Horizon scanning to identify invasion risk of ornamental plants marketed in Spain

Álvaro Bayón,Montserrat Vilà

doi:10.3897/neobiota.52.38113

Abstract

Horticulture is one of the main pathways of deliberate introduction of non-native plants, some of which might become invasive. Of the 914 commercial ornamental outdoor plant species sold in Spain, 700 (77%) are non-native (archaeophytes excluded) marketed species. We classified these into six different lists based on their invasion status in Spain and elsewhere, their climatic suitability in Spain and their potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts. We found sufficient information for 270 species. We provide a Priority List of eight regulated invasive species that were still available on the market. We also established an Attention List with 68 non-regulated invasive and potentially invasive species that might cause various impacts. To prioritise the species within the Attention List, we further assessed the risk of invasion of these species by using an adaptation of the Australian WRA protocol and the level of societal interest estimated from values of the Google Trends tool. We also propose a Green List of seven species with probably no potential to become invasive, a Watch List with 27 potentially invasive species with few potential impacts and an Uncertainty List with 161 species of known status but with insufficient information to include them in any of the previous lists. We did not find sufficient information for 430 (61%) of the marketed non-native plant species, which were compiled into a Data Deficient List. Our findings of prohibited species for sale highlight the need for stronger enforcement of the regulations on invasive plant species in Spain. In addition, our results highlight the need for additional information on potential impacts and climate suitability of horticultural plants being sold in Spain, as insufficient information could be found to assess the invasion risk for most species.

Highlights

The introduction of invasive non-native species by humans may be accidental – for example seed crops as contaminants amongst cargo – or deliberate (Mack et al 2000), such as the introduction of species used in forestry, aquaculture and horticulture
As we had many species to assess and our approach is by Horizon-scanning, we identified a broad range of potential impact types, including socioeconomic impacts
Some of the most harmful invasive plant species in the wild are non-native species introduced for commercial purposes (Hulme 2007)

Summary

Introduction

The introduction of invasive non-native species by humans may be accidental – for example seed crops as contaminants amongst cargo – or deliberate (Mack et al 2000), such as the introduction of species used in forestry, aquaculture and horticulture. The sale of ornamental plants, including sale by nurseries, is the main deliberate pathway for plant invasions (Van Kleunen et al 2018) which includes some of the most harmful invasive plant species in the wild (Hulme 2007). Horticulture activities reduce biotic and abiotic stresses on plants, bring species of different geographic origin together and increase the likelihood that plants escape into the wild (Niinemets and Peñuelas 2008). The commercial use of non-native ornamental plant species is important as the main pathway of introduction (Hulme 2007), but it favours the invasion potential of these plants and their impacts. In less than 20 years on the market, some non-native species can become invasive (Pemberton and Liu 2009)

Methods

Results

Conclusion