Riparian Invasive Alien Plant Species in Southern Transylvania (Romania): History of Introduction, Chorology and Ecology

Abstract

Abstract The establishment and spread of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) outside their natural habitats have irreversibly affected native biodiversity in almost every habitat type. For Southern Transylvania, we recognise that there are about 200 adventive plants. From those, we selected 18 IAPS that occupy riparian habitats, the most common, abundant, frequent or with higher impact on habitats and human health. We studied the history of their introduction in the study area, their distribution paths and means of spreading in the wild, their chorology and ecology.