Abstract
Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity worldwide. Controlling their rapid spread can only be effective if we consider the geographical factors that influence their occurrence. For instance, roads, railway networks, green and blue infrastructure, and elements of ecological networks (e.g., ecological corridors) can facilitate the spread of invasive species. In our study, we mapped the occurrence of five invasive plant taxa (tree of heaven, common milkweed, Russian olive, black locust, and goldenrods) in Hungary, using field photos from the EUROSTAT Land Use and Coverage Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) database from the year 2015. Species point occurrence data were compared with the spatial characteristics of linear transport infrastructure and with the green and blue infrastructure. We found that the occurrence of tree of heaven and Russian olive was strongly related to the road and railway network. The average Euclidean distance of LUCAS points infected with these species from railway embankments and roads was much smaller than that of uninfected points. However, black locust and goldenrods were more common only along the road network. According to our results, the occurrence of some investigated invasive plants was over-represented in the HEN and within Natura 2000 areas of Hungary compared to non-infected points. Our results may provide important information for predicting the rate of invasion and for applying targeted management within the HEN, and Natura 2000 protected areas.
Highlights
IntroductionGlobalisation is making biological invasions more prevalent
Introduction published maps and institutional affilGlobalisation is making biological invasions more prevalent
In contrast to the other species, R. pseudoacacia is often deliberately planted along roads, while the other mentioned species (E. angustifolia, Solidago spp. and A. altissima) are not, and it seems evident that the road network is facilitating their spontaneous spread
Summary
Globalisation is making biological invasions more prevalent. Biological invasions and their negative ecological consequences are considered one of the major challenges for nature conservation [1,2]. According to a survey conducted by Genovesi and Monaco [3] in 21 European countries, the most serious threats to biodiversity are natural and semi-natural habitat loss and landscape fragmentation, followed by biological invasion. According to a questionnaire survey of Csiszár et al [4], the spread of invasive species is the most significant conservation problem of the national parks and other protected areas of Hungary. Native species and natural communities are threatened by invasive species, mostly originating from other continents, spontaneously or deliberately introduced, causing a loss of biodiversity [5,6].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
