Invasive plant species and their threat to biodiversity

Abstract

The problem of the uncontrolled spread of alien plant species matured in the world in the second half of the 20th century, and in recent decades it has become the main threat to the biological diversity of various regions of the world. Prevention of biological Invasions is a new urgent task in the field of nature protection, which determines the relevance of the study. The purpose of the study is to determine and predict the distribution area of invasive plants, based on the use of the following methods: comparative morphological-ecological-geographical, route using determinants and atlases of plants of Ukraine, and the method of structural analysis. It is established that the characteristic features of invasive plant species are very high tolerance to habitat and climatic conditions, high rate of reproduction, simple and effective distribution by wind, water, animals, and rapid growth, which contributes to the displacement of slow-growing plants of other species and uncontrolled spread in the absence of natural enemies and restrictions. A particular danger to the biodiversity of Ukraine is the spread of invasive plant species: Sosnowsky’s Hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi), Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L), American maple (Acer negundo L.), Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.), Silver Berry (Elaeagnus angustifolia), American pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana), Ecballium (Ecballium elaterium), Common Sandbur (Cenchrus pauciflorus Benth), Wall Barley (Hordeum murinum L.), Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), etc. The results of the study are an important scientific and practical basis for developing national and regional strategies for controlling invasive plant species