diversity and almost 75% of all sites with invasive plants are located within a few habitats with direct anthropogenic influence. The results should provide a reliable regional and global basis for strategic planning regarding invasive alien plants management.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Algorithms
Biodiversity*
Conservation of Natural Resources
Croatia
Data Collection
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Ecosystem
Europe
Humans
Introduced Species / statistics & numerical data*
Plants*
Population
Weather