Science Facing Aliens - Invasive Alien Species in Belgium - Belgian ...
Science Facing Aliens - Invasive Alien Species in Belgium - Belgian ... Science Facing Aliens - Invasive Alien Species in Belgium - Belgian ...
40 escaped from such containers and that thrived on the ground in the direct vicinity of the containers. In Belgium, the highly increased popularity of Mediterranean container plants is a very recent, early 21 st century phenomenon. This popularity can be seen as the end result of a cascade of events and trends, linking the increased level of prosperity of the 1960s with tourism around the Mediterranean, a heightened esteem for gardening, and finally the desire to evoke in the home garden a tinge of the Mediterranean flavour and memories from summer holidays in the South. In Western Europe, most Mediterranean container plants are imported from Spain or Italy. Together with the ornamentals, large numbers of weeds (seeds as well as young plants), and frequently also other organisms such as snails, are unintentionally introduced in garden centres, situated all over the country. Once sold, the containers and their stowaway weeds find their way into hundreds and thousands of private gardens, parks, etc. While a lot of these weed species have also been recorded as grain aliens in port areas, this recently discovered pathway offers excellent opportunities for widespread dispersal. Furthermore, seeds can germinate in a microhabitat that is literally the same as the one in which the mother plant once grew. An overview of the results of our prospections is given in table 1. Of 122 identified species, 27 are indigenous to Belgium, and these are also indigenous to Spain and/or Italy. The remaining 95 species are naturalized in Belgium (28 species), casuals (44), or are recorded for the first time (23). A remarkably high number among these 95 species (33 = 35 %) entered Belgium from a secondary distribution range in Spain and/or Italy, not from their natural range. (It should be kept in mind, though, that in the past some of these, e.g. Coronopus didymus, might have entered Belgium directly from their natural range too.) See for more details on the species list Hoste et al. (2009). Table 1. An overview of records of Mediterranean container aliens from garden centres in Belgium in 2008. Status in Belgium (*) Number of container aliens (records 2008) Indigenous to Spain and/or Italy Naturalized, casual or not yet recorded from Spain and/or Italy Indigenous s.l. 27 0 27 Not indigenous, but rather widespread and/or more or less naturalized 16 12 28 Casual 30 14 44 Not previously recorded 16 7 23 Total Total 89 33 122 (**) (*) Based on Lambinon et al. (2004) and Verloove (2006). (**) Not including a number of crypto-aliens (that is, species that are common in both Belgium and at least part of the western Mediterranean), probable ornamental escapes, and taxa that could only be identified to genus level.
All species from our survey have in common that they followed more or less the same trajectory and used the same vector to travel from the Mediterranean to Western Europe. As such, they illustrate a new episode in the worldwide exchange of biota that has been going on for centuries. Apart from that, many species often previously had a rather different species history, as suggested by a few individual examples. In the mid-19 th century Bowlesia incana, indigenous to America, persisted for some years at a single location in southern France. It was first recorded from Spain in 1986, where it is now well established but rare. From Spain it reached Belgium in 2008 (figure 1). In contrast with other Bowlesia, this weedy species has little apparent morphological adaptation for seed dissemination. It is therefore remarkable that this plant, which has fruits devoid of glochids, has become a much more widespread alien in several parts of the world than all seven glochidiate-fruited Bowlesia combined (Mathias & Constance 1965). Today three American Chamaesyce frequently enter Belgium from Spain, but their pre- 2008 history is different. Chamaesyce maculata (first recorded
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All species from our survey have <strong>in</strong> common that they followed more or less the same<br />
trajectory and used the same vector to travel from the Mediterranean to Western Europe. As<br />
such, they illustrate a new episode <strong>in</strong> the worldwide exchange of biota that has been go<strong>in</strong>g on<br />
for centuries. Apart from that, many species often previously had a rather different species<br />
history, as suggested by a few <strong>in</strong>dividual examples.<br />
In the mid-19 th century Bowlesia <strong>in</strong>cana, <strong>in</strong>digenous to America, persisted for some<br />
years at a s<strong>in</strong>gle location <strong>in</strong> southern France. It was first recorded from Spa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1986, where<br />
it is now well established but rare. From Spa<strong>in</strong> it reached <strong>Belgium</strong> <strong>in</strong> 2008 (figure 1). In<br />
contrast with other Bowlesia, this weedy species has little apparent morphological adaptation<br />
for seed dissem<strong>in</strong>ation. It is therefore remarkable that this plant, which has fruits devoid of<br />
glochids, has become a much more widespread alien <strong>in</strong> several parts of the world than all<br />
seven glochidiate-fruited Bowlesia comb<strong>in</strong>ed (Mathias & Constance 1965).<br />
Today three American Chamaesyce frequently enter <strong>Belgium</strong> from Spa<strong>in</strong>, but their pre-<br />
2008 history is different. Chamaesyce maculata (first recorded
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