**On population abundance and species niche relationship during invasion process**

Luis Osorio-Olvera<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />, Manuel Falconi<fnref n="2" />, Jorge Soberón<fnref n="3" />

Although it has been well documented that species ranges are the result of successful past invasions, the theoretical aspects of how the invasion process occurs remains as a relevant question in ecology. To gain insight into the understanding of the process, ecologist and mathematicians have proposed models that take into account mechanisms that affect the patterns of species spread; two frequently considered mechanisms are I) the Allee effect which has been shown to hamper or prevent species invasions depending on its intensity and II) the effect that heterogeneous environment has on species distribution and spread. Here we provide an alternative way to model Allee effects and analyse the spread of a population in terms of its relationship with species niche. The results show that the long term species distribution patterns are independent from the way that the Allee effect its included in the logistic growth model. However, we observed that population abundance patterns in the short term dynamics are very sensitive to the considered model. This fact can have important consequences in the prediction of how the invasion process occurs in nature, for example in the estimation of the arriving time of an invasive species to a certain location.

Keywords: Allee effects, ecological niche, invasion process, distribution patterns, population spread

<footnote n="1">¹Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
C. Universitaria, México D.F. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Departamento de Matemáticas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.C.
Universitaria, México D.F. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA, Lawrence, United States</footnote>
**Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF), a new and powerful resource for understanding plant invasions worldwide**

Petr Pyšek¹,², Jan Pergl¹, Wayne Dawson³, Franz Essl⁴, Holger Kreft⁵, Mark van Kleunen⁶,
Patrick Weigelt⁵, Marten Winter⁷, et al.

¹Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Pruhonice,
Czech Republic

²Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

³School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom

⁴Division of Conservation, Vegetation and Landscape Ecology, University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

⁵Biodiversity, Macroecology & Conservation Biogeography, University of Göttingen, Göttingen,
Germany

⁶Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany

⁷German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany

Despite intensive research on plant invasions, a robust global database of regional alien floras
has been missing up to now. Thus, statements regarding major patterns and the importance of
plant invasions were supported only by data from few regions, and in the vast majority of
instances based on species numbers and not the composition of complete alien floras. Here we
introduce the Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF) project, initiated in 2011, and
associated database covering the whole world, and summarizing information on naturalized
floras for over 840 terrestrial regions. By launching the database in 2015 we were able to
describe and quantify, for the first time, the global biogeographic, taxonomic and phylogenetic
patterns of naturalized alien plants.

The first paper based on GloNAF (van Kleunen et al. 2015) revealed that in total, ~12,000 plant species, which correspond to ~4% of the extant vascular flora, have become naturalized somewhere on the globe, and identified the regions that have accumulated the largest number of naturalized species (Europe, North America). Moreover, the study showed that the traditional global dichotomy of the Old World donating and New World receiving naturalized plants needs to be reconsidered; rather, the Northern Hemisphere is a major donor of naturalized plants to other parts of the world. These results demonstrated, for the first time at the scale of the whole world, that naturalization processes are not random phenomena, but exhibit clear phylogenetic and biogeographic patterns.

Since the publication of the van Kleunen et al. (2015) paper, the GloNAF database has served
as a unique data source for testing various hypotheses of invasion mechanisms, as well as for
comparing invasion patterns of plants with a wide range of animal taxonomic groups. The
contribution of GloNAF so far has been both to support and challenge conventional wisdom
about biological invasions. In the presented poster, we summarize major findings yielded by
analysing the GloNAF database and outline areas whether it may become a key tool for better
understanding plant invasions globally.

Reference: van Kleunen M., Dawson W., Essl F., Pergl J., Winter M., Weber E., Kreft H., Weigelt P., ... & Pyšek P. (2015): Global exchange and accumulation of non-native plants. Nature 525: 100–103.

Keywords: plant naturalization, global scale, species richness
Towards a checklist of the alien plants in Turkey

Ahmet Uludag¹, ², Necmi Aksoy¹, Zubeyde Arslan¹, Ayşe Yazlık¹, Giuseppe Brundu³, Efecan Yazmış², Tiziana Cossu³, Ilhan Uremis⁴, Quentin Groom⁵, Jan Pergl⁶, Petr Pyšek⁶, 7

¹Duzce University, Duzce, Turkey

²Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Department of Plant Protection, Terzioglu Yerleskesi, Çanakkale, Turkey

³Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

⁴Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Hatay, Turkey

⁵Agentschap Plantentuin Meise, Meise, Belgium

⁶Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Science, Pruhonice, Czech Republic

⁷Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Pragua, Czech Republic

Turkey has more than 12,000 plant species, as a result of the high diversity of climates, geographies, and soils and being a biogeographic crossroads. The Flora of Turkey was prepared in the last century followed by new attempts to make it covering all species with new explorations and including detailed information about all taxa, and new studies are revealing new species for this county. Almost 30% of the species in Turkey are endemic and Turkey is at the crossroad of two important centres of diversity of wild crop relatives, that are the Mediterranean and the Middle East centre and three phytogeographic regions which are Euro Siberia, Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian. Although the flora of Turkey is well documented, there are still some gaps. For example, the traditional floras do not provide specific information on alien (invasive alien) species except a few notes. We developed an on-going initiative and working group aiming to collect all the available information and compiling a list of the alien plants in Turkey. We present the main results of the preliminary list of the alien plants of Turkey, on the base of a preliminary checklist for Turkish alien flora, which covers currently 469 species. The checklist and the supporting database hold information and details on botanical features of alien plants (casual, naturalised, invasive), purpose of introduction, regional distributions and presence in different phytogeographic regions of Turkey. The number of alien taxa in Turkey comparing to total species in Turkish flora and the number of alien species in other regions of the world seem lower, which indicates further observations and activities necessary in Turkey on invasive alien plants.

Keywords: Check list, invasive alien plants, Turkey, flora
## Topic 05
Invasive species and changes in landuse

P-77

**Of factors affecting the abundance of *Impatiens glandulifera* and its spread from river corridors**

Jan Čuda<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />, Zuzana Rumlerová<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />, Josef Brůna<fnref n="1" />, Hana Skálová<fnref n="1" />, Petr Pyšek<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />

Riparian habitats belong to the most invaded ecosystems worldwide. The great abundance of invasive species in river corridors is attributed to efficient transport of alien species' propagules, and reduced competition from native plants due to regular disturbances by flooding. Once an invasive species has become established, river corridors can also serve as stepping stones for spread to other habitats. Our study species, Himalayan balsam *Impatiens glandulifera* Royle, is an annual from the Himalayas, which invades massively along rivers in the temperate regions, but occurs in a broad range of habitats, including other than riparian. We mapped its distribution and recorded its abundance in over 1200 plots along four rivers in central Europe, covering the total of 158 km of watercourse. The rivers differed in the time of the balsam's introduction (1900–1995) and beginning of the spread of its populations, and plots were characterized by degree of soil disturbance and flooding regime. The populations in flooded zones were on average two-times larger than those in non-flooded, regardless of their distance from the riverbank and elevation above river surface. There was a strong effect of the residence time at the site, with river invaded 20 years ago being significantly less infested than those invaded earlier. The rivers differed in the distance from the bank to which the populations penetrated into the surrounding habitats, but this distance did not depend on the residence time. The populations on tributaries were on average two-times farther from the riverbank than those not located on tributaries. A high number of small populations found rather far from the river banks indicates a good dispersal ability of *I. glandulifera* and the key role played by stochastic dispersal events. However, the persistence of these populations is ephemeral, as only few of them were rather extensive, and the majority of them were in early stages of vegetation succession. We suggest that the number of *I. glandulifera* populations is likely to increase in the future, especially along small water streams. Flooding is important predictor of abundance of *I. glandulifera*, and probably supports the spread and dominance of *I. glandulifera* in the river corridors.

<figure><img src="image_16.png" /></figure>

*Impatiens glandulifera* growing untypically
from the wall of a castle ruins.

Keywords: balsam, river corridor, disturbance, flood, naturalization, niche broadening, residence time, riverbank

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Pruhonice, Czech Republic</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic</footnote>
# Dependence of alien plant species abundance in grassland habitats on the intensity of land-use

Zigmantas Gudžinskas<fnref n="1" />, Egidijus Žalneravičius<fnref n="1" />, Zenonas Gulbinas<fnref n="2" />, Vaidotas Valskys<fnref n="3" />

In 2015, during the inventory and mapping of open habitats according to the EUNIS habitat classification in two protected areas of Lithuania, Gražutė and Kurtuvėnai regional parks (hereafter – Gražutė RP and Kurtuvėnai RP), the diversity and abundance of alien species were estimated alongside of other characteristics of habitats. As a result of the inventory, 1 076 plots of open habitats in Gražutė RP and 775 plots in Kurtuvėnai RP were assessed and mapped. Open habitats occupy 5 656 ha in Gražutė RP (17.7% of the total park area), whereas in Kurtuvėnai RP, they occupy 2 342 ha (13.5% of the total park area).

In Gražutė RP, grassland habitats in 829 plots were inventoried, which occupy 4694.2 ha. Alien plant species were recorded in 728 grassland habitat plots and only in 101 plots of these habitats alien plant species were absent. Thus, in Gražutė RP, 87.8% of all grassland habitat plots were invaded by at least one alien species and such habitats occupy 4 360.4 ha or 92.9% of all inventoried grassland habitats. In Kurtuvėnai RP, grassland habitats were inventoried in 528 plots, which occupy 1 778.7 ha. Alien plant species were registered in 352 grassland habitat plots and in 176 plots alien plant species were not recorded. Thus, in Kurtuvėnai RP, 66.7% of all grassland habitat plots were invaded by at least one alien plant species and such habitats occupy 1030.7 ha or 57.9% of all inventoried grassland habitats.

The most frequent alien species in both regional parks was *Lupinus polyphyllus*, which was registered in 907 plots of grassland habitats. Other alien species were less frequent: *Erigeron strigosus* was recorded in 209 plots, *Malus domestica* – in 165 plots, *Prunus cerasifera* – in 127 plots. The most dangerous invasive species, *Heracleum sosnowskyi*, was recorded in 27 grassland habitat plots. In Kurtuvėnai RP, a total of 16 alien plant species were recorded occurring in grassland habitats, whereas in Gražutė RP, the number of alien species in these habitats was much higher – 58 species.

The number and abundance of alien plant species is related to the character and intensity of grassland habitat use. Abandoned grasslands were the most heavily invaded by alien plant species, whereas in moderately and intensively used grasslands (grazed, mown or both), the number and abundance of alien species was significantly lower. Dry and mesic grasslands are much more prone to invasions than wet grasslands. The main causes of alien plant invasion to grasslands are their abandonment or irregular and insufficient usage.

Keywords: abandonment, EUNIS habitats, grazing, habitat invasibility, mapping, mowing

<footnote n="1">¹Nature Research Centre, Institute of Botany, Vilnius, Lithuania</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, Department of Geography and Tourism, Vilnius, Lithuania</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Vilnius University, Centre of Ecology and Environmental Research, Vilnius, Lithuania</footnote>
**Monitoring the long-term persistence of a golden jackal (Canis aureus) in a colonized habitat in the Czech Republic: initial phase of the establishment live?**

Klára Pyšková<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />, David Storch<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="3" />, Ivan Horáček<fnref n="4" />, Ondřej Kauzál<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />, Petr Pyšek<fnref n="2" />, <fnref n="1" />

The presence of a golden jackal (Canis aureus) individual, captured ca 40 km east of Prague in the Czech Republic by camera traps set up in a range of different habitats, has been monitored for 10 months. It was first photographed on 19 June 2015, and in total there were 55 records made by 12 traps until 24 March 2016 when the animal was still present. The majority of records are from a shrubby grassland, but the animal also occurs in a neighbouring deciduous forest, with the total range of its occurrence exceeding ca 100 ha; 41% of sightings were during the day and 59% in the night. This observation represents the first evidence of a long-term occurrence in Europe northwest of Hungarian-Austrian border where the population has been known to reproduce, of the same golden jackal individual that persisted over winter.

Opinion on the status of golden jackal in European regions to which it currently spreads is ambiguous. While in Baltic countries its recent expansion generated concerns about its possible negative effects on other wildlife species and livestock, via predation or transmission of pathogens, which led to it being labelled as potentially invasive alien species, the prevailing opinion in other countries does not support this attitude. In the paper we discuss this issue.

Keywords: golden jackal, range expansion, Czech Republic

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Pruhonice, Czech Republic</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Center for Theoretical Study, Charles University in Prague and The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic</footnote>
# First record of the species *Pantomorus cervinus* Boheman, 1840 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on the invasive alien species *Verbascum thapsus* L. in Hawaii – Big Island, USA

Manole Traian<fnref n="1" />, Johnson Tracy<fnref n="2" />, Ionescu Irina<fnref n="3" />

Like any other ecosystems of islands, the Pacific Big Island of Hawaii archipelago, appear to be particularly vulnerable to alien invasive species (AIS), from any taxonomic group of flora and fauna of the Earth. Beyond of this justifiable concern the new enlarged studies are necessary regarding the assessment of risk of AIS introduction and, also to the relationships between endemic local populations. *Verbascum thapsus* L. (Scrophulariales: Scrophulariaceae), common mullein, or mullein in Hawaii state had the status of invasive species according with Hawaii State-listed Noxious Weeds, PLANTS Database, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. It is clear that predictable overview about the magnitude of impact and habitat altering local population growth and dynamic are not yet established. Biological control seems to be the best method but is far to be considered the most efficient but the community of scientists and environmental managers is seeking to bring the safest yet most effective insect agent in any related case.

The present paper investigates the possibility to find in the local community of plants populations an option, beyond the introduction of an exotic biocontrol agent, that should be considered like a management option for classical biological control and we record for the first time a new pest for mullein species, the weevil Fuller rose beetle *Pantomorus cervinus* (Boheman, 1840). In the paper ecological and biological considerations about guild relationships between the two species are discussed.

Keywords: AIS, Pantomorus cervinus, biological control, invasive status

<footnote n="1">¹Research-Development Institute for Plant Protection, Bucharest, Romania</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²USDA Forest Service - Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Hilo, United States</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Faculty of Biotechnology, Bucharest, Romania</footnote>
*Harmonia axyridis* Pallas 1773 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) a review of its biology, ecology and risk assessment on intraguild predations in Romania

Manole Traian<fnref n="1" />, Ionescu Irina<fnref n="2" />

The harlequin ladybird, *Harmonia axyridis* Pall., has been considered both one of the best biological agent of many pest species or as a pest invasive species.

Recorded for the first time in Romania in summer 2008 in the present most authors consider the status of species as successfully established but the impact of this fact remain, in most part unclear.

The present paper discusses the distribution, the spread, the mass rearing in controlled conditions and some ecological consideration related to relationships with other species of native ladybirds.

Keywords: Harmonia axyridis, risk assessment, biological control

<footnote n="1">¹Research-Development Institute for Plant Protection, Bucharest, Romania</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Faculty of Biotechnology, Bucharest, Romania</footnote>
**Using spatially explicit dynamic modelling to predict future invasion dynamics**

Joana Vicente¹, Rita Bastos², Peter Verburg³, Mário Santos², Hélia Marchante⁴, Elizabete Marchante⁵, Christoph Kueffer⁶, ⁷, David Richardson⁷, Ana Vaz¹, João Honrado¹, João Cabral²

¹Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO), Vairão, Portugal & Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal., Porto, Portugal

²Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal., Vila Real, Portugal

³Environmental Geography group, Department of Earth Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands., Amsterdam, Netherlands

⁴Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra, Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology. Portugal, Coimbra, Portugal

⁵Center for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal., Coimbra, Portugal

⁶Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Universitätsstrasse 16, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland., Zurich, Switzerland

⁷Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Biological invasions are a threat to global biodiversity, imposing severe impacts on the environmental, social and economic determinants of human well-being. Specifically, invasive woody plant species (IWPS) have the ability to profoundly alter many forest ecosystems, namely their structure and functioning, which are the backbone of forest productivity, stability and resilience. IWPS can disrupt the provision of ecosystem services, triggering hardly reversible regime shifts in human-derived benefits, from forests, timber provisioning and climate mitigation, to water regulation, soil erosion and fire control. We will present an integrative predictive modelling framework aimed to advance the current and future applications of ecological modelling in the assessment of biological invasions as drivers of socio-ecological regime shifts in forest landscapes. In this framework, niche models and remotely sensed forest attributes jointly feed a spatially-explicit dynamic model. We illustrate our approach with a dynamic model developed for *Acacia dealbata* to simulate population dynamics under current and future socio-environmental conditions in forest landscapes. Distinct management strategies for different *Acacia* height classes are considered to simulate the cost-efficiency of individual or combined techniques. Additionally, the conditions of climate, land use, management and fire disturbance that can promote the spread of *A. dealbata* towards non-invaded areas are analysed, tested and optimized under contrasting socio-ecological scenarios. Our results highlight the adequate management actions for the aggressive invader *A. dealbata*, identifying landscape and forestry management regimes that could effectively prevent new invasions. Finally, we discuss the potential of the framework for evaluating the circumstances under which regime shifts in forest ecosystems, triggered by IWPS, can be anticipated and prevented.

This work was funded by POPH/FSE, funds and by National Funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology under the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) through Post-doctoral grant: SFRH/ BPD/84044/2012 (JR Vicente), and by H2020 project ECOPOTENTIAL: improving future ecosystem benefits through earth observations (reference 641762). R. Bastos and A.S. Vaz are funded by FCT through doctoral grants SFRH/BD/102428/2014 and PD/BD/52600/2014, respectively.

Keywords: dynamic modelling, invasion, invader alien plant species, regime shift, land use change modelling, socio-ecology
# Flora of Moscow railways

Yulia Vinogradova, Vassily Bochkin

Main botanical garden, Moscow, Russia

The results of the Flora of Moscow railways studies since 1851 (date of the first railroad in Russia foundation) till 2015 are summarized. The check-list comprises 1119 species (499 indigenous, 620 alien), belonging to 93 families. Within alien component of the Flora several important differences compare to indigenous component are recorded: the list of 13 leading families does not include Cyperaceae, ranks of Caryophyllaceae and Scrophulariaceae are lower, while Chenopodiaceae, Apiaceae and Boraginaceae are higher in ranking. Annuas absolutely prevail in life-form spectrum (46%); a group of perennial herbaceous plants includes 212 spp. (34%), trees, shrubs and woody vines have 123 spp. (20%). 351 alien species can be characterized as occasionally contaminated, 269 - as escaped from cultivation. A group of casual alien plants consists of 222 spp. (36%); a group of naturalized plants prevail (48%); 41 invasive species s. str. (7%) and 59 transformers (9%) are recorded. 54% of all alien plants recorded for Moscow region (Moscow plus Moscow province) grow along railways. A few new species for former USSR territory were found there (*Rubus macrophyllus*, *Polygonum ramosissimum*), as well as many new species for Moscow province (*Gypsophila perfoliata*, *Hyssopus officinalis*, etc.). Some alien plants grow along railways for decades: e.g., *Urtica cannabina* and *Asclepias syriaca* grow within the same locus for more than 30 years, demonstrating no tendency to further expansion. Railways are not only “donors/sources” of alien species, they are also their recipients. In fact, railways could serve as a refugium for “the escapees”: e.g., *Asclepias syriaca* grow over 30 years within the section of railway Kursk-Moscow located near Institute of Medicine Plants. *Galega officinalis* was also recorded for the spot 10 years ago, and now this species forms the dense population of about 200 m2. *Sedum hispanicum* and *S. album* appeared along the railways from flower gardens located near railroads. There is a strong correlation between plants' life form and pathway. In the group of woody plants “the escapees” predominate (10 times more species than within the group of occasionally contaminated plants). Within the group of herbaceous perennials occasionally contaminated plants have 2 times more species than in the group of “the escapees”. Within the group of annuals occasionally contaminated plants are 3 times more numerous in species than “the escapees”. Consistent patterns of naturalization processes in flora of railways and its alien fraction for the Moscow region are similar.

Keywords: railways, Moscow, flora, invasive species
# Current and potential distribution of Solidago ×niederederi (Asteraceae) in Poland

Artur Pliszko, Maria Zając

Department of Plant Taxonomy, Phytogeography and Herbarium, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland

Solidago ×niederederi Khek (Asteraceae) has been recorded in several countries in Europe as a result of spontaneous hybridisation between the alien *S. canadensis* L. and the native *S. virgaurea* L. The hybrid is found in anthropogenic habitats, usually close to both parents, and it forms characteristic clonal clumps that consist of a few, several or several dozen stems. It is intermediate in the general features of synflorescence and leaf morphology.

Field studies conducted in 2013-2015 in Poland reveal that the hybrid occurs mainly on abandoned fields and is more frequent than previously thought. Currently, it is known from thirty 10-km square units of the ATPOL cartogram grid. It is clear that its distribution is dependent on that of the parental species. The potential distribution of *S. ×niederederi* in Poland shows that invasion of *S. canadensis* by hybridisation with a native congener may happen throughout the whole territory of the country. Most populations are small and are probably casual rather than established, however, the persistence and spread of the hybrid need further study.

Keywords: Solidago canadensis, Solidago ×niederederi, invasive species, plant hybridisation, Poland
# Dynamics of selected invasive species in the Polish Carpathians and their Foreland

Maria Zajac<fnref n="1" />, Józef Mitka<fnref n="2" />, Barbara Tokarska-Guzik<fnref n="3" />, Adam Zajac<fnref n="1" />

A study encompasses the dynamics of 17 invasive taxa recorded in the Polish Carpathians and their forelands in 1850-2015. Database consists of 19.905 records. For each species and year a total number of localities were noted and arranged in a data matrix used for the ordination and classification procedures: non-metric dimensional scaling (NMDS) and classification with Ward (minimum variance) algorithm based on Euclidean distances. Both the ordination and classification methods showed 5 groups. The first (group A) consisted of *Impatiens parviflora*, *Solidago gigantea* and *Reynoutria japonica*. The group had the highest loadings along the first axis of NMDS ordination and formed a distinct group in Ward's classification. The second was B2 group consisted of six species: *Epilobium ciliatum*, *Solidago canadensis*, *Rudbeckia laciniata*, *Bidens frondosa*, *Acer negundo*, and *Echinocystis lobata*. The remaining B1 group had three well-distinguished subgroups B1A, B1B, and B1C. They formed a sister group to B2 group in the classification diagram and were well discriminated in the ordination space. Subgroup B1A had two species: *Heracleum mantegazianum* and *Heracleum sosnowskyi*; subgroup B1B three species: *Lycium barbatum*, *Elodea candensis*, *Onobrychis viciifolia*; subgroup B1C three species: *Bunias orientalis*, *Padus serotina*, and *Veronica filiformis*. Maximum increase in species localities was noted in 1960-1980. The most earliest in the Polish Carpathians was noted group B1B, as early as in the second half of the 19. century. B1C and B2 were noted some 100 hundred years ago, and B1A was the latest and appeared in the region some 30 years ago. For some pairs of species a highly synchronous and periodic dynamics were found.

Keywords: invasive species, dynamics in time and space, Polish Carpathian Mountains

<footnote n="1">¹Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Botanic Garden, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Silesian University, Katowice, Poland</footnote>
**Urban ornamental trees: a source of recent invaders? A case study from
European city**

Natálie Čeplová<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />, Zdeňka Lososová<fnref n="1" />

Man-made habitats are considered to be the important hotspots for species naturalization. Due to high propagule pressure caused by human activities they serve as a source of introduction of alien plant species. We used the database of cultivated ornamental trees and shrubs for Brno, Czech Republic, to determine the significance of introduction pressure as a factor in woody plant naturalization. From all cultivated woody taxa, 15 % was recognized as spontaneously growing in the urban area and there was a significant relationship between the frequency of cultivated species and their ability to spontaneously occur in urban area. The highest potential to spread from cultivations have temperate Europe native species, followed by neophytes originated from America or Central and Eastern Asia, respectively.

Keywords: Archaeophyte, Europe, invasive biology, native species, neophyte, propagule pressure, urban ecology

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic</footnote>
Alien species of Sternorrhyncha (Insecta, Hemipteroidea) as non-native pests of
ornamental plants in Belarus

Sergey Buga

Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus

Sternorrhyncha is a taxon of Hemipteroidea which includes whiteflies (Aleyrodinea), aphids (Aphidoidea), phylloxerans and adelgids (Phylloxeroidea), scale insects (Coccoidea), and jumping plant lice (Psylloidea). A number of these phytophagous insects damage ornamental plants.

There are two large groups of alien Sternorrhyncha species pestful for decorative cultures. The first ones are dangerous pests of ornamental plants which grown in greenhouses or indoors. Among them whitefly *Trialeurodes vaporariorum* (Westwood 1856), scale insects *Coccus hesperidum* Linnaeus 1758, *Saissetia coffeae* (Walker 1852), *Aonidia lauri* (Bouché 1833), *Aspidiotus nerii* Bouché 1833, *Diaspis boisduvalii* Signoret 1869, *Pseudococcus longispinus* (Targioni Tozzetti 1867), *Pseudococcus maritimus* (Ehrhorn 1900), *Vryburgia amaryllidis* (Bouché 1937), aphids *Neomyzus circumflexus* (Buckton 1876), *Myzus ascalonicus* Doncaster 1946, *Myzus persicae* (Šulzer 1776), *Macrosiphoniella sanborni* (Gillette 1908), etc. Outdoors same of them form only temporary seasonal populations during warm season because failure to overwintering under the environmental condition of Belarus.

The second ones naturalized under the condition environmental of the region and their
populations are more or less stable. These species are common or abundant at least in parks,
gardens or orchards. Twelve of them have been included in Black List of invasive animals for
the country.

Keywords: bioinvasions, Aleyrodinea, Aphidoidea, Coccoidea, sucking insects
# Native Parasitoid Assemblages of an invasive pest, *Dryocosmus kuriphilus* (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), in Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary

George Melika<fnref n="1" />, Dinka Matošević<fnref n="2" />, Éva Kriston<fnref n="1" />, Nikola Lacković<fnref n="2" />, Katarina Kos<fnref n="3" />, Gabrijel Seljak<fnref n="4" />, Mojca Rot<fnref n="4" />, László Krizbai<fnref n="1" />, Miklós Bozsó<fnref n="1" />

The Asian sweet chestnut gallwasp, *Dryocosmus kuriphilus* Yasumatsu (DK) (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) considered to be the most important pest of chestnut worldwide. Originating from China, this pest was accidentally introduced to Japan in 1941, colonized Korea in 1958 and the USA in 1974. In 2002 it was detected in Europe, Italy. Since then DK spread throughout Italy and has also been reported in all European countries where chestnut growth.

Within the native range in China, 11 parasitoids species were found to associate with DK which kept the host populations at low densities; in Japan, South Korea, the USA and European countries the attack rates of indigenous parasitoid species vary from 2% to 4.7%, in some regions of Italy occasionally up to 32%. We study the native parasitoid assemblages of DK across its expanding range in Italy (since 2005), Slovenia (since 2010), Croatia (since 2011) and Hungary (since 2013). All parasitoid species are known to associate with oak cynipid galls. Most of them are generalists that can shift hosts more easily and are more successful in colonizing an invasive host and thus a large parasitoid diversity within the DK community can be expected. The aim was to study the source community of parasitoids available to attack the invasive host and the way in which they may associate with *D. kuriphilus*. Specifically, (i) are parasitoids conservative in their choice of host, jump onto the new invader rarely and track the host after a suitable match between parasitoid and host is established (the Host Tracking hypothesis) or (ii) are parasitoids opportunistic and readily jump onto a new host from their local population when it becomes available (the Local Recruitment hypothesis). We believe that Local Recruitment is the more likely hypothesis to explain interactions between native parasitoids and DK. Around half of parasitoid species associated with DK across its expanding range, were not observing in the original site of invasion, thus the Host Tracking is unlikely to be happened. Since 2005 44 species shifted onto the new pest, DK. Till 2015 in Italy 39 chalcidoid parasitoid species have so far recruited naturally to the new host, in Slovenia 28, in Croatia 20, in Hungary 17. The time lag between the introduction of the new host, DK, and the recruitment of native parasitoid community is short and depends on the longevity of pest's presence on a particular site. Recruitment of parasitoids to DK depends on actual parasitoid species composition of oak gallwasps to be found in the same locality and vary from year to year.

Keywords: invasive pest, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, native parasitoids, augmentation, biological control, parasitization rate

<footnote n="1">¹National Food Chain Safety Office, Plant Health and Molecular Biology National Reference Laboratory, head of laboratory, Budapest, Hungary</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Department for Forest Protection and Hunting, Croatian Forest Research Institute, Jastrebarsko, Croatia</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Agriculture and Forestry Institute of Nova Gorica, Slovenia, Nova Gorica, Slovenia</footnote>
**The crayfish plague pathogen, *Aphanomyces astaci*: pathways, vectors and potential consequences of its spread in the introduced ranges**

*Agata Mrugała*<fnref n="1" />, Eva Kozubíková-Balcarová<fnref n="1" />, Christoph Chucholl<fnref n="2" />, Tadashi Kawai<fnref n="3" />, Antonín Kouba<fnref n="4" />, Jiří Svoboda<fnref n="1" />, Lukáš Veselý<fnref n="4" />, Satu Viljamaa-Dirks<fnref n="5" />, Adam Petrusek<fnref n="1" />

The crayfish plague pathogen *Aphanomyces astaci* is a parasite that, due to its devastating impact on European crayfish species, was listed among 100 world's worst invasive alien species. Crayfish plague is mainly spread by its natural hosts, North American crayfish. Thanks to a long co-evolutionary history with *A. astaci*, they evolved efficient defence mechanisms that susceptible European, Australian and Asian crayfish species lack. Several North American crayfish, especially the red swamp crayfish *Procambarus clarkii*, got established on different continents thanks to stocking into open waters and aquaculture. In Europe, the spread of *P. clarkii* is responsible for *A. astaci* transmission to native crayfish species; therefore, its presence may endanger endemic crayfish also elsewhere in the world. As the first such case, we confirmed presence of *A. astaci* infections in Japanese populations of *P. clarkii*, and of the signal crayfish *Pacifastacus leniusculus*. In that country, crayfish plague might have contributed to declines of the local endemic crayfish *Cambaroides japonicus*. Apart from aquaculture, freshwater crayfish are also becoming very popular pets, and a recent rapid growth in aquarium trade coincides in Europe with their releases into open waters. After screening for *A. astaci* presence in various non-European crayfish species circulating in German ornamental trade, we confirmed that aquarium trade represents also a source of exotic pathogens, including *A. astaci*. Thus, crayfish plague may be transmitted to the natural environment by crayfish released from household aquaria. Even aquaculture or ornamental crayfish species of non-American origin may contribute to crayfish plague spread. Although they are generally regarded as susceptible to *A. astaci* and expected to die shortly after an infection, at least some widely traded crayfish species apparently show elevated resistance. We experimentally demonstrated that the Australian yabby *Cherax destructor* is indeed less susceptible to *A. astaci* than European crayfish species, and its release may result in formation of new pathogen reservoirs. The presentation will summarize outcomes of projects undertaken during the first author's PhD studies that concern *A. astaci* introduction pathways, vectors and reservoirs. These results will be presented with regard to *A. astaci* genetic variation (responsible for differences in virulence and tolerance to varying environmental conditions) and discussed in relation to existing regulations and potential preventive measures aiming to reduce the risk of *A. astaci* spread.

Keywords: North American crayfish, disease outbreaks, aquarium trade, aquaculture, host-pathogen interactions, pathogen reservoirs

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Vinicná 7, Prague 2 CZ-12844, Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Fisheries Research Station Baden-Württemberg, Argenweg 50/1, 88085 Langenargen, Germany, Langenargen, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Wakkanai Fisheries Institute, 4-5-15 Suehiro, Wakkanai, 097-0001 Hokkaido, Japan, Wakkanai, Japan</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴University of South Bohemia in Ceské Budejovice, Faculty of Fishery and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodnany, Czech Republic, Vodnany, Czech Republic</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, OIE reference laboratory for crayfish plague, 70701 Kuopio, Finland, Kuopio, Finland</footnote>
# Identification of walnut husk (Juglans regia) volatiles and behavioral response of the invasive Walnut Husk Fly, *Rhagoletis completa*

Landry Sarles<fnref n="1" />, Stéphanie Heuskin<fnref n="1" />, Agnès Verhaeghe<fnref n="2" />, Frédéric Francis<fnref n="1" />, François Verheggen<fnref n="1" />

## Background:

Several European countries are important walnut producers. They however have to deal with the recent introduction of the Walnut Husk Fly, *Rhagoletis completa* (Diptera, Tephritidae), that causes severe economic losses, especially in biological productions. Because most Tephritidae fruit flies use kairomone from their host in their search for host, we hypothesize that this highly specialist species orientate toward the volatile blend released by walnut husk.

## Results:

First, we collected, identified and quantified the volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) released by walnut husks collected from the most cultivated variety in France (Franquette). Then, the behavioural response of *R. completa* toward natural and synthetic odor blends was recorded in a fly tunnel. A total of 26 VOCs were identified, including α-pinene, β-pinene, trans-linalool, eugenol, tetradecane as the major constituents. In the fly tunnel, males and females *R. completa* were strongly attracted by fresh walnut husks as well as by a synthetic blend including most of the previously identified husk COVs.

## Conclusion:

Coupled with yellow traps, this kairomone blend could improve the efficiency of the monitoring efforts, but could also be used for the management of this quarantine pest.

Keywords: Fruit flies, Volatile organic compounds, Integrated pest management, Walnuts

<footnote n="1">¹University of Liège, Gembloux AgroBioTech, Gembloux, Belgium</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Centre technique interprofessionnel des fruits et légumes, Chatte, France</footnote>
**Investigation on dispersion and feeding behaviour of non-native stink bug pests,
related to interactions with their environment.**

Laurent Serteyn, Junior Fingu, Sophie Moreau, Thomas Bawin, Frédéric Francis

*Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech - ULg, Gembloux, Belgium*

*Halyomorpha halys* Stål (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) is an invasive stink bug coming from Eastern Asia. Besides causing important yields losses in orchards, crop and vegetable fields, it overwinters inside houses as agglomerates of dozens. In the USA, this Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) has been first observed in Pennsylvania. Fifteen years later, it is well established in 41 states. In Europe, BMSB was accidentally introduced in Switzerland in 2007 and has been later observed in surrounding countries (France, Italy, Germany). Based on the US situation, we can reasonably fear that BMSB will have colonized most of Europe countries in less than a decade. This stink bug is not recorded in EPPO quarantine lists, though.

According to our investigation on the interactions between stink bugs and their host plants, complementary behavioural and electrophysiological approaches were developed using BMSB. Also, comparative experiments with another non-native stink bug already well established in Europe, namely *Nezara viridula* L., were performed. After comparing the feeding and dispersion behaviours of both bugs, the impact of entomopathogenic fungi on bug behaviour was investigated. Our results will be discussed to present changes according to bug species, host plant and healthy/fungal infested status, in relation to potential biological control for these pests.

Keywords: Stink bugs, Halyomorpha halys, behaviour, entomopathogenic fungi
# Invasive species insects on black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L., 1753) in Belarus

Aleh Sinchuk, Fedor Sautkin

Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus

The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L., 1753) is a plant which has been introduced into Belarus. R. pseudoacacia is native to the Southeastern part of the United States. The culture in greenbelt black locust was used in the 1940s of XX century. These trees were actively used in the creation of shelter belts along roads and railway lines for the following years of 1950-60s. R. pseudoacacia is a popular decorative plant in Central and South regions of plant introduction in Belarus. The usage of black locust is not useful because the plants can badly withstand low temperatures in condition of North and North-Central regions. R. pseudoacacia began to penetrate into natural forests.

The black locust had been used effectively in the green stands before the end of the XX century, because of damaged plants only *Aphis craccivora* Koch, 1854. The complex species of herbivores penetrated in the second half of XX – beginning of XXI century in Belarus. Among them four phytophages *Nematus tibialis* Newman, 1837, *Obolodiplosis robiniae* (Haldeman, 1847), *Phyllonorycter robiniella* (Clemens, 1859) and *Parectopa robiniella* (Clemens, 1863), native to North America. These phytophages pose a threat to black locust stands in the case of mass reproduction.

*O. robiniae*, *N. tibialis* and *A. craccivora* encountered in all the areas growing *R. pseudoacacia*. *Ph. robiniella* is found in all the areas of the plant introduction in Belarus. *P. robiniella* concentrate on the Southern and Central regions.

Black locust loses decorative properties in the South of the country. This phenomenon is due to the mass reproduction of invasive pests. *A. craccivora* forms colonies on young twigs and seedpods, causing their withering. Aphids enter into symbiotic associations with ants (*Lasius niger* (L.), *Formica cinerea* Mayr). Invasive leaf miner damaging the leaf blade with the upper and lower sides. This is complex of invasive species can lead defoliation of plants before the end of vegetation period.

Keywords: black locust, *Nematus tibialis*, *Obolodiplosis robiniae*, *Parectopa robiniella*, *Phyllonorycter robiniella*, Belarus
**Alien insects detected in Bulgaria during the period 2011-2015**

Rumen Tomov<fnref n="1" />, Nikolay Simov<fnref n="2" />, Danail Doychev<fnref n="1" />, Mario Langourov<fnref n="2" />, Stoyan Beshkov<fnref n="1" />

Nine plant feeding alien insect species have been detected in Bulgaria during the period 2011-2015 - *Deraecoris flavilinea* (A. Costa) (Simov et al. 2012); *Periphyllus californiensis* (Shinji) (Yovkova et al. 2013), *Corythucha arcuata* (Say) (Dobreva et al. 2013), *Drosophila suzukii* (Tomov, Ivanova 2014), *Phenacoccus peruvianus* Granara De Willink (Pencheva et al. 2014), *Cacyreus marshalli* (Butler) (Langourov, Simov 2014), *Aproceros leucopoda* Takeuchi (Doychev 2015) *Belonochilus numenius* (Say) (Aukema et al. 2013) and *Cydalima perspectalis* (Walker) (Beshkov et al. 2015).

In the framework of the project "East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species – a tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria" (ESENIAS-TOOLS), a survey was carried out to monitor their distribution and population status in Bulgaria. The environmental, social and economic impact of the species is analyzed and discussed.

**References:**

1. Aukema B, Rieger C, Rabitsch W (eds.) (2013) Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region. Vol. 6. The Netherlands Entomological Society, Amsterdam :1-629

2. Beshkov S, Abadjiev S, Dimitrov D (2015) *Cydalima perspectalis* (Walker, 1859) (Lep.: Pyraloidea: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) - New invasive pest moth in Bulgaria. Entomologist's Rec J Var: 127, 18-22

3. Dobreva M, Simov N, Georgiev G, Mirchev P, Georgieva M (2013) First Record of *Corythucha arcuata* (Say) (Heteroptera: Tingidae) on the Balkan Peninsula. Acta zool bulg 65 (3):409-412

4. Doychev D (2015) First record of the invasive Elm sawfly *Aproceros leucopoda* Takeuchi (Hymenoptera: Argidae) in Bulgaria. Silva Balcanica 16(1): 108-112

5. Langourov M, Simov N (2014) *Cacyreus marshalli* Butler, 1898 (Lep.: Lycaenidae), a new species for Bulgaria. Entomologist's Rec. Var 126: 190-192

6. Pencheva A, Yovkova M, Kozarov D (2014 Insect Pests on *Bougainvillea glabra* with description of *Phenacoccus peruvianus* Granara De Willink – A New Species in Bulgarian Greenhouses. Plant science LI 6: 90-93

7. Tomov R, Ivanova I (2015) Monitoring of exotic fruit fly species in Bulgaria. XVIII International Plant Protection Congress 24 – 27 August 2015, Berlin. Abstract book: 51-52

8. Yovkova M, Petrović-Obradović O, Tasheva-Terzieva E, Pencheva A (2013) Aphids (Hemiptera, Aphididae) on ornamental plants in greenhouses in Bulgaria. In: Popov A, Grozeva S, Simov N, Tasheva E (Eds) Advances in Hemipterology. ZooKeys 319: 347–361

9. Simov N, Langourov M, Grozeva S, Gradinarov D (2012) New and Interesting Records of Alien and Native True Bugs (Hem.: Heteroptera) from Bulgaria. Acta zool bulg 64 (3): 241-252

**Keywords:** Alien, insects, distribution, impact, ESENIAS

<footnote n="1">¹University of forestry - Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²National Museum of Natural History – Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria</footnote>
**Distribution of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in ESENIAS area**

Ahmet Uludag¹, ², Vladimir Vladimirov³, Necmi Aksoy¹, Paulina Anastasiu⁵, Garifalia Economou⁵, Elissavet Gavriil⁵, Bojan Konstantinovic⁶, Milica Rat⁷, Gerhard Karrer⁸

¹Düzce University, Düzce, Turkey

²Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Department of Plant Protection, Canakkale, Turkey

³Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, IBER-BASBulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

⁴University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Department of Botany & Microbiology, Bucuresti, Romania

⁵Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece

⁶University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia

⁷University of Novi Sad, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia

⁸Institut für Botanik, Department für Integrative Biologie, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Wien, Australia

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is one of the most prominent invasive alien species (IAS) worldwide. South-central and south east European regions are the most affected. Its pollen grains are noxious aero-allergens, it is an important agricultural weed and also occupies large non-crop areas. ESENIAS (East and South European Network on Invasive Alien Species) was established in 2010 to create synergy on issues related to IAS among Balkans and the surrounding area. ESENIAS territory covers one of the most ragweed invaded areas – Pannonia, where the records of this species date back to early 20th century. Distribution data shows that after 1950 and especially 1990s, the introductions and spread of the species in the region increased. There are records from all ESENIAS countries although some of them are controversial like the results derived from Albania. In Turkey case, there was one and single record few years ago which comes in contrast with the fact of the higher pollen counts recorded in the last decade. In nowadays, records had been appeared in both parts of the country (European and Asian). Ragweed also has increasingly become a major weed in Balkan agriculture, especially in spring-sown crops such as sunflower, maize and sugar beet. It also invades pastures, marshlands, flood plains, roadsides, railroads and urban areas in the region. Furthermore, it has a population in a forest in western Black Sea Region of Turkey. Current situation suggests that not only Pannonia but also the whole ESENIAS area is under threat due to anthropogenic disruptions including climate change.

Keywords: Pannonia, Introduction, Spread, Impact, Balkans
**Topic 07**
Socioeconomic impacts of biological invasions

P-95

**Cost-benefit and cost-effective analysis of managing invasive species in Mexico**

Georgia Born-Schmidt<fnref n="1" />, Patricia Koleff<fnref n="1" />, Ana Isabel González Martínez<fnref n="1" />, Tatiana Sánchez<fnref n="1" />, Norman Rodríguez Mercado-Silva<fnref n="2" />, Diego Kanchi Díaz<fnref n="2" />, Agueda Karina Ramos-Rendón<fnref n="3" />, Celerino Montes García<fnref n="4" />, Armando Wakida – Kusunoki<fnref n="5" />, Federico Méndez Sánchez<fnref n="6" />, Mayra Valdez Lizárraga<fnref n="7" />, Marilú López-Mejía<fnref n="8" />, Everado Barba Macías<fnref n="9" />, Adam Daignault<fnref n="10" />, Pike Brown<fnref n="10" />, Florian Eppink<fnref n="10" />, Jordi Parpal Servole<fnref n="1" />

The cost of economic impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) has been estimated to be around 5% of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In Mexico, there are little or no data regarding these costs and, as the government faces the challenge of decreasing resources and competing budgetary priorities, stakeholders and decision makers are particularly interested in the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of various approaches to manage IAS. Despite this acute need, practitioners lack the specific skills to develop economic analyses focused on the costs of managing IAS. A training program was organized in 2015, to build capacities and undertake economic analyses of the impacts caused by invasive species in Mexico. This is being done under the guidance of experts of the Landcare Research Institute (LCRI). Projects are being carried out for high impact invasive and feral species such as *Tilapia cf. zillii*, *Pterygolichthys* sp and feral goats, among others. These studies are part of a series of training programs on economic analysis of managing IAS which LCRI has led in other regions. This training program is part of a GEF / UNDP financed project "*Enhancing National Capacity of Mexico to manage invasive alien species by implementing the National Strategy on Invasive Species*" coordinated by the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) that will allow Mexico to have data to guide better decisions to deal with biological invasions.

Keywords: economic analyses, managing costs

<footnote n="1">¹Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad – CONABIO Dirección General de Análisis y Prioridades, Mexico City, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Laboratorio de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California - UABC, Ensenada, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Reserva de la Biosfera El Vizcaíno, Comisión Nacional de Áreas Protegidas - CONANP, Guerrero Negro, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵Centro Regional de Investigación Acuícola y Pesquera de Yucalpeten, Merida, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="6">⁶Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, A.C. – GECI, Ensenada, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="7">⁷Comisión Nacional Forestal - CONAFOR, Jalisco, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="8">⁸Universidad de Quintana Roo, Cozumel, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="9">⁹Grupo Académico Manejo Sustentable de Cuencas y Zonas Costeras, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Villahermosa, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="10">¹⁰Economics & Land Use Modelling, Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand</footnote>
A social-ecological study on the impacts and management of *Prosopis* (mesquite),
one of the world's worst invasive tree taxa

Ross Shackleton¹, David Le Maitre², Brian van Wilgen¹, David Richardson¹

¹Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland 7602, South Africa, Stellenbosch, South Africa

²Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa,
Stellenbosch, South Africa

*Prosopis* (mesquite) is a conflict of interest invasive tree that has been introduced globally. Many *Prosopis* species were introduced to South Africa, have hybridised, and become the second most widespread invasive tree genus. These invasions have detrimental effects on biodiversity, ecosystem services and human livelihoods. However, there is still limited knowledge on the impacts, perceptions and management of *Prosopis* invasions. We used social-ecological studies to investigate the ecology, benefits and costs of *Prosopis* and develop a framework to guide the management of this tree. *Prosopis* was found to negatively impact local plant biodiversity across South Africa. Many social, economic and ecological impacts were raised by different communities including negative impacts on water, grazing, infrastructure and economic returns on farms and it was found that the relative direct use value of *Prosopis* in comparison to native trees was lower. This all provided evidence for the need for management as the costs outweigh the benefits of this conflict of interest tree. We then explore the barriers that are hindering the effective management and contrast differences between stakeholders. We then highlight strategic planning and prioritisation approaches to improve management in the future.

Keywords: Tree invasions, Management, Impacts, Prosopis, Barriers, Benefits, Costs, social-ecological
**Fire differentially affects fitness and population growth of an invasive shrub compared to coexisting native species**

Raelene Crandall<fnref n="1" />, Tiffany Knight<fnref n="2" />, <fnref n="3" />, <fnref n="4" />

Fire is an environmental filter that selects for woody species able to survive or recruit and grow quickly in the post-fire environment. Those that survive fire maintain their location in the habitat, which is predicted to convey an advantage over recruiting from seed in fire-frequented habitats. Although resprouting is predicted to be advantageous, differences in mode of resprouting (i.e., resprouting from aerial or underground buds) should affect competitive interactions following fire and result in additional filtering. For those habitats that are invaded by exotic species, it is necessary to know the mode of regeneration after fire for native and invasive species, because this will predict whether the reintroduction of periodic fire will filter out invasives and successfully restore the native community. To determine the effects of restoration using fire on eight natives and one invasive native to Asia, *Lonicera maackii*, we reintroduced fire into fire-suppressed forests of central USA. Plots with coexisting native and invasive species were established during the summer of 2011 and burned or unburned during January 2012. Demographic measurements were taken during the summers of 2011-13, including growth, reproduction, survival, recruitment, and post-fire regeneration mode. We found that the invasive had significantly higher survival than any of the native species. It also had a different mode of post-fire regeneration; natives resprouted from root crowns and the invasive resprouted from aerial buds and were reproductive the first season following the burns. Although many of the natives were reproductive prior to burning, very few produced seeds in the first two years following fire. Seedlings of the natives and invasives were rarely observed after fire indicating that resprouting is the main regeneration mode for all species. Overall, burning had no significant effect on the population growth rate of the exotic, but negatively affects those of the natives. *Lonicera maackii* has been shown to outcompete native plants by blocking light attenuation; it grows quickly and spreads, allowing very little light to reach the forest floor. Burning may enhance this advantage because *L. maackii* is able to maintain its location in the shrub canopy while native species become restricted to the shrub understory. Fire acts as a filter that can quickly and dramatically alter the competitive balance between natives and invasives, and thus it should be used with caution unless post-fire regeneration modes and demographic responses are known in advance.

Keywords: competition, demography, fire, resprouters

<footnote n="1">¹University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, United States</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Leipzig, Germany</footnote>
**Biotic resistance to invasive alien plants: Using a multi-trait approach to design
resistant communities**

Florencia Yannelli<fnref n="1" />, Rea Hall<fnref n="2" />, Gerhard Karrer<fnref n="2" />, Tina Heger<fnref n="1" />

The invasion of alien species (IAS) contributes to ecosystem degradation, complicating efforts to restore degraded systems. Therefore, a key question arising is whether we can prevent the successful establishment of IAS during restoration by designing resistant plant communities. The theory of limiting similarity has been proposed as a tool for predicting biotic resistance of a target community to potential IAS. It states that IAS will be unlikely to establish if native species with similar traits are present in the resident community. However, most studies base trait similarity on single traits or broad classification of life forms. In this study we investigate whether we can predict biotic resistance by using a system of linear equations and a multiple-trait approach based on more specific functional traits related to competitive strength obtained from trait databases (see Laughlin 2014, Ecol. Lett. 17: 771-784). For doing so, a specific community was designed based on the trait similarity of grassland species native to central Europe and against each of two common IAS (*Ambrosia artemisiifolia* and *Solidago gigantea*). In a greenhouse experiment both specifically designed communities were separately tested against both IAS along with a control consisting on a monoculture of each IAS. Our results show that the community designed to repel *S. gigantea* was successful at suppressing both IAS, supported by the lower values of aboveground biomass found compared to the one designed to repel *A. artemisiifolia* and the control. A negative correlation between native and IAS aboveground biomass was only found for *A. artemisiifolia*. While these findings would suggest a partial support to the limiting similarity theory for *S. gigantea*, the suppression success of the same mixture on *A. artemisiifolia* indicates that other factors might better explain the suppression effect. That is, resistance seems to be related by either a biomass-driven suppression or the presence of particular highly competitive species, i.e. *Achillea millefolium*. Overall, our results indicate that species-specific effects can influence early stages of such artificial communities rather than limiting similarity. The lack of support could also be a consequence of failing to include really meaningful traits with respect to the most wanted functions of early development competitive suppression. Such can lead to the discussion if we have the right traits available in current trait databases.

Keywords: Ambrosia artemisiifolia; Solidago gigantea; Biotic resistance; Functional traits

<footnote n="1">¹Restoration Ecology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Institute of Botany, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria</footnote>
**Genetic evidence for the translocation of invasive bighead goby along rivers by
commercial vessels**

Irene Adrian-Kalchhauser<fnref n="1" />, Philipp Hirsch<fnref n="1" />, Jasminca Behrmann-Godel<fnref n="2" />, Anouk N'Guyen<fnref n="1" />,
Sylvester Watzlawczyk<fnref n="3" />, Svenja Gertzen<fnref n="3" />, Jost Borcherding<fnref n="3" />, Patricia Burkhardt-Holm<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="4" />

In the marine sector, ballast water is widely acknowledged as a major cause of species
translocations. The role of commercial shipping in the freshwater sector is much less well
understood. Consequently, freshwater shipping and freshwater ballast tanks are not subject to
any regulations aimed to minimize the spread of invasive species.

Using the example of the invasive bighead goby *Ponticola kessleri*, we will demonstrate the potential of shipping in the translocation of invasive freshwater fish. The bighead goby is a small benthic invasive fish from the Ponto-Caspian region that has colonized many European rivers. It is the forerunner of other, more prominent invasive goby species such as the round goby and the monkey goby. We analyzed 15 microsatellites in various bighead goby populations in Central Europe and compared the resulting population genetic patterns with ship travel and ship mooring patterns. In our talk, we will demonstrate how bighead goby genotypes mirror, both in the short range and in the long range, the travel behaviours of commercial vessels on the River Rhine. Furthermore, we will present evidence that freshwater cargo ships and tankers are plausible vectors for larvae of invasive goby species. We will explain why goby larvae are easily taken up with freshwater ballast water, and will demonstrate that attached Ponto-Caspian goby eggs survive both prolonged exposure to air and to water flow. In summary, we substantiate the paramount role of commercial shipping in freshwater fish translocations.

Keywords: Ponto-Caspian goby, population genetics, propagule transport, species translocation

<footnote n="1">¹University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada</footnote>
Epigenetic mechanisms and the success of invasive vertebrates

Irene Adrian-Kalchhauser<fnref n="1" />, Jean-Claude Walser<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />, Patricia Burkhardt-Holm<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="3" />

Invasive species are remarkably adaptive and deal exceptionally well with conditions they did not evolve for. Epigenetic pathways in their various flavors (DNA methylation, histone marks and a diverse array of RNA species) have the capacity to integrate environmental information, to persist in the germline, and to confer heritable and selectable phenotypes in offspring generations. This means that epigenetic mechanisms may promote the success of invasive organisms by promoting plasticity, short-term adaptations, and transgenerational inheritance of beneficial adaptations.

Despite massive progress in model organisms regarding the molecular mechanisms setting up and removing certain epigenetic marks, we understand very little about the role of epigenetic pathways in mediating adaptation processes of wild animal populations. To fill that gap, I have established the invasive round goby *Neogobius melanostomus* as a novel vertebrate model to study the interplay of epigenetics and adaptation in invasion success.

The invasive round goby is a benthic fish that has conquered fresh and brackish waters throughout Europe and North America. We sequenced and assembled its genome and have started to investigate the potential of maternal RNA to integrate external cues and transmit them to coming generations. We collected 1- to 16-cell embryos from the wild and sequenced maternal RNA. Ongoing analyses will reveal whether maternal RNA has the capacity to reflect environmental parameters experienced by the mother, such as temperature, light conditions, or oxygen content. Experiments on chromatin marks and DNA methylation have also been initiated and will reveal the potential of other epigenetic pathways to promote transgenerational adaptation in this novel wild vertebrate model species.

Keywords: Epigenetics, Invasion success, Adaptability

<footnote n="1">¹University of Basel, Department of Environmental Sciences, Basel, Switzerland</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²ETH, Zurich, Switzerland</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada</footnote>
# Colonization routes and genetic structure of common ragweed populations invading South-eastern Europe

Alla Aleksanyan<fnref n="1" />, Huseyin Onen<fnref n="2" />, Valérie Le Corre<fnref n="3" />

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is an annual herb mostly known as an invasive weed and an allergenic plant causing severe rhinitis. It has been introduced to Europe in the 19th century by the import of contaminated grain and forage. The most highly infested areas in Europe are the French Rhone valley and a large south-eastern area encompassing Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and part of Romania. A. artemisiifolia is expected to expand its range northwards due to climate change in the near future. However, expansion towards the south-east of the present range needs to be considered. During the last years, ragweed has dramatically expanded within cultivated areas (especially sunflower fields) in Turkey. Its presence is recorded eastwards up to Armenia. The aim of the present study was to understand colonization routes for ragweed occurring in the invaded range of south-east Europe. We used a set of recently developed microsatellite markers and a population genetics approach. The genetic diversity and genetic structure of populations sampled in Greece, Turkey and Armenia is described. To identify sources of colonization, these populations were compared with populations sampled throughout the European range in 12 countries (France, Italy, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Hungary, Romania and Ukraine). We used a Bayesian approach as implemented in the software Structure to infer the presence of distinct genetic clusters and to assess whether populations sampled from south-east of Europe can be assigned a likely origin in the current invaded range of Europe.

Keywords: common ragweed, genetic structure, colonization routes, south-eastern Europe

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Geobotany and Ecological Physiology, Institute of Botany of NAS of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³UMR Agroécologie, INRA, Dijon, France</footnote>
**Tracing the invasion pathways of the highly invasive box tree moth, *Cydalima perspectalis*, in Europe: a phylogeographic approach.**

Audrey Bras<fnref n="1" />, Gabor Vétek<fnref n="2" />, Dimitrios Avtzis<fnref n="3" />, Marc Kenis<fnref n="4" />, Alain Roques<fnref n="1" />, Jérôme Rousselet<fnref n="1" />,
Marie-Anne Auger-Rozenberg<fnref n="1" />

Ornamental plant trade is a major pathway for alien phytophagous insects entering Europe, with an ever increasing number of these species originating from Asia. A notorious example is the box tree moth, *Cydalima perspectalis*, native to China, Korea and Japan, which was first recorded in 2007 in Europe. Since then, it quickly spread across Europe and to the Caucasus region. One decade after its first record in Germany, this defoliator pest is currently causing a lot of damage on ornamental and natural box (*Buxus*) plants in 27 countries. The trade of ornamental box plants between Europe and China has been hypothesized as the invasion pathway of the insect while the trade between European countries could explain its fast expansion. To disentangle the invasive pathways of the box tree moth, samples of *C. perspectalis* were collected in the native range of China and Korea and so far in 17 invaded countries of Europe. A portion of the mitochondrial genes Cytochrome Oxidase I and II has been sequenced from individuals of native and invaded areas. This preliminary analysis revealed a total of 8 haplotypes in the native region. Among them, 7 were observed in China and 2 in Korea (with one shared with China). In Europe 4 haplotypes, of which 2 being mostly represented, were found so far in the invasive populations sampled. Though preliminary, our results suggest a Chinese origin supported by the fact that all these haplotypes were also found in China. However, the low number of Asiatic samples already analyzed coupled with the lack of genetic structure in the native range, did not yet allow to define precisely the potential donor regions. The genetic diversity observed in Europe also suggests multiple introductions events for the box tree moth. Nevertheless, a wider sampling in the native area in concert with the application of microsatellite markers will help to better understand the invasion pathways of this pest as well as its rapid spread into Europe.

Keywords: Invasion, Insect, Cydalima perspectalis, Ornamental plant trade, Buxus, Phylogeography, Multiple Introductions

<footnote n="1">¹INRA UR633 Zoologie Forestière, Orléans, France</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Forest Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Vassilika,, Thessaloniki,
Greece</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴CABI, Delémont, Switzerland</footnote>
**Brachycaudus divaricatae Shap. (Sternorrhyncha, Aphididae) in Belarus: genetic divergence from Armenian aboriginal forms**

Nina Voronova, Maryia Varabyova, Sergey Buga

Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus

*Brachycaudus divaricatae* Shaposhnikov, 1956 is an invasive aphid species, which has been dramatically spread across the territory of Belarus within a decade. This species of aphids was described in the middle of XX century from Transcaucasia and the neighboring regions of Near East and Central Asia, which is considered to be its primary area. In 2002 *B. divaricatae* entered the territory of Lithuania and Poland, and was first registered in Belarus in 2008. At present *B. divaricatae* became widespread across all the territory of Belarus causing significant damage to cherry plum (*Prunus divaricate* Ledeb.) in gardens and green areas.

When exploring mechanisms that provide aphids with the high level of ecological plasticity, the most intriguing question is: whether this dramatic expansion to the new territories is accompanied by the substantial changes in the genetic variability, which can be both: the increasing of the level of genetic heterogeneity of invaders owing to the high level of natural selection or extreme reduction in the number of genetic variants due to the founder effect. We have studied the level of genetic heterogeneity of invasive populations of *B. divaricatae* in Belarus versus aboriginal forms of this species from Armenia.

We have identified three haplotypes of COI gene in Europe so far and all of them were found in both Belarus and Armenia. Despite the high conservatism of COI genes in aphids there were two nucleotide and one amino acid substitutions. This level of genetic variability of COI gene corresponded well with the conventional degree of the intraspecies variability of COI gene in aphids.

Analyses of 11 microsatellite loci with low number of alleles showed that there were individuals with unique STR-alleles in populations of *B. divaricatae* from Belarus and Armenia. In general, the level of variability of STR loci was low in both populations, but *B. divaricatae* from Belarus were slightly less variable comparing to Armenian ones. At the same time, we did not find any substantial differences in the STR patterns between aphids from Armenia and Belarus in spite of being dramatically remoted. We did not observe any signs of manifestation of founder effect. As a result of phylogenetyc analysis of all 11 STR loci we could assume that *B. divaricatae* had permeated into the territory of Belarus more than once and formed several genetic lines by now, which slightly differ in the STR patterns.

Considering our study, we could summarize that expansion of *B. divaricatae* into new territory occurs without significant loss of genetic variability.

Keywords: Brachycaudus divaricatae, aphids, genetic variability, invasive species, cherry-plum aphid, microsatellite loci, STR analysis
**What makes invasive *Ageratina adenophora* successful in Western Himalaya: Contemporary evolution or phenotypic plasticity?**

Ingolf Kühn, Harald Auge

Department Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Halle,
Germany

Mountains have been considered relatively immune to invasive plants, but recent studies have indicated that increasing number of invasive plants have scaled new heights along elevational gradient across the globe. The process of invasion along an elevational gradient offers the opportunity to study the mechanisms that lead to its success. After initial establishment and colonization, invasive plants undergo rapid range expansion in the invaded range which often involves spanning steep abiotic gradients in order and become a successful in diverse conditions. Rapid evolutionary processes and phenotypic plasticity are believed to be contrasting but not mutually exclusive mechanisms leading to naturalization and spread of invasive plants in new biogeographic areas. To understand some of the processes that lead to successful invasion and range expansion, we choose to study the populations of noxious plant invader *Ageratina adenophora* in western Himalaya along an elevational gradient of 1700m. We used a reciprocal transplant design with three common gardens and 15 populations originating from three elevational levels to investigate the relative role played by rapid evolutionary processes and phenotypic plasticity. We measured a suit of different traits related to germination, performance, fitness and phenology. Our results showed lack of local adaptation and population differentiation for all the traits that we measured but the trait values differed significantly between the gardens except for leaf functional traits, which indicated high degree of phenotypic plasticity of this invasive species for most of the traits. Possible causes such as gene flow, triploidy, apomixes and preadaptation might have confounded evolutionary processes to act upon. In a broader context, we tried to explain the observed humped shaped pattern of abundance along the elevational gradient in context of our experimental results. Finally, we assessed how well Bakers concept of ideal weed fits *Ageratina adenophora*.

Keywords: Invasive Plants, Crofton Weed, Local adaptation, Phenotypic Plasticity, Clinal differentiation, population differentiation, preadaptation, apomixis,
# Does experimental manipulation of epigenetic variance in DNA methylation affect local adaptation? - A reciprocal transplant experiment comparing native and non-native ruderal plant species

Silvia Eckert¹, Jasmin Herden², Marc Stift², Jasmin Joshi¹, Mark van Kleunen²

¹Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2a, 14469 Potsdam, Germany

²Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany

Epigenetic variation has recently gained attention as potentially contributing to local adaptation in plants, and as facilitating rapid adaptation of non-native plants in their introduced range. However, its mechanism is still poorly understood. Heritable modifications of phenotypic traits via epigenetic variation in DNA methylations have been previously described in plants, and plant individuals from a given location can show specific patterns of DNA methylation when compared to individuals from other locations. Since non-native plants often start as small populations in the introduced range and therefore lack genetic variation, epigenetic variation might be important as an alternative mechanism leading to phenotypic differentiation. Hence, one could hypothesize that epigenetic variation would contribute more to local adaptation in non-native plant species than it does in native plant species. To test this, we will conduct a reciprocal transplant experiment including multiple pairs of non-native and co-occurring native confamilial ruderal plant species. In each of two common gardens (one in northern Germany, one in southern Germany, with contrasting climatic conditions), we will grow plants from seeds collected in both locations, after manipulating the extent of epigenetic variation by treating half of the plant seedlings with a de-methylation agent (zebularine). The plants will be directly planted into soil at ruderal sites, i.e. under natural environmental conditions. During the experiment, we will measure performance and phenological traits. This study aims at extending the findings of previous studies to a broader range of non-native plant species.

Keywords: Epigenetic variation, reciprocal transplant experiment, local adaptation, non-native ruderal species, native ruderal species, DNA methylation
# Pollen of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.): Illumina-based de novo sequencing and differential transcript expression upon elevated NO2/O3

Dieter Ernst<fnref n="1" />, Feng Zhao<fnref n="1" />, Jörg Durner<fnref n="1" />, Barbro Winkler<fnref n="2" />, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann<fnref n="3" />, Strom Tim-Matthias<fnref n="4" />, Ulrike Frank<fnref n="1" />

## Background:

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is a highly allergenic annual ruderal plant and native to Northern America, but now also spreading across Europe. Air pollutions and climate change will not only affect plant growth, pollen production and duration of the whole pollen season, but also the amount of allergenic encoding transcripts and proteins of the pollen.

The objective of this study was to get a better understanding of transcriptional changes in ragweed pollen upon NO2 and O3 fumigation. This will also contribute to a systems biology approach to understand the reaction of the allergenic pollen to air pollutions and climate change.

## Results:

Ragweed plants were grown in climate chambers under controlled conditions and fumigated with 40 ppb NO2 (control) and 80 ppb NO2 (treatment). The experiment was repeated using clean air (control) and 80 ppb NO2 (treatment). In the other setup plants were fumigated with 40 ppb O3 (control) and 80 ppb O3 or 120 ppb O3 (treatment). Illumina sequencing and de novo assembly revealed differentially expressed transcripts, belonging to different gene ontology (GO) terms that were grouped into biological process and molecular function. Transcript levels of the known ragweed encoding allergens were clearly up-regulated under elevated NO2, whereas the amount of allergen encoding transcripts was more variable under elevated O3 conditions.

## Conclusions:

The transcriptional changes in ragweed pollen upon elevated NO2 fumigation indicates that air pollutions will alter the transcriptome of the pollen. The changed levels of allergenic encoding transcripts may have an influence on the total allergenic potential of ragweed pollen.

**Keywords:** Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Allergen, NO2, O3, Pollen, Ragweed, Transcriptome

<footnote n="1">¹Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Research Unit Environmental Simulation, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Augsburg, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany</footnote>
**Characterization of a novel allergen from ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), enolase Amb a 12, with high homology to Hev b 9 from rubber tree**

Feng Zhao<fnref n="1" />, Jörg Durner<fnref n="1" />, Barbro Winkler<fnref n="1" />, Franziska Rueff<fnref n="2" />, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann<fnref n="3" />,
Christine von Törne<fnref n="1" />, Stefanie Hauck<fnref n="1" />, Dieter Ernst<fnref n="1" />, Ulrike Frank<fnref n="1" />

**Background:** Ragweed pollen is the main cause of respiratory allergenic diseases in Northern America and the weed has become a spreading neophyte in Europe. The spectrum of allergens in ragweed pollen has been charcterised, and different allergenic proteins consisting of different isoforms have been characterised (Amb a 1 – Amb a 11). The major allergen of ragweed is Amb a 1, an acidic 38-kDa proteins that belongs to the pectate lyases. Recently a putative new allergen from ragweed with homology to Hev b 9, an enolase, from para rubber tree was described. We now verify and characterize this putative new allergen from ragweed pollen.

**Results:** PCR cloning and expression in *E. coli* resulted in two full length cDNA cDNA clones of this novel allergen from ragweed. Sequencing showed high homologies to known enolases. The recombinant expressed proteins, termed rAmb a 12.1 (431 amino acids) and rAmb a 12.2 (445 amino acids) were purified and characterized by LC-MS/MS and intensive immunoblotting. Enolase enzymatic activities confirmed this new allergen. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed the nearest relationship to an enolase from *Glycine max*. Three-dimensional modelling showed a high structural homology to known human enolase. Natural Amb a 12 was also isolated from ragweed pollen and fully characterized by LC-MS/MS, as well as intensive immunoblotting. The capacity to activate basophils from patients with ragweed allergy was confirmed for rAmb a 12, as well as nAmb a12. This indicates that post translational modification is not required for IgE binding.

**Conclusion:** We identified and characterized an enolase as a novel minor allergen from ragweed pollen, which has been designated as Amb a 12.

**Keywords:** Ambrosia artemisiifolia, allergen, Amb a 12, enolase, proteome, ragweed

<footnote n="1">¹Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology and Allergology LMU München, München, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³UNIKA-T, Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany</footnote>
*Oxalis corniculata* is perhaps the most ubiquitous of horticultural weeds, it has been found in every country and is frequently transported with horticultural products. The ancestors of this group are South American (Vaio et al., 2014, Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 68: 199–211). Yet, little else is known of its origins and how it became so well dispersed. It belongs to section Corniculatae of the genus, which also contains several other weedy and invasive species. We have examined the phylogenetics, taxonomy and phytogeography of section Corniculatae to explain its distribution. Furthermore, we have examined historical accounts, particularly in Europe, to understand the role of people in its dispersal. Section Corniculatae can be divided into two groups, both of which have invasive members, one containing *O. corniculata* s.s. and the other containing *O. stricta* s.s. The corniculata group seems to have crossed the Pacific to Asia or Australasia. While the stricta group evolved in North-America and migrated eastward. In Australasia species radiation occurred forming at least six closely related taxa. These Oxalis species spread from Australasia and North-America both naturally and under the influence of humans. For example, *Oxalis exilis* was dispersed from Australasia entirely by the horticultural industry and by plant collectors. Weedy North-American species *O. stricta* and *O. dillenii* evolved in North-America after their ancestor migrated naturally from South-America. They were spread eastward into Europe and then further by humans. Though the ancestors of the section Corniculatae group left South-America naturally their kin travelled both eastward and westward to eventually return to South-America as introduced weeds.

Keywords: biogeography, phylogenetics, dispersal
Impacts of the invasive tree Robinia pseudacacia across trophic levels: small
effects on species richness, but great differences in functional species traits

Jiří Reif¹, Martin Hejda², Jan Hanzelka¹, Tomáš Kadlec³, Martin Štrobl³, Petr Pyšek², ⁴

¹Institute for Environmental Studies, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Benátská 12,
128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic

²Department of Invasion Ecology, Botanical Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1,
Pruhonice 252 43, Czech Republic, Pruhonice, Czech Republic

³Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague, Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic

⁴Department of Ecology, Science Faculty of the Charles University, Vinicná 7, Prague, Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic

Invasive trees are often presumed to have a severe, large-scale impacts on the invaded
community. However, there is a lack of data providing such complex insights. Therefore, we
sampled 39 large, one hectare plots and recorded species of vascular plants, nocturnal
Lepidoptera and birds. Nineteen plots with a high dominance of *R. pseudacacia* were compared
to analogous 20 plots with native trees and with similar environmental conditions. Species
richness was compared using marginal GLMs between the invaded and native stands and the
species composition as well as the distribution of species' functional groups was investigated
by direct gradient ordination analyses. The analyses revealed only minor differences in species
richness between the two types of stands for vascular plants and birds; but the invaded stands
hosted significantly lower numbers of species of nocturnal Lepidoptera. In case of vascular
plants, the non-significant result is likely to be caused by large residual variability, since both
the invaded and native stands included plots with very high and, on the contrary, very low
numbers of species. All three groups of target species revealed significant differences in species
composition between the invaded and native stands, with nitrophilous and hemerobic plants
preferring the invaded stands and habitat-specialist birds preferring the native. Nocturnal
Lepidoptera reveal a partially contrasting pattern, with species of open habitats preferring the
invaded stands, whereas canopy species and habitat generalists prefer the native stands. These
preliminary results suggest that the invasion of *R. pseudacacia* may not reduce the diversity of
species per se, however, it can result in profound changes in species composition of invaded
communities and replacement of forest species by weeds in case of plants, habitat-generalists
in case of birds and the absence of canopy herbivores in case of insects.

Keywords: Robinia pseudacacia, invasive trees, impact, diversity, native species, plants, moth, birds, ecosystem-level approach
# The role of epigenetic inheritance in rapid evolutionary adaptation of two invasive Solidago species

Jasmin Herden¹, Silvia Eckert², Marc Stift¹, Jasmin Joshi², Mark van Kleunen¹

¹Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany

²Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2a, 14469 Potsdam, Germany

Many invasive plant species have become phenotypically differentiated within their invaded range, particularly along latitudinal clines, in many cases reflecting local adaptation. However, as invasions usually start from small populations with limited genetic variation, the mechanism of rapid adaptation in invasive organisms is still poorly understood. Only recently have epigenetic variation and inheritance gained attention as a possible mechanism contributing to rapid adaptation. Although the contribution of this form of inheritance is still unknown in many species, it has the potential to facilitate plant adaptation to new environments despite limited genetic variability, as might be the case in invasive species. In a common garden experiment, we tested whether epigenetic inheritance is a potential contributor to local adaptation in the two invasive plant species Solidago canadensis and S. gigantea using seed material of populations collected along a latitudinal gradient in Central Europe (46° to 60° north). Half of the seedlings were experimentally manipulated with the de-methylation agent zebularine, and plants were grown in one common garden in the north and one common garden in the south of Germany. In de-methylated and control plants of the same maternal origin per population, we measured flowering phenology and several performance-related traits as proxies of plant fitness. For both species, first analyses indicate latitudinal clines in phenology and several performance-related traits. Contrary to expectations, these clines were not always inverted between the northern and southern common gardens, suggesting other factors than local adaptation as drivers of these latitudinal patterns. While zebularine treatment appears to have modified clines of performance-related traits in some instances, the modification is not in a particular direction. This suggests that the latitudinal clines are not caused by epigenetic mechanisms.

Keywords: invasive plant species, local adaptation, epigenetic inheritance, DNA methylation, Solidago canadensis, Solidago gigantea, latitudinal gradient, common garden experiment
# Evidence of local adaptation to high UVB levels in the invaded range? A multi-species approach with native and exotic origins of introduced species in New Zealand

Maria Hock<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />, Rainer Hofmann<fnref n="3" />, Helge Bruelheide<fnref n="2" />,<fnref n="4" />, Alexandra Erfmeier<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="4" />

Ultraviolet B radiation levels fundamentally differ between hemispheres, with much higher levels in the southern hemisphere, and may act as an environmental filter, which might particularly apply for non-indigenous plant species from Europe in New Zealand. Just as for any abiotic or biotic filter, successful invaders can cope with novel environmental conditions via plastic responses or through rapid adaptation to local selection factors in the invaded range. Multi-species comparisons and within-species comparisons of native and exotic origins in reciprocal common garden situations are necessary to assess the relative importance of both processes.

We conducted a multi-species experiment with herbaceous species in two common gardens located each in the native and the invaded range. In Germany and New Zealand, respectively, we applied a within-species approach including native (German) and exotic (New Zealand) origins of eight species to test for adaptive evolution to higher UVB radiation in the invaded range. In each common garden, all plants were exposed to three radiation treatments: (i) natural sunlight, (ii) exclusion of UVB while allowing natural UVA, and (iii) exclusion of both UVB and UVA.

A linear mixed-effect model showed an overall limiting effect of UVB on growth and productivity, such as leaf length and plant expansion, in both common gardens. While exotic species with a broad niche in response to UVB radiation seem to be able to cope with higher UVB levels in New Zealand via plastic responses, the outcome of the within-species approach points at recent evolutionary processes to be of importance: Consistently for both common garden experiments, the respective 'away origin' (i.e. native origin in the invaded range, exotic origin in the native range) displayed stronger differences in growth between the UV treatments, whereas the 'home origin' showed no such differences among UV levels. This suggests an increased UVB sensitivity of plants away from their home range possibly enhanced by the cost of adaptation to the novel environment. In the northern hemisphere common garden, the native origins resulted in a higher aboveground biomass, leaf length and expansion. No such origin effect was observed in the southern hemisphere common garden, i.e. we found no evidence for better UVB adaptation of exotic individuals. Nevertheless, this result indicates rapid evolution of species in the invaded range, resulting in maladapted exotic genotypes when being retransferred in the native range.

Keywords: Germany, hemispheres, local adaptation, multi-species experiment, New Zealand, plasticity, reciprocal common garden, UVB radiation, within-species approach

<footnote n="1">¹Kiel University, Institute for Ecosystem Research / Geobotany, Kiel, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology / Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Halle, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Lincoln University, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln, New Zealand</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany</footnote>
**Rapid adaptation speeds spread and increases densities in experimental invasions**

Ruth Hufbauer<fnref n="1" />, Marianna Szucs<fnref n="1" />, Megan Vahsen<fnref n="1" />, Christopher Weiss-Lehman<fnref n="2" />, Brett

Melbourne<fnref n="2" />

What role does evolution play in driving invasions? Clearly, introduced populations of species evolve, both due to the genetic vagaries of the introduction process, and via adaptation to their novel environment. It is less certain, however, the degree to which evolutionary changes in introduced populations are drivers of invasions versus by-products of a species encountering a novel environment. We addressed this issue with experimental invasions of the model species *Tribolium castaneum*. We introduced 20 individuals into replicate experimental landscapes with a novel food source. We allowed some replicate populations to evolve without interference, and while we replacing individuals one-for-one each generation in other replicates. This maintained demographic processes, while preventing adaptation and minimizing genetic drift. We find that evolving populations grew 4 times larger than non-evolving ones in only 6 generations. A test in a common environment shows this large difference is driven by adaptation to the novel environment. Furthermore, evolving populations spread faster. Spread was likely driven by higher densities, but there is also some evidence that the dispersal ability itself may have evolved. These results show clearly that evolution is not a passenger in the process of biological invasions, but is a crucial player in determining their outcomes.

Keywords: evolution, adaptation, gene surfing, Tribolium, mesocosm

<footnote n="1">¹Colorado State University, Fort Collins, United States</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²University of Colorado, Boulder, United States</footnote>
# Genome size and invasiveness traits in the hybrid meadow knapweed complex (*Centaurea x moncktonii*) in eastern North America

Stephen Keller<fnref n="1" />, Jane Molofsky<fnref n="1" />, Kattia Palacio-Lopez<fnref n="1" />, Jan Suda<fnref n="2" />, Lindsey Milbrath<fnref n="3" />

Hybridization and genomic admixture between divergent populations or species may be an important driver of plant invasiveness. Recent studies have emphasized the critical role that reductions in genome size may play in facilitating the rapid evolution of invasiveness, and small genome size has been associated in some plant invaders with increased competitive ability and reproductive effort. Here, we report on genome size and trait variation in a hybrid complex of knapweeds (genus *Centaurea*) invasive in eastern North America. The hybridizing swarm consists of extensive introgression between brown knapweed (*C. jacea*), black knapweed (*C. nigra*) and their hybrid (*C. x moncktonii*). Previous studies of this complex in Europe have reported both diploid (2n = 22) and tetraploid (2n=44) cytotypes, with extensive genome size polymorphism observed among populations. We sampled seed from 10 maternal plants from each of 20 populations located across two regions (New York and Vermont). Six seed offspring per maternal family were germinated and grown in a greenhouse to maturity. Individuals were measured for traits associated with invasiveness based on vegetative size and competitive ability (maximum height, specific leaf area, total biomass) and reproductive effort (time to flowering, flower and capitula number). Leaf tissue was sampled from a subset of 2-4 offspring per family for genome size analysis by flow cytometry. The mean 1C value of genome size was 1.92 pg, with a coefficient of variation of 2.2%, consistent with the presence of exclusively tetraploid cytotypes in our sample. There was significant geographic structure to genome size at both the among-region (*p*=0.01) and among-population (*p*<0.0001) scales. Invasiveness traits also varied among populations; however, we observed no association between genome size and trait variation. The results suggest significant variability in this invasive hybrid swarm for genome size, probably arising from non-homologous crossing over among introduced tetraploid cytotypes, but this variation does not translate directly into differences in functional traits predictive of plant invasiveness.

Keywords: hybridization, admixture, genome size, introgression, plant functional traits, knapweed, Centaurea

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Plant Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, United States</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences, Pruonice, Czech Republic</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ithaca, United States</footnote>
# Tropical Guests in Semi-Arid Regions of Turkey: Local Adaptations or Evolutionary Changes?

Huseyin Onen<fnref n="1" />, Shahid Farooq<fnref n="1" />, Hikmet Gunal<fnref n="2" />, Cumali Ozaslan<fnref n="3" />

Invasive plants undergo adaptive and evolutionary changes in non-native habitats for a successful establishment. Increased incidences of two tropical ground cherry species (*Physalis angulata* L. and *Physalis philadelphica* Lam. var. *immaculate* Waterfall) have been reported in the irrigated field crops of semi-arid regions in Turkey. As both weeds are native to tropical regions, their presence in a semi-arid region makes them subject of great interest. We hypothesized that both weeds have undergone local adaptations which helped them to establish and spread in the region. The seedling establishment, growth, nutrient uptake and reproductive output of both weeds have been tested under 5 water stress (100, 75, 50, 25 and 12.5% pot water contents) and 4 salinity treatments (0, 3, 6, 12 dSm⁻<fnref n="1" />) in a manipulative greenhouse experiment. Both weeds successfully tolerated to all watering and salinity treatments with slight seedling mortalities. The seedling mortality was observed only under extreme water and salinity stresses. The growth performances (plant height, biomass production and growth rate) of both weeds were negatively affected with increasing severity of water and salinity stresses. However, tested weeds differed for tolerance strategies against abiotic stresses. *P. angulata* showed a higher tolerance to water stress while *P. philadelphica* survived better under high salinity stress. Higher nutrient acquisition and maintenance of better K/Na ratio were noted in *P. philadelphica* compared with *P. angulata*. Similarly, *P. philadelphica* produced more number of seeds per plant in comparison to *P. angulata* under all experimental conditions. We concluded that both weeds have higher adaptive potentials to the increasing aridity and salinity conditions. We also observed that higher uptake of K and lower Na with increasing salinity in *P. philadelphica* can be related to the mechanism of salinity tolerance. Results indicated that further expansion of both weeds can present severe challenges for crop production in the semi-arid regions of Turkey. However, evolutionary changes in both weeds with changing environmental conditions need to be explored for reaching a solid conclusion regarding their adaptations to the semi-arid environmental conditions.

(This study was funded by TUBITAK with grant number 113 O 790 as a part of Cost Action TD-1209)

Keywords: Ground cherry, Physalis angulata, Physalis philadelphica, water stress, salinity, local adaptations

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey</footnote>
*Solidago x niederederi (S. canadensis x S. virgaurea ssp. virgaurea)* in the Eastern Alps

Konrad Pagitz

Institute of Botany University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

The hybrid of the European *Solidago virgaurea* ssp. *virgaurea* and the North American *Solidago canadensis* was described in Upper Austria by Khek in 1905. Additional Austrian findings followed from several provinces (Speta 1974, Polatschek 1978, 1997, Melzer 1984 and Leute 1986). Findings outside Austria are documented from different regions, amongst others Great Britain, Scandinavia or Poland (see Plizko 2013). Usually it is considered to be a rare and occasionally occurring hybrid.

Field studies in the Eastern Alps during the last 10 years show a clearly different situation. In North Tyrol where both parents are very common and *Solidago canadensis* is the most invasive alien species (Pagitz 2008) the hybrid is also frequent (Pagitz & Lechner Pagitz 2015). Additional field studies in East Tyrol, Carinthia (Austria) and South Tyrol (Italy) confirm the results.

Both parental taxa and the hybrid are diploid. Khek described *S. x niederederi* with intermediate characters. Detailed analysis of Austrian and Italian plants in 2012 confirm Khek. Almost all morphological characters from the habit to the fruits are intermediate. Furthermore, all individuals collected in the wild (2011) gave rather uniform measurements. This makes it easy to recognize the hybrid in the field. Morphological based determination is supported by genetic analysis.

Tests on the fertility of the hybrid in 2012 show a germination rate of optically pre-selected fruits of 31%. In the second year almost all were fruiting. Morphological measurements in 2014-15 of individuals of the second generation show a bit more variability. Visual checks gave an amount of 63% intact fruits. Furthermore, some flowering stems have been covered by a fine-meshed net to keep insects away with the result of only 17% intact fruits. This gives evidence to reduced self-fertility of the hybrid caused by self-incompatibility or a reduced number of fertile pollen (see Plizko 2013) and at the same moment it underlines the possibility of cross pollination.

**Conclusion:** *Solidago x niederederi* is common in the Eastern Alps. The presumably F-1 generation shows good fertility, also with a high number of intact fruits in the F-2 generation. Seeds are usually produced by cross-pollination, whereas self-pollination is of minor importance. This promotes backcrossing and introgression.

**Keywords:** Solidago, hybrid, Austria, Alps, Tyrol
**Genetic differentiation of native and introduced populations of *Quercus rubra* L.**

Nastasia Merceron<fnref n="1" />, Alexis Ducousso<fnref n="1" />, Raphaël Ségura<fnref n="1" />, Patrick Reynet<fnref n="1" />, Arnaud Monty<fnref n="2" />,

Antoine Kremer<fnref n="1" />, Annabel Porté<fnref n="1" />

Native to North America, Northern red oak (*Quercus rubra*) was introduced in Europe in the XVIIth century for ornamental and forestry purposes. This species is now widespread in European forests due to plantations and natural regeneration. In invasive herbaceous plants, introduced populations are often genetically different from native populations. However, this has been poorly investigated in exotic tree species. Our objective was to explore the phenotypic variation between native and introduced populations of *Q. rubra* and to test for adaptation to the new environmental conditions since the introduction.

We used three progeny test gardens, in South-Western, Central and North-Eastern France, composed of 106 American and European populations with 1-25 families per population. The gardens were settled from 1980s and trees were monitored regularly for growth (diameter, height) and leaf phenology (budburst, coloration). Since trees had reached sexual maturity, we have monitored acorn production for two years. Within each garden, data were analyzed using mixed analyses of variance; Qst indexes were calculated to evaluate genetic differentiation between populations.

Overall, introduced populations presented higher trait values than native populations: growth rate was higher and spring phenology was advanced. Fruit set was higher in introduced trees, although depending of the year. Qst estimates clearly demonstrated the existence of a high genetic differentiation between native populations, for growth and phenology. Introduced populations presented a lower level of differentiation than native populations.

These results suggest several hypotheses: (i) introduced populations only represent a part of the global diversity existing in the native range (ii) populations have evolved since introduction under new environmental selective pressures (ii) populations were selected by man since introduction. These hypotheses are being investigated, notably through a molecular approach.

Keywords: invasive tree, population diversity, quantitative genetics

<footnote n="1">¹Biogeco, INRA, Univ. Bordeaux, Cestas, France</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium</footnote>
**Postglacial colonizer or cryptic invader? Case of *Gammarus roeselii* (Crustacea Amphipoda) in Europe**

Paula Krzywoźniak<fnref n="1" />, Michał Grabowski<fnref n="1" />, Tomasz Mamos<fnref n="1" />, Tomasz Rewicz<fnref n="2" />, Karolina Bącela-Spychalska<fnref n="1" />, Remi Wattier<fnref n="3" />

*Gammarus roeselii* Gervais, 1835 is an epigean species commonly found in rivers and lakes of Europe. The species is easy to tell apart from most other local species of *Gammarus* by presence of large dorsal spines on the metasome part of the body. Its range expands from France and Netherlands on the west, to Poland on the east and Greece on the south. The species is suspected to be of Balkan origin and to colonise the more northern regions of Europe in historical times.

In our study we aimed to test this hypothesis i.e. to define the origin of populations from western and central Europe and to reveal whether these populations fit the model of demographic/spatial expansion. We amplified a 533 bp long portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) marker from 537 specimens collected from 65 locations all over Europe, including 26 locations from the Balkan Peninsula. Neighbor-Joining phylogram was produced in Mega 6 for basic reconstruction of phylogeny. Relationships between haplotypes in populations from the presumably newly colonized part of Europe were illustrated with Minimum Spanning Network (MSN) constructed in PopART. Mismatch Distribution (MD) analysis with Tajima's D, Fu's F and Harpending's raggedness indices calculated in Arlequin were used to assess demographic state in these populations. Demographic changes in time were plotted using Bayesian Skyline (BSP) analysis in BEAST. Our results witness that populations of *G. roeselii* occurring in western and central Europe derive from the northernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula and from the Pannonian Plain i.e. from the Danube catchment (Black Sea basin). MSN revealed existence of two haplotype groups widely spread in western and central Europe. The obtained star-like topology of MSN for these two groups as well as results of the MD analysis and neutrality tests suggest that western and central European populations of *G. roeselii* are in the state of both demographic and spatial expansion. BSP shows that the demographic expansion have started at ca. 10 kya and accelerated at ca. 6 kya for one haplotype group and at ca. 2 kya for the other one. Thus, we may suspect that, already in early Holocene, the species has started its colonization up the Danube system. On the other side, its current distribution suggests that the species crossed the main watersheds only after large navigable canals were built and joined the Black, Mediterranean, North and Baltic Sea basins.

Keywords: phylogeography, gammarids, invasive species, Europe, Balkan Peninsula

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Laboratory of Microscopic Imaging and Specialized Biological Techniques, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Laboratoire Biogéosciences, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR CNRS 6282, Équipe Écologie Évolutive, Dijon, France</footnote>
**Alien vertebrate pets and ornamental outdoor and aquarium plants with commercial value in the Spanish peninsular territory as potential invasive species.**

Álvaro Bayón<fnref n="1" />, Alberto Maceda-Veiga<fnref n="1" />, Jose Tella<fnref n="1" />, Josep Escribano-Alacid<fnref n="2" />, Sergi Vargas-Amengual<fnref n="3" />, Martina Carrete<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="4" />, Montserrat Vilà<fnref n="1" />

Transport of alien species may be deliberate or accidental. The commercial uses of alien species for recreational or ornamental uses, such as pets or plants for gardens and aquariums, are main pathways for deliberate introduction.

We compiled a database which includes the vast majority of alien vertebrate pets and ornamental outdoor and aquarium plants with commercial value in the Spanish peninsular territory. We classified them according to its invasive status in Spain, including if regulated and also according to its invasive and regulatory status in other countries, its climatic suitability for Spain and potential ecological and socio-economic impacts. Overall, the database includes more than 1000 plant and more than 600 vertebrate species. This database will be transferred to the regional and national authorities as the bases for Horizon scanning on potential invasive species in Spain which introduction could be avoided.

Keywords: Pets, Garden plants, Alien invasion, Ornamental species, Horizon scanning, Potential invasive,

<footnote n="1">¹Doñana Biological Station (EBD - CSIC), Sevilla, Spain</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Asociació Grup de Recerca d'Ecosistemes Aquatics (AGREA), Barcelona, Spain</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Departament de Biologia Animal, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain</footnote>
# Engaging general public in invasive alien species observation: Citizen Science in Mexico

Carlos Galindo<fnref n="2" />, Patricia Koleff<fnref n="1" />, Ana Isabel González Martínez<fnref n="1" />, Georgia Born-Schmidt<fnref n="1" />, Yolanda Barrios<fnref n="1" />, Silvia de Jesús<fnref n="1" />

To increase awareness about biological invasions while engaging the broader public the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), in collaboration with INaturalist, developed a citizen science program; the platform NaturaLista in Spanish, to gather information on Mexican biodiversity. The platform has received a large and growing public acceptance, mainly for its role as a social network. Users can upload their observations of plants, animals and fungi, through images (photographs mainly and video) or audio, to be shared with, and identified or verified by, the community. This allows CONABIO to gather updated information on presence and distribution of species. In order to engage the nature observer community, in 2015, a prize was given to the most active members of the platform. We have added two 'projects' focused on invasive species, in order to help map current distribution of exotic species and to detect new arrivals. The projects have been successful as in two years we have detected three previously unreported species (for example *Chicorus circumdatus*, *Streptopelia roseogrisea* and *Bipalium kewense*), and have over 2300 records from citizens from all over the country. We also have been able to confirm the expansion of the red eared slider *Trachemys scripta* released from the pet trade in urban areas.

Keywords: citizen science program, platform NaturaLista, IAS identification

<footnote n="1">¹Dirección General de Análisis y Prioridades, Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad - CONABIO, Mexico City, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Dirección General de Comunicación de la Ciencia Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad - CONABIO, Mexico City, Mexico</footnote>
# Introduced species of spiders and harvestmen in Luxembourg

Svenja Christian

Musée national d'histoire naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Just like in other groups species of spiders and harvestmen have reached regions in which they did not occur before. Naturally, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg does not escape this phenomenon.

The aim of this poster is to list the known introduced spider and harvestman species. All of them have been recently evaluated for an environmental impact assessment and classified after the ISEIA Protocol. The resulted indices are given. Further two species, one per group, with a certain perception of the great public are presented.

Keywords: Luxembourg, Arachnida, Araneae, Opiliones, spiders, harvestman
# Utilising gardeners’ knowledge to prevent plant invasions from ornamental horticulture

Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz

Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom

Most non-native plants including the plants with the highest negative impacts have been introduced as ornamental plants. Long delays from the introduction in a garden to the recognition of a problematic invasive plant in the wild make effective control strategies very difficult and often impossible. Gardeners will notice first if ornamental plants show characteristics, e.g. vigorous growth, spread and difficulty to control, that may contribute to their potential to become a problematic invader. This project tests if the reporting of early warning signs from gardens could help to design more effective prevention strategies at the first stages of the invasion process. An online reporting form was developed and botanists and professional gardeners in Britain were asked to report ornamental plants that are spreading and difficult to control in their gardens. The survey also included questions on how the ornamental plants reported had come into participants’ gardens, their management, and where new plants were sourced from.

Results show that the most frequent plants reported are also frequently recorded outside cultivation. However, the list of reported plants also includes species with a recently increasing distribution and species not reported outside cultivation. The results provide evidence that gardeners’ knowledge could help to identify potentially problematic invasive plants early in the invasion process. The main obstacle for the expansion of the approach to the wider gardening public is the potential difficulty with plant identification. At the same time, however, raising awareness for the problem by actively involving gardeners could be of equal importance for the prevention of ornamental plant invasions.

Keywords: ornamental plants, citizen science, online survey, Britain
# A network of invasion hypotheses: well-known hypotheses are not well connected

Jonathan Jeschke<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />, <fnref n="3" />, Martin Enders<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />, <fnref n="3" />

Invasion biology is a thriving ecological research field, and confusingly many hypotheses, concepts and ideas about biological invasions populate today's literature. Moreover, some of these hypotheses are very similar, whereas others contradict each other. A helpful tool for invasion biology would thus be a network of invasion hypotheses that visualizes these similarities and dissimilarities between major hypotheses. Such a network would help everyone interested in invasion biology to better understand this field's theory and conceptual structure. To create a hypotheses network, we developed an online questionnaire, asking experts in the field about similarities and dissimilarities between 33 common invasion hypotheses. We defined each hypothesis and provided the definition in the questionnaire. In the resulting hypotheses network, highly connected hypotheses have a high degree of similarity with many other hypotheses, and contradictions between hypotheses are highlighted as well. We also show which invasion hypotheses were best known by the 357 researchers answering the questionnaire. Interestingly, the best-known hypotheses (enemy release, propagule pressure, disturbance) were not the ones with most connections in the network (new associations, island susceptibility and opportunity windows). This surprising result calls for more research about invasion hypotheses at a meta-level.

Keywords: Biological invasions, Concepts, Defining invasion hypotheses, Hypotheses network, Invasive alien species

<footnote n="1">¹Free University of Berlin, Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Berlin, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB, Berlin, Germany)</footnote>
# Current Status of Two Invasive *Physalis* Species in Turkey

Cumali Ozaslan<fnref n="1" />, Selcuk Ozcan<fnref n="2" />, Bekir Bukun<fnref n="1" />, Huseyin Onen<fnref n="3" />, Hakan Yildiz<fnref n="4" />

The occurrence of two tropical ground cherry species (*Physalis angulata* L. and *Physalis philadelphica* Lam. var. *immaculate* Waterfall) has increasingly been reported in irrigated areas of South Eastern Anatolia (SEA) in Turkey. Therefore, this study was conducted to record the current distribution of the plants in Turkey. Extensive surveys were conducted in SEA, Black Sea and Marmara regions of the Turkey. The data relating to the presence/absence, accompanying vegetation, ecology and soil properties were also noted. Soil samples were collected from each surveyed site and some of physical and chemical characteristics were determined. Extensive established populations of both plants were observed in SEA region and occasional occurrence of rare populations was also recorded in the Marmara region. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis indicated no relation between the distribution of plants and soil properties although large variation among soil properties within the surveyed sites was observed. The presence of plants was recorded in different habitats including roadsides, agriculture, abandoned lands and horticultural crops. Agricultural habitats were densely infested compared to other invaded habitats. Cotton, maize, pepper, eggplant, cucumber, tomato fields and olive orchards were the most infested agricultural crops. The infestation was greater in irrigated lands compared to that of natural habitats. The results revealed that both plants have sufficient potentials to expand their ranges in the Turkey. Therefore, a rapid response action needs to be taken against cut leaf ground cherry and Mexican ground cherry.

This study was funded by TUBITAK with grant number 113 O 790 as a part of Cost Action TD-1209.

Keywords: Physalis angulata, Physalis philadelphica, current distribution, survey, Turkey

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Pistachio Research Institute, Gaziantep, Turkey</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Department of Plant Protection, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Field Crops Central Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey</footnote>
In 2016, a National Invasive Species Awareness Week will take place in the Netherlands for the first time ever. Starting with a symposium on June 17th, the public can participate in several activities throughout the whole country, such as excursions, presentations and workshops until June 26th.

How to organise such an awareness week, with a small budget and a maximum effect?

Wilfred Reinhold, chairman of the Dutch platform "Stop invasive alien species" and initiator of this event, will tell about his experiences and the results, and will give many suggestions.

His advice: Please, do try this at home!

Keywords: alien, invasive, species, week, Netherlands, awareness, engage, public, communicate, organise
**Contributions to the invasive species issues by the ESENIAS Tools Project**

Ahmet Uludag<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />, Teodora Trichkova<fnref n="3" />, Vladimir Vladimirov<fnref n="3" />, Rumen Tomov<fnref n="3" />, Argyro Zenetos<fnref n="4" />, Aljosa Duplic<fnref n="5" />, Milica Rat<fnref n="6" />, Dan Cogalniceanu<fnref n="7" />, Zdravko Hubenov<fnref n="8" />, David Finger<fnref n="9" />

The ESENIAS-TOOLS project "East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species – A tool to support the management of alien species in Bulgaria" is an international research project for the ESENIAS Network (see http://www.esenias.org/) with particular focus on Bulgaria. The project is funded under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (2009-2014), Programme BG03 "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services". The aim of this project is to compile national and regional inventories of alien taxa, create awareness, conduct risk assessments and improve management strategies in the ESENIAS region. There are five working groups related to organisms, each focusing on one of the following topics: i) marine, ii) fresh water, iii) plants and fungi, iv) invertebrates and v) vertebrates. Database development, legislation, capacity building, awareness raising, and dissemination and networking are the other working groups. Some case studies will be investigated too: Estimating dispersal routes for IAS, Assessment of the impact of alien species on the biodiversity and endemism of ancient Balkan lakes (Lake Ohrid case study), Comparative study on the effect of hydrological regime on the distribution of the invasive diatom Didymosphenia germinate in extreme environments (Icelandic rivers and lakes, and Bulgarian high-mountain lakes), and Biological and ecological traits of invasive alien freshwater mussels in Bulgaria. One of the aims of the project is to make prioritisation of alien species at regional level, and to collect data and publish fact sheets for the priority species. The ESENIAS database has currently been developed, the website of the project updated and all information generated by the project will be uploaded. The final project book will include all main information generated during the project.

Keywords: plants, vertebrates, invertebrates, networking, capacity building, policy, awareness raising, marine, fresh water

<footnote n="1">¹Faculty of Agriculture and Nature Sciences, Düzce University, Düzce, Turkey</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Faculty of Agriculture and Nature Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Athens, Greece</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵Karlovac University of Applied Sciences, Karlovac, Croatia</footnote>

<footnote n="6">⁶University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences, Novi Sad, Serbia</footnote>

<footnote n="7">⁷Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania</footnote>

<footnote n="8">⁸National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria</footnote>

<footnote n="9">⁹Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland</footnote>
**A comparison of eradication techniques for invasive *Berberis aquifolium* in
coastal dunes (Belgium)**

Tim Adriaens<fnref n="1" />, Bram D'hondt<fnref n="2" />, Edward Vercruysse<fnref n="1" />, Wouter Van Gompel<fnref n="1" />, Pieter Verschelde<fnref n="1" />,
Evy Dewulf<fnref n="3" />, Sam Provoost<fnref n="1" />

Non-native *Berberis aquifolium* is notoriously invasive in Belgian coastal dunes. With its strong clonal growth through suckers, this evergreen shrub outcompetes native species and affects dune succession. To prevent further secondary spread and mitigate its impact, there was an urgent need for knowledge on the effectiveness of control measures, both at the level of individual plants as on habitat level. Here, we report on two removal experiments. First, small *Berberis* clones were subjected to one of four treatments (manual uprooting, foliar herbicide application, stem cutting followed by herbicide or salt application), with regrowth being monitored up to one year after treatment. Plants proved most susceptible to foliar herbicide application (5% glyphosate solution), resulting in 77% of the clones apparently killed. Second, mechanical removal using a heavy excavator was applied in a highly infested area (350 m<fnref n="2" />, with nearly 100% *Berberis* cover) and accompanied by manual removal of smaller rhizome/stolon fragments. The action was documented in detail and the outcome monitored in terms of regrowth from different depths. The rooting system appeared to be relatively shallow (30-40 cm). The limited regrowth from superficially buried rhizome fragments could easily be pulled out. We present some guidelines that may serve as a starting base for future control, and may become further refined as experience builds up.

Keywords: Invasive alien species, oregon grape, shrub, glyphosate, removal, ecological restoration, Mahonia

<footnote n="1">¹Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Brussels, Belgium</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Biology Department, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Agency for Nature and Forest (ANB), Bruges, Belgium</footnote>
**How many alien plants in the European terrestrial environments?**

*Margarita Arianoutsou*<fnref n="1" />, *Ioannis Bazos*<fnref n="1" />, *Anastasia Christopoulou*<fnref n="1" />, *Pinelopi Delipetrou*<fnref n="2" />, *Yannis Kokkoris*<fnref n="1" />, *Sevasti Zervou*<fnref n="1" />, *Andreas Zikos*<fnref n="1" />, *Kostas Tsiamis*<fnref n="3" />, *Ana - Cristina Cardoso*<fnref n="3" />, *Eugenio Gervasini*<fnref n="3" />

In the framework of the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN; http://easin.jrc.ec.europa.eu), an updated inventory of European terrestrial alien plants was created by critically reviewing and updating existing information in 26 global, European, regional and national databases and scientific literature (some species were added as EASIN-Literature from EPPO Bulletins and tickets opened via EASIN Editorial Board). In total, 7181 alien plants have been reported in the European terrestrial environments, including few cryptogenic and questionable species. A total of 391 species are tagged as "high impact alien species" according to existing species factsheets from CABI, DAISIE, GISD or NOBANIS. In addition, there are approximately 90 alien species to Europe which are not included in any of the larger databases (e.g. DAISIE, NOBANIS, CABI). For all species, information on countries where they might be native, taxonomy, synonyms, vernacular names, pathway of introduction and year of first observation is provided and it is accompanied by its source. Most of the reported species belong to Tracheophyta (99.1%). Magnoliopsida is the most numerous class (94.9%), followed by Liliopsida and Pinopsida. The species belong to a total of 262 families but Asteraceae (11%) and Poaceae (10%) are by far the most numerous ones. A total of 50 % of the low impact aliens and of 38 % of the high impact ones are partly native to Europe. It is expected that the EASIN database and tools will support the recent EU regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species in Europe.

Keywords: alien plants, terrestrial habitats, Europe, EASIN

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Athens, Athens, Greece</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Athens, Athens, Greece</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), Ispra, Italy</footnote>
**Eradication and control of invasive species for the conservation of biodiversity in Mediterranean islands. The EU project LIFE PonDerat in the Pontine Archipelago, Italy**

Laura Celesti-Grapow<fnref n="1" />, Riccardo Copiz<fnref n="1" />, Nicola Baccetti<fnref n="2" />, Dario Capizzi<fnref n="3" />, Emanuela Carli<fnref n="1" />,
Cristina Castelli<fnref n="4" />, Vito Consoli<fnref n="3" />, Isabella Egidi<fnref n="3" />, Cristiano Fattori<fnref n="3" />, Raffaella Frondoni<fnref n="1" />, Camilla
Gotti<fnref n="2" />, Andrea Monaco<fnref n="3" />, Fabrizio Petrassi<fnref n="3" />, Elisabetta Raganella Pelliccioni<fnref n="2" />, Antonio Romano<fnref n="5" />,
Stefano Sarrocco<fnref n="3" />, Iacopo Sinibaldi<fnref n="3" />, Paolo Sposimo<fnref n="4" />, Agnese Tilia<fnref n="1" />, Carlo Blasi<fnref n="1" />

Biological invasions have become one of the main drivers of habitat degradation and a leading cause of biodiversity loss in island ecosystems. The spread of invasive species is a major environmental threat in Mediterranean islands, hotspots of biodiversity that are rich in rare habitats and endemic species. Several projects have been launched in recent years in the many islands that lie off the Italian peninsula in an attempt to manage the invasions that are threatening the conservation of their native wildlife. Here, we present the EU LIFE project PonDerat (LIFE14 NAT/IT/544) which started in October 2015 in the Pontine Archipelago, a group of five volcanic islands located off the western coast of central Italy, that are important sites for the conservation of Mediterranean biodiversity.

This project, aimed at restoring the islands' natural ecosystems, focuses on the conservation of species and habitats that are protected by EU laws but are currently threatened by invasive plant and animal species. The main targets of these control and eradication measures are black rats (*Rattus rattus*), feral goats (*Capra hircus*), mouflons (*Ovis aries*) and invasive plants of the genus *Carpobrotus*.

Conservation measures focus on the seabirds *Puffinus yelkouan* and *Calonectris diomedea*, shearwaters of the family Procellariidae, which are endemic to the Mediterranean and are listed in Annex I of the European Bird Directive. These birds nest in colonies on the rocky coasts of the islands and are severely threatened by rats, which prey on the birds' eggs and nestlings. Conservation measures also focus on several island habitats of great biogeographical value, which are listed in Annex I of the European Habitats Directive (code 1240, 3170*, 5320, 5330, 6220* and 9340) and are seriously threatened by introduced herbivores and by the spread of invasive plants.

In addition to measures aimed at the eradication and control of invasive species and to related biosecurity actions, the project includes a communication plan designed to raise awareness in the local population on the risks due to the spread of alien species. The main outcome expected from this project is that the restoration of ecosystem functions will enhance the breeding success and population size of shearwaters and lead to the recovery of target habitats. The improved natural conditions of the islands are also expected to favour other species of high conservation value, particularly bird species nesting on the ground or close to it, and migratory bird species that use the archipelago as a major stop-over site.

Keywords: Biodiversity hotspots, *Carpobrotus* sp.pl., endemic birds, *Rattus rattus*, small islands

<footnote n="1">¹Sapienza University, Rome, Italy</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²ISPRA - Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Rome, Italy</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Directorate Environment and Natural Systems - Regione Lazio, Rome, Italy</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴NEMO S.r.l. - Nature and Environment Management Operators, Firenze, Italy</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵State Nature Reserve Isole di Ventotene e S. Stefano, Ventotene, Italy</footnote>
# Horizon scanning for future issues affecting invasive species management: Results from the first phase of the Alien Futures project

Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz¹, Helen Bayliss², Thomas Boivin³, Franz Essl⁴, Laura Harrison⁵, Julia Touza⁵

¹Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, United Kingdom, Coventry, United Kingdom

²to be confirmed, Town, United Kingdom

³INRA, Avignon, France

⁴Umweltbundesamt, Vienna, Austria

⁵University of York, York, United Kingdom

Horizon scanning, the systematic examination of future potential threats and opportunities, provides a tool to identify key issues that are beginning to emerge as well as developments that might be important for invasive species management in the future.

The Alien Futures project is a horizon scanning activity looking to identify issues (environmental, social or technological) that may affect invasive species management into the next 20 to 50 years. The project consists of three phases: (1) a global online survey to collect topics submitted by practitioners, researchers, and policy makers, (2) a process of ranking submitted topics through online voting by participants of the first phase and additional stakeholders, and (3) the sharing and exploring of topics through the project webpage (www.alienfutures.org), workshops and publications. The survey and voting processes are conducted in English, Spanish and French to allow for a wide participation. The project distinguishes topics at the global and working level of participants. Here, we present the results of the first phase, which started in November 2015, and call for participants to vote on the topics collected. Further project outcomes presented include information on participants' professional background, location and taxonomic expertise as well as habitats and land-use systems they are working with.

<figure><img src="image_17.png" /><figcaption>Figure 1: A wordle created from the list of global issues submitted by the first 132 participants in the Alien Futures Survey</figcaption></figure>

Keywords: horizon scanning, invasive species management, global survey
# EDDMapS Framework for Education, Management, Aggregation and Visualization of Invasive Species Occurrences across North America

G Douce, Charles Bargeron, Joseph LaForest, David Moorhead

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, University of Georgia, USA, Tifton, United States

EDDMapS' primary goal is to discover the existing range and leading edge of invasive species while documenting vital information about the species and habitat using standardized data collection protocols. EDDMapS (www.eddmaps.org) allows for data from many organizations and groups to be combined into one database to show a better map of the range of an invasive species. Goals of the current project include: integration of existing regional datasets, increase search options on EDDMapS website, update NAISMA (North American Invasive Species Management Association) Invasive Plant Mapping Standards, coordinate with local, state and regional organizations to develop early detection networks, and to better integrate and utilize the capabilities of smartphones into the operational programs. After eleven years of development of EDDMapS, it has become clear that these local organizations are key to developing a successful early detection and rapid response network.

The University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health has developed 20 location or project-based portals to support data entry into EDDMapS. EDDMapS has been implemented in 45 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provinces. This presentation will feature case studies of how the EDDMapS framework has been used for education, management, aggregation and visualization of invasive species occurrences.

Keywords: Invasive Species, education, management, data aggregation, data visualization
# The impact of short term exposure to freshwater on marine fouling non-native species in three Scottish marinas

Rebecca Giesler<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />, Elizabeth Cook<fnref n="2" />, Meriwether Wilson<fnref n="1" />

Artificial structures in marinas are especially favourable habitats for many marine invasive non-native species (NNS). Reducing establishment of non-native species in marinas may reduce spread by recreational vessels. Marinas with a nearby freshwater source have fewer NNS, suggesting freshwater may be a possible tool for controlling NNS spread. This study was conducted to see if freshwater could be used as an effective treatment to reduce colonisation of marine fouling non-native species on artificial structures in marinas. The effects of 1-hour freshwater immersion were tested on experimental biofouling communities in three Scottish marinas with differing salinity regimes. 8 week old communities developed on settlement panels suspended from floating pontoons from July – August 2016 were immersed in either freshwater or ambient seawater, before being returned to their initial position on pontoons. Recovery of biofouling communities was monitored over an 8-week period post-treatment. Salinity varied over the growth and recovery phase to differing extents in each marina, with freshwater input affecting salinity variability. Fouling communities from the marina with the most stable high salinity conditions displayed the largest change to freshwater immersion. Comparing response to treatment between native and non-native species allows us to see if freshwater immersion may be an appropriate biosecurity tool for use in marinas.

Keywords: marinas, freshwater, marine biofouling, biosecurity

<footnote n="1">¹University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), Oban, United Kingdom</footnote>
# The Japanese Knotweed Project 2008-2016: Long-term management of *Reynoutria japonica* and *R. sachalinensis* in Switzerland

Sascha Gregori<fnref n="1" />, Gian-Reto Walther<fnref n="2" />, Ursula Bollens<fnref n="3" />, Daniel Fischer<fnref n="1" />

The goal of the project is to evaluate different variations of chemical and mechanical treatments of Japanese Knotweed within a timeframe of 8 years regarding effectiveness, costs and side effects on non-target organisms but also to optimise management methods.

About 90 Knotweed sites are distributed over six cantons, situated in public places and mostly in the responsibility of public authorities. The selection criteria included previous treatment, legality (there are legal restrictions on the application of herbicides, e.g. along watercourses) and accessibility. Their state (population size, number of stems, condition of stems, etc.) is recorded annually.

Several control sites with no interventions have been observed. During the first three years the mechanical treatment (cutting) was executed six and in the following years three times per year. In 2008 the chemical treatment comprised 15 different methods using glyphosate. In 2014 they were reduced to three variations. In order to find and treat the residual Knotweed plants between the rapidly growing secondary vegetation an efficient and pertinent maintenance became even more important after only three years of chemical treatment. Therefore, it wasn't only the treatment method alone but the whole approach throughout the year that became part of the experiment. Because the experimental design involved employment of public maintenance staff the challenge also lay in their instruction, guidance and coordination. At the same time these experiences gave valuable insights for future "Best Practice" guidelines.

The findings from phase I (2008-2012) are already presented in an extensive final report. Although not all of the phase II (2013-2016) data could be analysed to their full potential yet there are already a lot of findings to be presented. Thanks to the long-term monitoring it could be shown that supposedly eliminated populations can re-grow after years with no aboveground Knotweed biomass. It could also be worked out how the maintenance service can optimise their interventions on Knotweed sites and which results can be expected under the given legal conditions.

The European Knotweed Control Network was founded 2014 during a Knotweed workshop in Zürich. It consists of Knotweed experts from all over Europe and has the stated goal to enable an intensive exchange of knowledge and experience on methods and practices to control alien Knotweed. The coordination of activities against Knotweed ensures that resources are used efficiently by reducing duplication of work and by catalysing innovation.

Keywords: Japanese Knotweed, Switzerland, Management Methods, Glyphosate, www.europeanknotweedcontrolnetwork.eu, www.biosicherheit.zh.ch

<footnote n="1">¹WWEA: Office of Waste, Water, Energy and Air; Section Biosafety, Zürich, Switzerland</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²FOEN: Federal Office for the Environment; Species, Ecosystems, Landscapes Division, Bern, Switzerland</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³planikum GmbH landscape architecture und environmental planning, Zürich, Switzerland</footnote>
**Monitoring and control activities of the invasive North American crayfish**
*Procambarus clarkii* in wetland areas of northern Tuscany, Italy

Iva Johovic, Alberto Inghilesi, Felicita Scapini, Elena Tricarico

*University of Florence, Firenze, Italy*

The project LIFE11NAT/IT/094 SOS Tuscan Wetlands (2012-2017) aims to reverse the current tendency of radical biodiversity loss and population decline of several species of conservation concern, in the wetlands of Northern Tuscany. This will be achieved through habitat restoration and control of the alien invasive species established in the area that are causing severe impacts on native species and ecosystems. Among them, the red swamp crayfish *Procambarus clarkii* is one of the most highly invasive species in the area exerting a strong pressure on species and habitats.

Here, we report the results of the monitoring and control activities conducted on red swamp crayfish since May 2014. The activities are carried out in two areas, Sibolla lake and Ramone marsh (both included in Sites of Community Importance), for 10 consecutive days per month, from May to August, per year using baited traps. C.P.U.E. index (Catch per Unit Effort) is used to evaluate population abundance.

The control activities have led to a significant decrease of C.P.U.E. index values through time in both areas, showing the efficacy of intensive trapping that however should be coupled to other control techniques (e.g. male sterilization) to increase its effectiveness.

Keywords: control, alien species, Procambarus clarkii
**What is the most efficient efficacy measure of non-chemical control of common ragweed?**

Gerhard Karrer<fnref n="1" />, Ivana Milakovic<fnref n="2" />

The North American *Ambrosia artemisiifolia* L. is one of the worst IAS to Europe. Agricultural yield losses, costs for control as well as health costs exceed financial losses caused by other vascular plant pests. In many situations, herbicides cannot be applied, thus non-chemical control measures have to be established. Cutting and outcompeting ragweed are favored tools in sensible environments. I.e. on roadsides, ragweed was favored to spread due to inappropriate cutting regimes and prevention of competitive exclusion by native plants.

As series of experiments were set up to find optimal cutting regimes and optimal competitive seed mixtures in infested habitat types that are under non-chemical management. Cutting experiments under controlled conditions indicated the high regenerative power after cut – measured as number of regrown shoots/biomass or infloresences (Bohren et al. 2004, Milakovic et al. 2014a). Long-term field experiments testing various cutting regimes made evident that ragweed is able to regrow from lower buds and produces seeds after cut (Karrer 2014). Milakovic et al. (2014b) found that the number of produced seeds could be minimized by adequate mowing regimes. The authors also could show that the number of cuts must not be higher than regulary but they have to be set more sophisticated at dates that consider the phenological development of ragweed and its regrowth potential. In all this cutting experiments the efficacy was measured by reproductive trait like number of male inflorescences or number of female flowers/fruits.

The success of control measures against annual weeds like common ragweed depends very much on the number of seeds produced. Seed survival and seed longevity in the soil is crucial for long-term efficacy of control. Milakovic & Karrer (2016) showed that the above mentioned optimized cutting regime also was very efficient in reducing the resulting soil seed bank with respect to both absolute number and viability of ragweed seeds.

The competitive effect of different added seed mixtures to ragweed-infested soil was evaluated also by counting the number and viability of ragweed seeds under different cutting regimes – in greenhouse experiments and under field conditions. Final soil seed bank analysis after a long-term field experiment indicated that applying the fitted mowing regime is more efficient that the competitive performance of the tested seed mixtures.

In ecological terms, soil seed bank is the most relevant efficacy measure of control activities against annual plants like common ragweed.

Keywords: Mowing regime, competitive seed mixture, soil seed bank, seed viability

<footnote n="1">¹Institute of Botany, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Environment Agency Austria, Vienna, Austria</footnote>
**Biological control of silverleaf nightshade (*Solanum elaeagnifolium*), an effort to protect Mediterranean agriculture and sensitive ecosystem**

Javid Kashefi¹, Marie-Claude Bon², Gulabert Gbèhounou³, Ahmet Uludag⁴, Anastasia Lagopodi⁵, Mohamed Bouhache⁶, Carl Bell⁷

¹USDA ARS EBCL, Thessaloniki, Greece

²USDA ARS EBCL, Montpellier, France

³FAO AGP, Rome, Italy

⁴Faculty of Agriculture, COMU, Çanakkale, Turkey

⁵Dept. of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

⁶Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco

⁷UC Cooperative Extension, San Diego, United States

*Solanum elaeagnifolium* (silverleaf nightshade) is one of the most prominent alien, invasive weeds of the Mediterranean Basin. Endemic to southwestern US and northern Mexico, it reproduces mainly vegetatively but also sexually to invade new, distant areas. It is toxic to some livestock and by producing toxins, prevents native plants from competing with it. It occupies arable, pastoral, urban and sub-urban areas. The extensive and deep perennial root system allows the weed to out-compete many crop plants for moisture and nutrients: further, it is resistant to drought and tolerates saline conditions. It thus represents a serious threat to lands suitable for agriculture in Mediterranean areas and jeopardizes the food security of the area. Climate change and the increase of global temperature combined with increase in international trade could help the weed to establish in central and northern Europe with great damage to it's agriculture and ecosystem.

In the long term, biological control is the most effective tool to control *S. elaeagnifolium* since other methods such as chemical and mechanical have been proved to be costly and have undesirable side effects for ecosystems and biodiversity in protected areas. Research in the native range of *S. elaeagnifolium* has shown that there are many potentially host-specific natural enemies of the weed which could be tested and used to reduce the weed's populations and its invasion into new areas. Some of these, such as *Frumenta nephelomicta*, and *Frumenta* sp., (Gelechiidae) were released in South Africa nearly 45 years ago, without success, but the leaf-feeding beetles *Leptinotarsa defecta* and *L. texana* (Chrysomelidae), released in 1992, inflict moderate and extensive damage, respectively, on their host plant: *L. texana* has proved to be highly effective in suppressing *S. elaeagnifolium* and combating the weed's expansion in that country.

Keywords: Biological control, agriculture, ecosystems, biodiversity, food safety
**Factors affecting the recruitment of alien woody plants by native herbivorous insects**

Natalia Kirichenko<fnref n="1" />, Marc Kenis<fnref n="2" />

Many factors can influence the degree of adoption of exotic plants by indigenous herbivores in the region of introduction. We used field observations on phyllophagy by leaf chewers and leaf miners on native and alien woody plants to define the factors affecting colonization of alien plants by indigenous phyllophagous insects. The study was performed on 150 woody plant species (trees and shrubs) from 21 families and 43 genera growing in the biggest botanical garden of Siberia. We tested the effect of woody plant origin (alien vs. native plants), taxonomic relationship of the alien host plants with the native flora, the date of introduction of the alien plants and their abundance in the region on abundance and richness of phyllophagous insects.

The alien woody plants were, on average, much less attacked by leaf miners and leaf chewers than native plants, which was in agreement of the enemy release hypothesis. Taxonomically isolated alien plants (i.e. without congeners in Siberia) were significantly less attacked by the two insect guilds and carried fewer leaf miner species than alien plants having congenerics in the studied region. Leaf miners' abundance and species richness increased with the years of presence of the plant in the botanical garden. Damage by chewers significantly increased with the frequency of planting of the alien woody host plants outside the botanical garden. No significant difference was detected in the level of insect damage, abundance and richness between exotic plants from different continents.

Besides the ecological implications of the results, this study also underlines the importance of the use of botanical garden collections for investigations on invasion ecology, especially in regions where field work is logistically difficult.

The study was supported by LE STUDIUM®, Institute for advanced studies - Loire Valley, France (grant No INRA-URZF-007), the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant No 15-29-02645) and COST Action FP1401 – A global network of nurseries as early warning system against alien tree pests (Global Warning).

Keywords: phyllophagy, invasive alien plants, botanic gardens

<footnote n="1">¹Sukachev Institute of Forest SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²CABI, Delémont, Switzerland</footnote>
# Management of *Heracleum mantegazzianum* Somm. et Lev. (Apiaceae, Spermatophyta) in the Upper-Sûre region in Luxembourg

Yves Krippel, Frank Richarz

Naturpark Öewersauer, Esch-sur-Sûre, Luxembourg

There are different neophytes occurring in the Upper-Sûre region in the north-west of Luxembourg (Ardennes). The Giant Hogweed (*Heracleum mantegazzianum* Somm. et Lev.) is by far the most precarious, but also quite easy to eradicate.

The Giant Hogweed was probably introduced in Luxembourg in the 1930ies and began its invasion, after a certain period of latency, in the last two decades – mainly on riverside banks. Since 2009 the Nature Park Upper-Sûre (Naturpark Öewersauer), together with the River-Contract, is persistently implementing the action plan “*Heracleum mantegazzianum*” in the entire Upper-Sûre catchment, where *H. mantegazzianum* plants are growing predominantly on riversides and in alluvial meadows.

The Giant Hogweed is controlled by root cutting and, in case of flowering, by umbel removal. The results of the campaign and of the consequent monitoring are presented. They point out that these simple mechanical methods show excellent results when monitoring and management is recurrently continued until the soil seed bank is depleted and when new infestations by human means, specifically by apiarists, are counteracted.

Keywords: Giant Hogweed, distribution, invasion, eradication, Upper-Sûre, Ardennes, Luxembourg
# Evaluating an effective treatment to control/eradicate the invasive weed *Oxalis pes-caprae*: indications from a field experiment in a Mediterranean island.

Lorenzo Lazzaro, Giulio Ferretti, Bruno Foggi, Elisabetta Bianchi, Renato Benesperi

Department of Biology, University of Florence, via G. La Pira 4, I-50121, Florence, Italy

Oxalis pes-caprae is a widespread invader native from South Africa, which has spread widely across southern Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia and is particularly aggressive in the Mediterranean region. This species is a common weed particularly in anthropized, arable and disturbed habitats. Its main ecological impacts are related to the possible suppression of other ruderal weedy species, leading to serious problem where the arable flora is of conservation value, as over much of the Mediterranean old fields. Furthermore, this species has mainly socio-economic impacts related to livestock and field losses linked to its weedy behaviour. The treatment option for this species has been poorly investigated, and most of the main chemical and biological control methods are usually considered inadequate or barely effective in the control of this species. Toward the aim to test a wide set of treatment option on the field, we set an experiment in the island of Montecristo (Central Mediterranean). In the experiment, we tested the effect of six different treatments on Oxalis pes-caprae and on the native flora. Treatment went from biological to chemicals, including manual control and removal, covering with a mulching sheet, pyro-control with a flamethrower, aspersion with acetic acid (30% solution) and with two different concentration of glyphosate (3% and 5% solutions respectively). The total cover of Oxalis pes-caprae and of the other native plant was sampled before the treatment and several times in a year after the treatments. Our results show that the only effective treatment was the use of glyphosate. Particularly one year after the treatments O. pes-caprae cover decreased greatly in the plots treated with glyphosate, while non-significant decrease was recorded in the plots subjected to other treatments. No significant differences were detected also among these treatments and the control plots, indicating a total inefficiency of these treatments in the control of the weed. Furthermore, we recorded an increase in the cover of native species in the plots treated with herbicide, while with all the other treatments native species continued to be scarce or absent being strongly outcompeted by the weed. Our results demonstrate the efficiency of chemical treatments in the control of the weedy alien species O. pes-caprae, also demonstrating the benefices that native species may rapidly show even adopting a such impacting control measure.

Figure caption. Variation of *Oxalis pes-caprae* and other native species cover in the time according to the treatment.

Keywords: herbicide, alien, glyphosate, manual control

<figure><img src="image_18.png" /></figure>
**Evaluating an effective treatment to control/eradicate the invasive weed *Oxalis pes-caprae*: indications from a field experiment in a Mediterranean island.**

Lorenzo Lazzaro, Giulio Ferretti, Bruno Foggi, Elisabetta Bianchi, Renato Benesperi

Department of Biology, University of Florence, via G. La Pira 4, I-50121, Florence, Italy

*Oxalis pes-caprae* is a widespread invader native from South Africa, which has spread widely across southern Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia and is particularly aggressive in the Mediterranean region. This species is a common weed particularly in anthropized, arable and disturbed habitats. Its main ecological impacts are related to the possible suppression of other ruderal weedy species, leading to serious problem where the arable flora is of conservation value, as over much of the Mediterranean old fields. Furthermore, this species has mainly socio-economic impacts related to livestock and field losses linked to its weedy behaviour. The treatment option for this species has been poorly investigated, and most of the main chemical and biological control methods are usually considered inadequate or barely effective in the control of this species. Toward the aim to test a wide set of treatment option on the field, we set an experiment in the island of Montecristo (Central Mediterranean). In the experiment, we tested the effect of six different treatments on Oxalis pes-caprae and on the native flora. Treatment went from biological to chemicals, including manual control and removal, covering with a mulching sheet, pyro-control with a flamethrower, aspersion with acetic acid (30% solution) and with two different concentration of glyphosate (3% and 5% solutions respectively). The total cover of *Oxalis pes-caprae* and of the other native plant was sampled before the treatment and several times in a year after the treatments. Our results show that the only effective treatment was the use of glyphosate. Particularly one year after the treatments *O. pes-caprae* cover decreased greatly in the plots treated with glyphosate, while non-significant decrease was recorded in the plots subjected to other treatments. No significant differences were detected also among these treatments and the control plots, indicating a total inefficiency of these treatments in the control of the weed. Furthermore, we recorded an increase in the cover of native species in the plots treated with herbicide, while with all the other treatments native species continued to be scarce or absent being strongly outcompeted by the weed. Our results demonstrate the efficiency of chemical treatments in the control of the weedy alien species *O. pes-caprae*, also demonstrating the benefices that native species may rapidly show even adopting a such impacting control measure.

Figure caption. Variation of *Oxalis pes-caprae* and other native species cover in the time according to the treatment.

Keywords: herbicide, alien, glyphosate, manual control
Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Sosnowsky's hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi) are listed as invasive species likely to disrupt natural balance according to the regulation of the Minister of the Environment of Estonia. Sosnowsky's hogweed is also listed as the species of European Union concern in the annex of EU Regulation 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species. A noteworthy increase of range invaded by these phototoxic and noxious alien hogweeds started in the mid of the 20th century in Estonia. Since 2005, over 99% of the mapped area occupied by alien hogweed colonies (approximately 2300 hectares in 2016) has been under state-controlled eradication effort each year. Due to the enduring seed bank of hogweeds, solid eradication works must be conducted at many (at least 4-5) successive years to start the significant decrease in the density of hogweed stands. As a result of long-term eradication efforts, the further widespread dispersal of hogweed colonies has stopped in Estonia.

Keywords: alien hogweeds, giant hogweed, Sosnowsky's hogweed, effectiveness of eradication effort
# How to control an invasive forest pest? Biological control of invasive *Dryocosmus kuriphilus* with introduced parasitoid *Torymus sinensis* in Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary

Dinka Matošević<fnref n="1" />, George Melika<fnref n="2" />, Nikola Lacković<fnref n="1" />, Katarina Kos<fnref n="3" />, Eva Kriston<fnref n="2" />, Miklós Bozsó<fnref n="2" />, Mojca Rot<fnref n="4" />

*Dryocosmus kuriphilus* is considered as one of the major pests of sweet chestnut (Castanea) and the effective method of controlling its populations and damage is classical biological control with its introduced parasitoid *Torymus sinensis*. *T. sinensis* is a univoltine, host specific parasitoid, phenologically synchronized and morphologically adapted to *D. kuriphilus*, it has good dispersal ability, builds up populations quickly and effectively controls the pest already few years after release. We describe the first results of introduction and release of *T. sinensis* for controlling the populations of invasive *D. kuriphilus* in sweet chestnut forests and orchards in Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia. Withered *D. kuriphilus* galls with *T. sinensis* larvae were collected in Torino vicinities, Italy in March 2014 and 2015. After emergence, males and females were put together, kept at 14°C and fed with liquid honey until release. To confirm the establishment of population of *T. sinensis* on release sites in Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary morphological and DNA identification were used. In total 10,590 females and 5,295 males of *T. sinensis* were released in sweet chestnut forests across in Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia in 2014 and 2015. Minimum release number of *T. sinensis* was 100 females/50 males and maximum 1,200 females per site. Subsequent releases with larger number of females (1,200 and 800 in two years) resulted in rapid establishment of population of *T. sinensis* and parasitism rates of 76 % only one year after the first release was achieved. Establishment of population of *T. sinensis* was confirmed with molecular analyses and morphological identification High levels of genetic diversity indices showed that populations of *T. sinensis* did not suffer from bottleneck-induced founder effect phenomenon. Prior to release of *T. sinensis* all advantages and disadvantages of introduction of this alien biocontrol species into natural stands in Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia have been considered.

Keywords: *Torymus sinensis*, classical biological control, parasitism rates, rearing and release, parasitoid, sweet chestnut gall wasp,

<footnote n="1">¹Department for forest protection Croatian Forest Research Institute, Jastrebarsko, Croatia</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Plant Health and Molecular Biology Laboratory Directorate of Plant Protection, Soil Conservation and Agri-environment National Food Chain Safety Office, Budapest, Hungary</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Kmetijsko gozdarski zavod, Nova Gorica, Slovenia</footnote>
**Advanced biotechnology for invasive species management**

Laura Meyerson<fnref n="1" />, Karl Campbell<fnref n="3" />, Stanley Burgiel<fnref n="2" />

Increasingly, genetic tools are being used to detect and solve pressing environmental, social, and health-related challenges. For example, environmental DNA (eDNA) is being employed to detect and monitor the presence of potentially invasive species in water bodies or other moist environments. Advances in biotechnology such as gene editing, RNAi, and gene drives are currently being explored as a means to eradicate and control invasive species such as mosquitoes that carry disease. By altering the genomes of entire populations of wild organisms, genetic editing may improve capacities to prevent, eradicate and/or control populations of invasive species or their vectors currently thought to be unmanageable. However, there is a need to carefully explore the potential ecological, socio-cultural, and political ramifications of using advanced biotechnology to address invasive species, including the possibility that gene-edited organisms may spread across ecological and jurisdictional borders. This presentation is meant to open a productive discussion amongst invasion researchers to identify the pros and cons of using this technology to manage invasive species and to create a pathway to assess these products in a rational manner in this rapidly developing dynamic field.

Keywords: DNA barcoding, gene editing, gene drives, RNAi

<footnote n="1">¹University of Rhode Island, Kingston, United States</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²National Invasive Species Council Secretariat, Washington, United States</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Island Conservation, Galapagos Islands, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador</footnote>
# Success of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) - the true story

Jana Müllerová, Michaela Vítková

Institute of Botany, the Czech Academy of Sciences, Pruhonice, Czech Republic

<figure><img src="image_19.png" /></figure>

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) belongs to the most invasive woody species in the world. Imported from North America to Europe for ornamental purposes as early as the beginning of 17th century, it has become widely naturalized in temperate and subtropical regions over the world. It soon became a popular forest tree for high quality timber, honey making, erosion control, amelioration and reclamation of disturbed sites, especially along railways and on steep eroded hillsides along rivers. It is a pioneer species known for its rapid growth, sprouting ability and nitrogen fixation. It is able to tolerate extremely diverse physical-chemical soil conditions, from extremely acid to strongly alkaline, and from medium to highly base saturated soils with a gradient of different subsurface stoniness, with high tolerance to air pollution and salinity. Once introduced, it soon becomes a dominating species. Due to its rapid growth and ability to fixate atmospheric nitrogen it behaves as an ecosystem engineer, not only changing the biogeochemical cycles but also creating specific plant assemblages, often highly different from natural ones. In Europe, it invades (i) natural habitats, such as thermophilous grasslands, sandy soils, shrubbery and open azonal forests, and (ii) man-made habitats, such as urban-industrial wastelands, fallow lands, disturbed traffic corridors and burnt sites. In Central Europe, there are four types of stands differing in soil conditions: (1) species-rich nitrophilous stands on alkaline to acid bedrocks; (2) tall, species-poor grassy stands on strongly acid quaternary deposits; (3) open, mesic stands dominated by *Poa nemoralis* on upper slopes of deep river valleys on siliceous bedrock; and (4) dwarf, shrubby stands on thermophilous rocky slopes. Despite of economic benefits, it poses serious threat for biodiversity. Conservation measures are difficult due to vigour sprouting and growth. Even if the removal is successful, nitrogen enriched soils make the restoration difficult. There is also socio-economical point of view, as the species is widely used in the forestry and popular among public. Attempts for complete eradication would therefore be neither possible nor wise, and site-specific strategies must be applied for invasion management, ranging from complete eradication at sites with high natural value to coexistence at urban and intensive agriculture landscapes. Remote sensing can help for both monitoring and selecting the best management strategy.

**Keywords:** ecosystem engineer, forestry, invaded habitats, monitoring, physical-chemical soil conditions, remote sensing, site-specific management strategy
# Population control of non-native round gobies – modelling different removal strategies

Anouk N'Guyen<fnref n="1" />, Philipp Hirsch<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />, Irene Adrian-Kalchhauser<fnref n="1" />, Claudio Bozzuto<fnref n="4" />, Patricia

Burkhardt-Holm<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="3" />

An optimal population control strategy of invasive species needs to be effective, efficient and supported by relevant decision makers. Usually, research on population control methods addresses only one or two of these criteria. In this talk, we present a strategy to manage round goby *Neogobius melanostomus* that includes all three dimensions: effectiveness, efficiency and feedback to decision makers.

Round goby is a non-native invasive fish species spreading in Europe and North America. It was first detected in the High Rhine in Switzerland 2012, where it has established an increasing population and potentially threatens native biodiversity. We follow a matrix-based population modelling approach to analyse two different round goby control options: removing adults and removing eggs. The two options are analysed regarding different scenarios, e.g. controlling a newly colonized area vs. controlling a population reaching the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. Furthermore, we evaluate how much effort needs to be invested to successfully carry out the population control strategy. Communication, priority setting and feedback sessions with decision makers responsible for the implementation of population control strategies are crucial during all steps of such a project.

Keywords: population control, matrix model, round goby, neogobius melanostomus

# Optimal planning for eradicating multiple invasives from an oceanic island.

Michael Bode<fnref n="1" />, Christopher Baker<fnref n="2" />,<fnref n="3" />, Michaela Plein<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />

Many islands are invaded by multiple invasive species. Due to their size, islands are often promising locations for eradicating invaders. Multi-species eradications are essential for conserving the biodiversity of these islands, but experience has shown that eradicating species in the wrong order can be disastrous for endemic species. Managers not only have to decide on how to eradicate each invasive species, they also need to determine when to target each species and commonly these decisions are made under a limited budget. We use dynamic control theory to show that invasive species should be eradicated in a particular order when resources are limited. We focus on a frequently occurring system of multiple invasive species, where one invasive predator consumes two prey species (of which one is endemic, one is invasive). We find that for this common system it is always best to target the predator first, and thereafter gradually shift efforts towards the invasive prey. Targeting both species simultaneously is substantially suboptimal. As our approach and findings apply to all systems of this common ecosystem and they could therefore aid decisions for many data-poor eradication projects.

Keywords: invasion ecology, dynamic control, Channel Islands, optimal eradication,

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Research Centre for Sustainable Energy and Water Supply, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Wildlife Analysis GmbH, Zürich, Switzerland</footnote>

<footnote n="1">¹School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, 3010 VIC, Parkville, Australia</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland QLD, 4072, St. Lucia, Australia</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States</footnote>
Wilfred Reinhold

Platform Stop invasieve exoten, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Since 2005, several species of alien invasive mosquitoes are found in the Netherlands. Some species, such as the Asian tiger mosquito (*Aedes albopictus*) can infect people with viruses such as dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, they are being introduced with the import of used tires and Lucky bamboo. From one species, the Asian bush mosquito (*Aedes japonicus*), there already is an established population in the city of Lelystad.

What does the Dutch government do to manage the introduction and spread of these risky mosquito species, and what are the options?

Keywords: invasive, alien, species, management, mosquitoes, Netherlands, health

Frank Richarz

Upper Sure Nature Park, Esch-Sauer, Luxembourg

Nationaal Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

After its first introduction into the wild in Bohemia and, later, its escape from fur farms in France, the semi aquatic muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) reached Luxembourg in 1956. A trapping management was introduced in Luxembourg in 2008 because of severe damages to freshwater mussel communities. This investigation gained scientific support in 2009. The research objectives were, firstly, the investigation of the muskrats' spatiotemporal patterns and, secondly, observing the re-colonisation of the managed habitats after the removal of animals. In addition, the influence of muskrats on freshwater mussel communities should be evaluated. Marking with subcutaneous transponders and radio-tracking with implant tags were used. During the first 15 months a suspiciously low population density with temporary absences was observed and the muskrat's typical high reproduction rate could not be detected. Therefore, the hypothesis was formulated, that there is no constant population of muskrats, rather a yearly immigration into the research area.

Keywords: muskrat, radio-tracking, implant tags, Capture-mark- recapture, spatio-temporal patterns, re-colonisation of managed habitats, jaw-trapping
# Climatic suitability ranking of biological control candidates: a biogeographic approach for ragweed management in Europe

Yan Sun¹, ², Olivier Olivier Brönnimann³, George Roderick¹, Alexander Poltavsky⁴, Suzanne Lommen⁵, Heinz Müller-Schärer⁵

¹Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution & Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

²Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States

³Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

⁴Botanical garden of the Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

⁵Department of Biology/Ecology & Evolution, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

<figure><img src="image_20.png" /></figure>

Biocontrol using natural antagonists from the invaders' native range has been a successful management tool against invasive alien plants. Selection of candidate agents remains a critical step in a biocontrol program before more time-consuming tests are conducted. Here for the first time, we simultaneously modelled the distributions of a plant invader and of its potential biocontrol agents in view of selecting candidates that potentially cover a large range of the target invader. We studied *Ambrosia artemisiifolia* (common ragweed), native to North America (NA) and invasive worldwide, and six NA biocontrol insects as candidates for the introduced European (EU) range of ragweed. More specifically, we ask: 1) what percentage of the suitable ragweed range is also suitable for the six candidates, both under current and future bioclimatic scenarios; 2) does this relative overlap in NA correlate with their projected overlap in EU; and, 3) which part of the suitable ragweed range in EU is likely to remain uncovered by these candidates? We thus constructed species distribution models based on worldwide occurrences and important bioclimatic variables for each species. Ordination techniques were used to explore climatic constraints of each species and to perform niche overlap and similarity tests with ragweed. Our results show a large overlap in climatic space between the insects and ragweed, but a considerable discrepancy in the geographic range overlap between EU (31.4%) and NA (83.3%). This might be due to niche unfilling and expansion of ragweed in EU and the fact that habitats with high ragweed occurrences in EU are rare in NA and predicted to be unsuitable for the candidate agents. Total geographic range of all insects combined is expected to decrease under climate change in both ranges, but the six insects will respond differently. Importantly, the relative geographical coverage of a plant invader by biocontrol candidates in the native range is largely transferable to the introduced range, even when the invader shifts its niche. Our analyses also provide a guide for which abiotic conditions to select for in developing climatically adapted strains for particular regions in Europe where ragweed is currently unlikely to be controlled.

Keywords: Ambrosia artemisiifolia, biological control, biological invasions, climate change, niche overlap, species distribution model
# Tackling aquatic invasions in Europe: the Aquainvad-ED project

Elena Tricarico<fnref n="1" />, Yaisel Borrell<fnref n="2" />, Eva García-Vázquez<fnref n="2" />, José Rico<fnref n="2" />, Sabine Rech<fnref n="2" />, Felicita Scapini<fnref n="1" />, Iva Johovic<fnref n="1" />, Naiara Rodríguez-Ezpeleta<fnref n="3" />, Oihane Basurko<fnref n="3" />, Anaïs Rey<fnref n="2" />, <fnref n="3" />, Peter Gough<fnref n="4" />, Laura Aquiloni<fnref n="5" />, Paolo Sposimo<fnref n="6" />, Alberto Inghilesi<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="6" />, Phillip Haubrock<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="6" />, Jesus Delgado<fnref n="7" />, Roberta Skukan<fnref n="2" />, <fnref n="7" />, David Hall<fnref n="8" />, Stephen Marsh-Smith<fnref n="9" />, David Kilbey<fnref n="10" />, Augustus Monteoliva<fnref n="11" />, Teja Muha<fnref n="8" />, <fnref n="12" />, Marta Rodríguez-Rey<fnref n="9" />, <fnref n="12" />, Matteo Rolla<fnref n="4" />, <fnref n="12" />, Heidi Rehwald<fnref n="12" />, Carlos Garcia de Leaniz<fnref n="12" />, et al.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are increasing due to the synergistic effects of climate change and habitat destruction. AIS heavily affect biodiversity and human health, and cause loss of ecosystem services; therefore, their control and management have now become a priority, particularly in the light of the new EU regulation 1143/2014 on invasive species. Successful management of AIS requires several steps: early detection, identification of routes of introduction and pathways of dispersal, and development of efficient control measures. Public awareness and stakeholder involvement are also critical for preventing new introductions and for mitigating the impact of existing ones. The main research goal of the project Marie Curie 2014 ITN H2020 Aquainvad-ED (AQUAtic INVaders: Early Detection, Control and Management; 2015-2019; http://www.aquainvad-ed.com/) is to exploit novel tools combined with the power of crowd data sourcing (citizen science) to develop innovative methods for early detection, control and management of AIS. Eight PhD fellows are involved in Aquainvad-ED and are dedicated to four projects: (1) development and application of novel methods for early detection AIS; (2) identification of vectors of introduction and pathways of dispersal; (3) impacts of freshwater and marine invaders; and (4) risk assessment and control of AIS. In order to develop multidisciplinary approaches to address these issues, the fellows are working in an international consortium (UK, Spain, Italy) composed by scientists and professionals from three universities (Swansea University, Universidad de Oviedo, Università degli Studi di Firenze), one technological institute (AZTI), two governmental agencies (Natural Resources Wales and Cardiff Harbour Authority), one NGO (Wye & Usk Foundation) and five SMEs working in fundamental and applied aspects of AIS (Neoalgae, Natural Applications, NEMO, Ecohydros and Itinera).

Keywords: aquatic species, invasive, early detection, control, pathway

<footnote n="1">¹Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³AZTI, Marine Research Division, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Natural Resource Body for Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵Itinera C.E.R.T.A. scrl, Montevarchi (AR), Italy</footnote>

<footnote n="6">⁶NEMO srl, Florence, Italy</footnote>

<footnote n="7">⁷NEOALGAE, Gijón, Spain</footnote>

<footnote n="8">⁸Cardiff Harbour Authority, Cardiff, United Kingdom</footnote>

<footnote n="9">⁹Wye & Usk Foundation, Talgarth, Brecon, United Kingdom</footnote>

<footnote n="10">¹⁰Natural Apptitude Ltd, Chippenham Wiltshire, United Kingdom</footnote>

<footnote n="11">¹¹Ecohydros, Maliaño, Spain</footnote>

<footnote n="12">¹²Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom</footnote>
**How do non-governmental organizations help to minimize the negative impact of invasive alien species?**

*Corinne Vonlanthen*

*Pro Natura, Basel, Switzerland*

Pro Natura, an NGO founded in 1909, is the largest organization for nature conservation in Switzerland. Since the end of the last century Pro Natura has been involved in the battle against invasive alien species. This is done by raising public awareness, strengthening political relationships, targeting environmental education and specific eradication measures in its nature reserves.

Therefore, Pro Natura felt that it was important to develop our own position paper outlining our future plans: this indicates how to reduce the negative impact, mainly on biodiversity, of invasive alien species. So far, few NGOs have developed position papers dealing with invasive alien species.

During this talk I will present the position paper and outline the work done by Pro Natura to minimize the negative impact of invasive alien species.

Keywords: NGO, Position paper
**Topic 12**

**Biosecurity and risk assessment, including early detection and rapid response**

P-150

**The use of online sources to assess spatial distribution of the non-native European catfish *Silurus glanis***

João Gago<fnref n="1" />, Pedro Anastácio<fnref n="3" />, Filipe Banha<fnref n="3" />, Christos Gkenas<fnref n="2" />, Filipe Ribeiro<fnref n="2" />

The management of invasive fishes depends on updated data about its distribution and dispersal rates. We obtained online and published data about European catfish, *Silurus glanis* presence, a recent invader in the Tagus basin (Iberian Peninsula). Eighty records were collected mainly from anglers’ fora and blogs but also from Youtube. Since 1998, the European catfish expanded its range over 700 km of the river network, mainly occurring in reservoirs and in high order sections. Dispersal was human mediated and natural, with the former being prevalent during the first years of invasion, among locations farther than 50 km away from previously known distribution areas. The predominant dispersal direction was downstream. The analysis of online data from anglers provided very valuable information about the distribution and dispersal patterns of this non-native fish. We recommend the use of this methodology as preliminary and exploratory evaluation for future studies.

Keywords: Silurus glanis, European Catfish, dispersal, youtube, fora, expansion, distribution

<footnote n="1">¹Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Santarém, Santarém, Portugal</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³MARE - Center for Marine and Environmental Sciences University of Évora, Évora, Portugal</footnote>
## Developing the official Invasive Alien Species List for Mexico

Patricia Koleff<fnref n="1" />, Jordan Golubov<fnref n="2" />, Ana Isabel González Martínez<fnref n="1" />, Yolanda Barrios<fnref n="1" />, Georgia Born-Schmidt<fnref n="1" />, Silvia de Jesús<fnref n="1" />

In April 2010 an important step was undertaken to protect Mexican biodiversity from invasive species. The National Law for Environmental Protection and the General Law of Wildlife were modified to include the term “invasive alien species” for the first time and to establish the measures to attend the issue. One of the main statements requires the Mexican government to develop official lists to identify the alien species that will be subject to regulations, including species that might carry IAS into the country. A thorough revision of literature on existing risk assessment protocols and prescreening schemes, which vary in scope and completeness from Australia, the approach from the United States Canada and Mexico and several European countries, made evident that none of these could be directly applicable to Mexico. The National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), an inter-ministerial commission and the lead organization regarding invasive species, coordinated a group of experts from other governmental institutions, Civil Society Organizations and Academia, to develop a generic prescreening tool, applicable to all taxonomic groups, which allows to the identification of potentially high risk candidates to include in the official lists. We have currently evaluated over 450 species and a first draft of the list has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment for its approval.

Keywords: prescreening tool, rapid risk evaluation

<footnote n="1">¹Dirección General de Análisis y Prioridades Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, Mexico City, Mexico</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana –Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico</footnote>
The vascular flora of Canada consists of approximately 5,087 species, of which 3,858 are native and 1,229 have been introduced. Of the introduced species, 40% are considered weedy or invasive. Canada's recorded history of plant introductions dates back about 400 years, beginning with the settlement of Samuel de Champlain in 1605. During this period, the number of new invasive species grew slowly from 1600-1800, then increased rapidly from 1800-1900, followed by a slower, linear period of accumulation which continues to the present day. It is estimated that about 3.0 new species were added per year over this entire period, of which 1.2 per year have become invasive. During the slower linear phase of the 20th century, the rate of establishment of invasive plant species has been estimated at 0.58 species per year.

New invasive alien plants continue to establish in Canada in the 21st century. However, this period marks the beginning of a new era with significant phytosanitary oversight and a focus on prevention. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Canada's National Plant Protection Organization, began conducting pest risk analyses on new plants to Canada in the year 2000. These analyses are conducted in accordance with international guidelines for pest risk analysis established by the International Plant Protection Convention. In the CFIA, a pest risk analysis begins with a categorization to determine if a species qualifies as a potential quarantine pest. For species that qualify, the process continues with a full weed risk assessment to evaluate the probability of entry, establishment, and spread in Canada, and the potential economic and environmental consequences. Subsequently, risk management documents provide an evaluation of options to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of a pest, and may also be used for risk communication and public consultation.

Since the year 2000, the CFIA has categorized over 360 plant species, largely as a result of requests for import, weed interceptions in imported commodities, and new detections in the Canadian environment. Focusing on the last category, this poster highlights a number of the most significant new plant species that have been detected and become invasive in Canada in recent years. For each species, the date and location of initial discovery, most likely pathway of entry, and status of the pest risk analysis process is provided.

## References

Canadian Food Inspection Agency. 2008. Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. CFIA. Ottawa, ON. 72 pp.

Keywords: invasive alien plant, pest risk analysis, pathway, weed
# Species distribution modelling and risk maps for priority invasive alien plants in the EU

Daniel Chapman<fnref n="1" />, Rob Tanner<fnref n="2" />, Oliver Pescott<fnref n="3" />, Helen Roy<fnref n="3" />

Species distribution models are commonly used to map regions at risk of invasive alien species (IAS) establishment. These characterise relationships between known species occurrences and environmental gradients such as climate and land use, in order to predict the suitability for occurrence of a species in any location. For IAS, this can mean identifying suitable regions that a species has not yet dispersed to and invaded. As such, species distribution models increasingly play a role within IAS risk assessments. In a new project that supports the recent EU law on IAS (Regulation (EU) no. 1143/2014) we are developing a standardised, open-source workflow for IAS distribution models. The modelling workflow is being applied for the risk assessment of 16 of the highest priority invasive alien plants. These are currently absent or rarely recorded in Europe but may have high potential for invasive spread and impact if barriers to introduction or dispersal are overcome. As such there is still capacity to reduce or mitigate their risk by trade restrictions and timely management, motivating high quality risk assessment to justify and prioritise such action.

Here, we present the methodology and preliminary results from the species distribution modelling. The models were developed with a presence-only strategy appropriate for IAS. Presence-only models are calibrated by contrasting the environment at locations in which the species is known to occur with the environment in randomly-selected ‘pseudo-absences’, i.e. background locations without presences. Our method for selecting pseudo-absences accounted for spatial variation in recording effort, as well as dispersal constraints on their global distributions. Models were estimated using a range of statistical algorithms implemented via the BIOMOD package for R, resulting in an ensemble prediction of potential invasion of the EU in both the current climate and for climate model projections of conditions in the late 21st century. We suggest that by adopting a standardised modelling workflow in risk assessment, predictions of potential invasive distributions will be more transparent and comparable across different species. This will provide a more secure basis for deciding how to prioritise management to most effectively mitigate the impacts of IAS as a whole.

Keywords: Risk assessment, pest risk analysis, ecological niche model, climate matching, BIOMOD, presence-only modelling

<footnote n="1">¹NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, United Kingdom</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation, Paris, France</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom</footnote>
# Non-native and diadromous fish distributions in running waters using environmental DNA

Phil Davison<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />, Véronique Créach<fnref n="1" />, Lorenzo Vilizzi<fnref n="3" />, Gordon Copp<fnref n="1" />, <fnref n="2" />, <fnref n="4" />

For aquatic species that are present in low density or difficult to capture, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis of water samples has proved to be an effective and efficient means for detecting these species where conventional means fail. The eDNA approach is therefore of particular interest with regard to diadromous species, several of which are in decline, including European eel *Anguilla anguilla*, European smelt *Osmerus eperlanus*, sea lamprey *Lampetra marinus* and river lamprey *L. fluviatilis*. With potentially invasive non-native species, eDNA analysis of water samples can provide an early warning of their presence, thereby providing environmental managers with the possibility of a rapid response to eradicate or contain the unwanted species. Non-native fishes that warrant monitoring in the UK are two currently invasive species (topmouth gudgeon *Pseudorasbora parva*, sunbleak *Leucaspius delineatus*) and two species not currently invasive but expected to become invasive during future warmer climatic conditions (pumpkinseed *Lepomis gibbosus*, fathead minnow *Pimephales promelas*). This communication will present recent field and laboratory results in the development and application of eDNA in rivers and streams in southern England, where the potential exists for the co-occurrence and potential interaction between native diadromous and existing non-native species. This work, carried out in summer 2016, will address two main objectives: 1) determine the occurrence and distribution of native diadromous fishes and lampreys and of non-native fishes: 2) assess whether invasive fishes are inhabiting water courses adjacent to the floodplain still waters they have infested, including those where the invasive species has been eradicated.

Keywords: Pseudorasbora parva, Anguilla anguilla, Osmerus eperlanus, Lepomis gibbosus, Leucaspius delineatus, Lampetra sp.

<footnote n="1">¹Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, United Kingdom</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Faculty of Fisheries, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada</footnote>