Central European botanic gardens as centres of dispersal of alien plants

Halina Galera,Barbara Sudnik-Wójcikowska

doi:10.5586/asbp.2010.020

Halina Galera, Barbara Sudnik-Wójcikowska

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5586/asbp.2010.020

Copy DOI

Abstract

The aim of the work was to estimate the specific role that Central European botanic gardens play in the dispersal of alien plants, which results from the wide variety of plants cultivated in the gardens and regular international exchange of plant material between these institutions. We compared the results of recent field studies (in eight Polish botanic gardens) and a review of older literature data and herbarium collections (from Central European botanic gardens). We found that in Poland the proportion of botanic garden escapes was lower (3%) than would be expected from the "tens rule". Botanic gardens have played a considerable role in the development of the synanthropic flora of Central Europe in the last 200 years. We determined a group of species introduced through a network of botanic gardens and propose 5 theoretical patterns to describe the mode and pathways of the early stages of introduction of these species.

Highlights

Compared with other types of managed areas that are recognized as important distribution centres of alien plants, botanic gardens have a distinctive character (e.g. Sukopp 1990; Reichard and White 2001; Wittig 2002; Sukopp 2006)
This is due to the fact that these institutions are open to the public and contain a wide variety of cultivated plants from different climatic zones, as well as to the regular international exchange of plant material between the gardens (Dawson et al 2008)
The current role that botanic gardens play as centres of dispersal of alien plants was assessed on the basis of studies carried out in eight botanic gardens in seven Polish cities (Bydgoszcz, Cracow, Lublin, Lodz, Poznan, Wroclaw and two gardens in Warsaw: Botanic Garden of University of Warsaw and Botanic Garden Center for Biological Diversity Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences)

Summary

Introduction

Compared with other types of managed areas that are recognized as important distribution centres of alien plants (e.g. forest nurseries, urban green areas, private gardens and field crops), botanic gardens have a distinctive character (e.g. Sukopp 1990; Reichard and White 2001; Wittig 2002; Sukopp 2006). Sukopp 1990; Reichard and White 2001; Wittig 2002; Sukopp 2006) This is due to the fact that these institutions are open to the public and contain a wide variety of cultivated plants from different climatic zones, as well as to the regular international exchange of plant material between the gardens (Dawson et al 2008). Floristic studies of the vascular flora have frequently been conducted in botanic gardens. It has often been necessary to analyse incomplete and scattered historical data (it is impossible to use quantitative historical data for comparisons). They can provide valuable information about the past biological invasions

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion