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Role of infrastructure and other environmental factors affecting the distribution of alien plants in the Tatra Mts

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Abstract

Alien plants, although usually rare in mountain habitats, can significantly impact native species diversity. The aim of this study was to analyse patterns of alien plant distribution in the Tatra Mts (Slovakia), focusing primarily on comparison of various transportation routes as a conduit for the spread of alien plants. We collected data on transects along: (i) railways, (ii) paved roads with unlimited access, (iii) tourist routes in mountain valleys (paved and unpaved roads, footpaths) with limited access and (iv) plots in areas surrounding mountain chalets. The majority of alien plants were found in locations at lower elevations and with intensive human activity. Patterns of distribution along the main corridors in the Tatras reflect the intensity and manner of use of each transportation route. Paved roads with unlimited access and railways are used most frequently and host the greatest number of alien species. Our observations show that the mode of access of these routes is more important than the road surface. Roads with limited vehicular access, be it unpaved and paved, are very similar in their alien species richness, while paved roads with limited and unlimited access significantly differ. Footpaths that cannot be accessed by vehicles are almost free of alien plants, even though they are found in the widest elevation range and often parallel to roads in the same valley. Other factors significantly negatively affiliated with alien species richness were elevation, cover of the tree and moss layer and moisture, and positively affiliated with the amount of nutrients.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Petr Pyšek, Milan Chytrý, Aníbal Pauchard, Jozef Šibík and Radim Hédl for the fruitful discussions on the concept of our research, Marek Svitok, Mária Šibíková, Ladislav Pekárik and Iveta Škodová for the discussions on the data analyses, anonymous proof-reader for language corrections and anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions. We would like to thank the administration at TANAP for permission to conduct research in the national park and the State Forests of TANAP and other local owners for enabling us to work on their property. This research was funded by VEGA 2/0098/11, VEGA 2/0121/09 and VEGA 2/0090/12. This study is also the result of the implementation of the project ITMS 6240120014 (The Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity and Land-Use Conservation), supported by the Research & Development Operational Program funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

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  1. Institute of Botany, Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 23, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    Jana Medvecká, Mária Zaliberová, Jana Májeková, Dušan Senko & Ivan Jarolímek

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Medvecká, J., Zaliberová, M., Májeková, J. et al. Role of infrastructure and other environmental factors affecting the distribution of alien plants in the Tatra Mts. Folia Geobot 53, 349–364 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-018-9319-2

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