In the last decades, many European countries have produced checklists of alien plant species. However, few of them include information on species invasiveness. In a recent exciting article in the Nordic Journal of Botany, Torbjörn Tyler, Thomas Karlsson, Per Milberg, Ullrika Sahlin and Sebastian Sundberg have compiled the first list of invasive alien plant taxa for Sweden (see Early View version).
The authors have assessed the invasiveness of 721 vascular plant and bryophyte taxa in the Swedish flora. What I liked about the paper was that its clear definition of invasiveness, invasiveness components (e.g. competitive capacity in natural vegetation) and quantification of invasive concern (as calculated from invasiveness components). Invasiveness was assigned based on the author's expertise and regional scientific literature and validated with a Bayesian Belief Network.
Based on their assessment, the three most invasive taxa in Sweden are Campylopus introflexus (a moss native to the Southern hemisphere), Rosa rugosa (a shrub native to East Asia), and Epilobium adenocaulon (perennial herb native to North America). In fact, most of the listed species are the usual suspects but now there is black-on-white evidence for Sweden.
The paper is far from being a mere checklist. The authors also discuss several important implications for policy and management. For example, they identify foresters and gardeners as important actors facilitating the spread of invasive species and discuss the likelihood that their actions can be influenced.
Based on their assessment, the three most invasive taxa in Sweden are Campylopus introflexus (a moss native to the Southern hemisphere), Rosa rugosa (a shrub native to East Asia), and Epilobium adenocaulon (perennial herb native to North America). In fact, most of the listed species are the usual suspects but now there is black-on-white evidence for Sweden.
The paper is far from being a mere checklist. The authors also discuss several important implications for policy and management. For example, they identify foresters and gardeners as important actors facilitating the spread of invasive species and discuss the likelihood that their actions can be influenced.