Changes in the distribution and cover of invasive weed species in the area of Pančevački rit after a ten-year period

Abstract

The number of invasive species is increasing worldwide, and certain habitats, such as ruderal areas, are especially susceptible to invasion, highlighting the practical importance of ruderal flora and vegetation research. The aim of this research was to analyze ruderal flora of the Pančevački rit area, after a ten-year period, in order to ascertain the emergence of new and spread dynamics of already present invasive species. Field research was carried out in the area of Glogonjski rit, Padinska Skela and Kovilovo, followed by a comparison of the data gathered with the results of the previous research, done during the 1999-2002 period. The results confirmed the presence of potentially, sporadically and highly invasive plants in the area studied. The increase in the number of records was registered for the species: Amorpha fruticosa, Amaranthus retroflexus, Cuscutta sp., Echinocystis lobata and Veronica persica. The results have also shown changes in the cover of species A. fruticosa, A. retroflexus and Sorghum halepense. A presence of two so far, on this area, unregistered invasive species: Ailanthus altissima and Eleusine indica, was also confirmed.

Broj invazivnih vrsta je u porastu širom sveta, a pojedini tipovi staništa, poput ruderalnih, su posebno podložni invaziji, dajući veliki praktični značaj istraživanjima ruderalne flore i vegetacije. Cilj ovog istraživanja bila je analiza ruderalne flore na području Pančevačkog rita, po isteku perioda od 10 godina, kako bi se utvrdila pojava novih i dinamika širenja postojećih invazivnih vrsta. Terenska istraživanja obavljena su na lokalitetima Glogonjski rit, Padinska Skela i Kovilovo, uz poređenje dobijenih podataka sa rezultatima prethodnih istraživanja iz perioda 1999-2002. godine. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju prisustvo potencijalno, sporadično i jako invazivnih biljnih vrsta na istraživanom području. Povećanje broja nalaza zabeleženo je kod vrsta: Amorpha fruticosa, Amaranthus retroflexus, Cuscutta sp., Echinocystis lobata i Veronica persica. Rezultati su pokazali i promene u pokrovnosti kod vrsta: A. fruticosa, A. retroflexus i Sorghum halepense. Takođe, tokom istraživanja zabeleženo je prisustvo dve do sada, na ovim tačkama, nezabeležene invazivne vrste: Ailanthus altissima i Eleusine indica.