The non-native flora of Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve, Canada

Abstract

A checklist of alien plants of Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada is presented for the first time. By way of field surveys and herbarium research, 121 alien taxa (22.1% of the regional flora) were recorded. The most species rich families are Poaceae (24 taxa, 19.8%) and Asteraceae (22, 18.2%). Species richness is about evenly distributed across genera with Rumex, Artemisia and Poa (each contains 3 taxa or 2.5%) making up those with the greatest number of species. Concerning plant growth habits, the two dominant groups are forbs (94 taxa, 77.7%) and graminoids (23 taxa, 19%). Regarding habitat preferences, most alien plants occur in natural and seminatural habitats (48 taxa, 39.7%), ruderal places (43 taxa, 35.5%) and agricultural lands (30 taxa, 24.8%). In relation to the state of spread, invasive (63 taxa, 52%) and naturalised (48 taxa, 39.7%) species prevail. In terms of geographical origin, most alien plants are native to Eurasia–Africa (49 taxa, 40.5%) and Eurasia (34 taxa, 28.1%). The biosphere reserve is increasingly being invaded by alien plants whose introduction and distributions can be explained by intense agricultural pressure which resulted in extensive habitat alteration and proliferation of invasive species. URL: https://www.upjs.sk/pracoviska/botanicka-zahrada/odborne-aktivity/contents-abstracts/