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Diversity of invasive plants on Medvednica Mt (Croatia)

Medvednica Mt (1, 035 m) is situated in north-western Croatia, near the capital city, Zagreb. Due to the well preserved forest vegetation and overall great biological value, the massive is legally protected as a Nature Park since 1981. Here, beech forests (Fagion sylvaticae) in upper and sessile oak forests (Carpinion betuli and Quercion robori-petreae) in lower zones predominate. Even though being a subject of interest to Croatian botanists for several decades, the invasive flora of the mountain has never been properly studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to gain information about invasive plant species, their distribution and invaded habitats, in the zones of the most severe utilization of the Park. Those lower parts of the mountain have been under the strong anthropogenic influence for centuries, thus creating a range of secondary habitats suitable for colonization of alien plants. In total, 33 invasive plants were recorded, which is one half of all invasive species recognized in Croatia. Surprisingly, As much as one third of those recorded species were was noticed for the first time on the mountain (Abutilon theophrasti, Amaranthus hybridus, Bidens frondosa, Conyza bonariensis, Duchesnea indica, Euphorbia maculata, Euphorbia prostrata, Lepidium virginicum, Reynoutria × bohemica, Reynoutria sachalinensis, Rudbeckia laciniata). Several of them were most probably misidentified with similar species previouslyin previous studies. The species are significantly differing in their distribution and invasion potential. Regarding invaded habitats, in total 14 types were distinguished, with the largest number of species occurring in edges of paths and roads, followed by abandoned fields and grasslands. Invasive plants were mostly found in ruderal habitats, and were especially numerous on abandoned agricultural land. The latter, overgrowing by perennial herbaceous (Solidago gigantea, S. canadensis, Artemisia verlotiorum) and woody (Robinia pseudoacacia) species, were recognized as the main threat for biodiversity of the area. It is worth mentioning that Reynoutria sachalinensis is extremely rare in Croatia and does not show serious invasive behaviour.

invasive plants; Nature Park Medvednica; invasive flora mapping; habitat preference

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