Abstract
This article provides a comparison of the vascular alien flora of Sardinia (Italy) and that of Corsica (France), both territories belonging to the Western Mediterranean biogeographic subregion. The study has recorded 598 (90 doubtful) alien taxa in Sardinia (18% of the total flora) while 553 (87 doubtful) in Corsica (17%); six are new report to Sardinia and 27 to Corsica. A total of 234 taxa are common to both islands. Neophytes are 344 taxa (68% of the total) in Sardinia and 399 taxa (73%) in Corsica. The invasive component includes 64 taxa in Sardinia (13% of the alien flora) and 99 taxa (21%) in Corsica, 33 of them common to both territories. The total 740 alien taxa of Sardinia and Corsica are included in 93 families; being Fabaceae the richest. The comparison of the biological spectrum reveals that phanerophytes (202 taxa, 40%) are the most represented in Sardinia and therophytes (149 taxa, 32%) in Corsica. A study of the geographical origin shows supremacy of the American element in Sardinia (170 taxa, 34%) and in Corsica (136 taxa, 29%). The majority of taxa arrived as a result of intentional human introductions, mainly for ornamental use (247 taxa, 49% in Sardinia; 208 taxa, 45% in Corsica). Semi-natural, agricultural and synanthropic are the most occupied habitats. These data show the need for joint action to stem the increasingly worrying phenomenon of the alien flora in order to reduce the negative effects on natural habitats and native flora.
Highlights
Alien plant species, especially in their invasive and naturalized component, are considered one of the major threats to the conservation of endangered plant species and habitats (Mack et al, 2000; Genovesi and Shine, 2004; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005; Lambdon et al, 2008)
Sardinian alien flora in total is composed of 598 taxa, representing the 18% of the whole Sardinian vascular flora
Considering the previous known data, six new alien taxa have been found in the island of Sardinia (Table 1)
Summary
Especially in their invasive and naturalized component, are considered one of the major threats to the conservation of endangered plant species and habitats (Mack et al, 2000; Genovesi and Shine, 2004; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005; Lambdon et al, 2008). There are many ways alien plants can directly and indirectly menace the preservation of native flora. Regarding the severe degree of the impact of alien plants on island ecosystems compared to mainland, different points of view have been developed so far. If on the one hand there is who sustains that island ecosystems, and especially those of the Mediterranean Basin, are more susceptible to alien plant invasions (Sala et al, 2000; Sax and Gaines, 2008), on the other hand more recent doubts have been expressed concerning the different impact that plant invasions could have on the native floras of mainland respect to islands (Vilà et al, 2011). Received in revised form: 11 Nov 2016.
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