Abstract
Biological invasions threaten biodiversity and agroecosystems, and early warning systems can minimise the spread of invasive alien species with limited resources. This study documents the presence of the alien plant Asclepias speciosa Torr., native to North America, that was first discovered in 2022 on Mount Vrontou, Central Macedonia, Northern Greece. This is the second European record of this alien species, after Lithuania, confirming its adaptability to contrasting European biogeographical regions. To enable future monitoring, this study provided new data on morphological traits of the species (above-ground parts), climatic tolerance (precipitation and temperature regimes), habitats with co-occurring species, pollinators, current reproductive potential, and seed germination at controlled temperatures (10 °C, 15 °C, and 20 °C). The high probability of misidentification with the highly invasive A. syriaca in European inventories supports the theory that A. speciosa may have been present in Europe long before it was officially reported. The lack of an EU-mandated reassessment of A. syriaca monitoring raises concerns regarding the potential invasion risk of A. speciosa in European natural and semi-natural areas or agricultural lands. Inspection mechanisms, early warning systems, and preventive measures are therefore essential to protect local biodiversity and agriculture from potential A. speciosa invasion, a risk that may be exacerbated by climate change.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
The alien plant Asclepias speciosa, native to North America, was first discovered in 2022 on Mount Vrontou, Central Macedonia, Northern Greece.
- Taxon
- Asclepias speciosa
Asclepias speciosae1 - Outcome
- presencee1
- Setting
- Mount Vrontou, Central Macedonia, Northern Greecee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“documents the presence of the alien plant Asclepias speciosa Torr., native to North America, that was first discovered in 2022 on Mount Vrontou, Central Macedonia, Northern Greece”
Claim · model-written summary
This is the second European record of Asclepias speciosa, after Lithuania, confirming its adaptability to contrasting European biogeographical regions.
- Taxon
- Asclepias speciosaAsclepias speciosat0
- Outcome
- second European recorde1
- Setting
- Lithuaniae1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Asclepias speciosa”
e1“This is the second European record of this alien species, after Lithuania, confirming its adaptability to contrasting European biogeographical regions”
Claim · model-written summary
The study provided new data on morphological traits, climatic tolerance, habitats with co-occurring species, pollinators, reproductive potential and seed germination at 10, 15 and 20 degrees C of A. speciosa.
- Taxon
- Asclepias speciosaAsclepias speciosat0
- Treatment
- controlled temperatures (10 °C, 15 °C, and 20 °C)e1
- Outcome
- morphological traits of the species (above-ground parts)e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Asclepias speciosa”
e1“this study provided new data on morphological traits of the species (above-ground parts), climatic tolerance (precipitation and temperature regimes), habitats with co-occurring species, pollinators, current reproductive potential, and seed germination at controlled temperatures (10 °C, 15 °C, and 20 °C)”
Claim · model-written summary
A. speciosa may have been present in Europe long before it was officially reported.
- Taxon
- A. speciosaAsclepias speciosae1
- Outcome
- present in Europe long before it was officially reportede1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“A. speciosa may have been present in Europe long before it was officially reported”
Claim · model-written summary
Inspection mechanisms, early warning systems and preventive measures are essential to protect local biodiversity and agriculture from potential A. speciosa invasion.
- Taxon
- A. speciosaAsclepias speciosae1
- Outcome
- Inspection mechanisms, early warning systems, and preventive measurese1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Inspection mechanisms, early warning systems, and preventive measures are therefore essential to protect local biodiversity and agriculture from potential A. speciosa invasion”