The dynamics of plant invasions: a case study of three exotic goldenrod species (Solidago L.) in Europe

Abstract

The patterns of spread of the three exotic species and 1880. The spread of the species in area and time Solidago altissima L., S. gigantea Ait. and S. graminifolia (L.) over Europe showed no clear front; new localities at large Salisb. after their introduction to Europe were investigated, distances were simultaneously colonized. A large part of based on herbarium specimens and literature records. The the actual range of S. altissima and S. gigantea was already spread was analysed by mapping the localities for each achieved about 1950. It is assumed that the spread of the decade since 1850. Cumulative numbers of localities as well species followed the hierarchical diffusion model with several as numbers of occupied grid squares showed a continuous independent foci from which the species began to spread. increase since 1850 for all three species. The slopes, however, The data suggest that S. altissima and S. gigantea will were significantly different among the species. Solidago successfully spread further, leading to an increase in gigantea had the highest colonization rate, followed by S. abundance and area, while S. graminifolia seems to spread altissima, and finally S. graminifolia. The latter showed only slowly. a slight increase in abundance over time. The increase in