Germany’s established non-native species: a comprehensive breakdown

Abstract

Background

The introduction of non-native species can cause significant ecological and economic impacts by disrupting local habitats and ecosystem services. Due to its central European location and extensive trade networks, Germany is particularly susceptible to the introduction and spread of non-native species. Here, we compiled the first comprehensive list of established non-native species in Germany, detailing the invaded environments, native regions, and documented impacts.

Results

The final list included 1962 established non-native species from 594 families and 35 phyla, with Tracheophyta (n = 839), Arthropoda (n = 612), and Chordata (n = 129) being the most represented. Most of these species were terrestrial (79.3%), followed by semi-aquatic (8.4%), with less than 5% occupying freshwaters and other ecosystems. This study highlights a significant lack of information on the impacts of non-native species in Germany, with 97.9% of species having unknown effects. The greatest number of species included in this list were native to the Palearctic region (n = 813), followed by the Nearctic (n = 365) and Neotropic (n = 127) regions. However, many species were of unknown origin (n = 335), with a smaller subset classified as widespread (n = 166).

Conclusions

This first comprehensive list of established non-native species is essential for guiding management strategies in Germany. By cataloguing established non-native species and their impacts, it provides policymakers and stakeholders with a clearer understanding of which species are present, their patterns of spread, and their potential impacts, enabling them to prioritise management efforts for the most harmful species.