Abstract
Thirty-seven alien plant species, pre-identified by horizon scanning exercises were prioritised for pest risk analysis (PRA) using a modified version of the EPPO Prioritisation Process designed to be compliant with the EU Regulation 1143/2014. In Stage 1, species were categorised into one of four lists – a Residual List, EU List of Minor Concern, EU Observation List and the EU List of Invasive Alien Plants. Only those species included in the latter proceeded to the risk management stage where their priority for PRA was assessed. Due to medium or high spread potential coupled with high impacts twenty-two species were included in the EU List of Invasive Alien Plants and proceeded to Stage 2. Four species (Ambrosia trifida, Egeria densa, Fallopia baldschuanica and Oxalis pes-caprae) were assigned to the EU Observation List due to moderate or low impacts. Albizia lebbeck, Clematis terniflora, Euonymus japonicus, Lonicera morrowii, Prunus campanulata and Rubus rosifolius were assigned to the residual list due to a current lack of information on impacts. Similarly, Cornus sericea and Hydrilla verticillata were assigned to the Residual List due to unclear taxonomy and uncertainty in native status, respectively. Chromolaena odorata, Cryptostegia grandiflora and Sphagneticola trilobata were assigned to the Residual List as it is unlikely they will establish in the Union under current climatic conditions. In the risk management stage, Euonymus fortunei, Ligustrum sinense and Lonicera maackii were considered a low priority for PRA as they do not exhibit invasive tendencies despite being widely cultivated in the EU over several decades. Nineteen species were identified as having a high priority for a PRA (Acacia dealbata, Ambrosia confertiflora, Andropogon virginicus, Cardiospermum grandiflorum, Celastrus orbiculatus, Cinnamomum camphora, Cortaderia jubata, Ehrharta calycina, Gymnocoronis spilanthoides, Hakea sericea, Humulus scandens, Hygrophila polysperma, Lespedeza cuneata, Lygodium japonicum, Pennisetum setaceum, Prosopis juliflora, Sapium sebiferum, Pistia stratiotes and Salvinia molesta).
Highlights
Trade liberalisation and rapid globalisation have led to the increased spread of invasive alien species (IAS) around the world
The objective of this study was to produce a list of alien plant species that comply with the definitions and criteria of Article 4 of the IAS Regulation, i.e. alien species that would be capable of causing major detrimental impacts on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services after establishment and spread within the European Union (EU) territory, and to determine which of these have the highest priority for pest risk analysis (PRA) at the European level
All species assigned to the EU List of Invasive Alien Plants fulfilled the criteria set out in questions A1 to A3; indicating a clear taxonomy, alien to the EU and the quality of information was sufficient to assess traits and impacts
Summary
Trade liberalisation and rapid globalisation have led to the increased spread of invasive alien species (IAS) around the world (van Kleunnen et al 2015). IAS (plants, animals, fungi or micro-organisms) are recognised as one of the greatest threats to biological diversity by inflicting irreversible damage to the ecosystems they invade (Wilcove et al 1998). In Europe, there are an estimated 12,000 alien species with 10-15 % considered invasive and it is these species that cost the EU around €12-billion per year (European Commission 2014, Kettunen et al 2008). Established invasive alien plant species are one of the largest groups of IAS both in terms of species numbers and the area they occupy (Sheppard et al 2006). There are an estimated 3,749 naturalised alien plant species in Europe of which 1,780 are alien to Europe, with the remaining being native to parts of Europe (Pyšek et al 2009). Impacts on ecosystem services are less studied, examples show negative effects on provisioning (Kasulo 2000, Eagle et al 2007), regulating (Chittka and Schürkens 2001, Prater et al 2006) and cultural services (Chilton et al 2002, McFarland et al 2004)
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