North American species of Solidago as ornamental plants and a source of promising raw plant materials

A review of the role of ornamental horticulture as a vector of phytoinvasions is presented on the example of North American species of Solidago: S. canadensis L., S. gigantea Ait and S. graminifolia (L.) Salisb. The first two species were originally cultivated as ornamental plants. With changes in environmental conditions, their range expanded to the north and east of the Eurasian continent, and the lag phase lasted 100-150 years. At the end of the XX century, their secondary range covered all the Eurasian regions, they were transformed into invasive plants and were listed in the Top 100 most threatened and aggressive species that are introduced into natural phytocoenosis and pose a threat to the environment. The secondary range of S. graminifolia is represented by several scattered localities, its lag phase ends, this species is recognized as invasive only in Poland. It has now become evident that alien species can be used as new resource plants. The study of secondary metabolites composition of species of Solidago makes possible the disbursement of a wide range of flavonoids, triterpene saponins, organic acids, and various terpene compounds in their composition. The authors believe that a detailed study of the phytochemical properties and many other widespread invasive species is required in order to identify new plant resources.

Plant-Soil Interactions of an Invasive Plant Species in its Native Range Help to Explain its Invasion Success Elsewhere

Purpose: To compare plant-soil feedback (PSF) of invasive Cirsium vulgare and non-invasive C. oleraceum in their native range to test a hypothesis that the invasive species is more limited by specialized pathogens in the native range and/or able to benefit more from generalist mutualists, and thus may benefit more from loss of specialized soil biota in a secondary range.Methods: We assessed changes in soil nutrients and biota following soil conditioning by each species and compared performance of plants grown in self-conditioned and control soil, from which all, some or no biota was excluded. Results: The invasive species depleted more nutrients than the non-invasive species and coped better with altered nutrient levels. The invasive species had higher seedling emergence which benefited from presence of non-specific microbes. The invasive species biomass responded less positively to specialized (self-conditioned) microbiota and more negatively to specialized larger-sized biota compared to the non-specialized control biota, suggesting the species may benefit more from enemy release and suffer less from loss of specialized mutualists when introduced to a secondary range. The invasive species showed greater ability to decrease its root-shoot ratio in presence of harmful biota and thus reduce their negative effects on its performance.Conclusions: Our study highlights the utility of detailed PSF research in the native range of species for understanding the factors that regulate performance of invasive and non-invasive species in their native range, and for pinpointing the types of biota involved in their regulation and how this changes across the plants life cycle.

Populations of Heracleum sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum (Apiaceae) in Kyiv (Ukraine)

In connection with the increasing negative impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity and the environment in general, their research, as well as throughout the world, is relevant. The distribution of the Heracleum sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum of the secondary range on the example of the Kyiv agglomeration is investigated in the work. In our study we aimed to evaluate the possibility of spontaneous spread of giant hogweeds in the secondary range, adaptation of the species to the new conditions of the environment that favor to control of these species’ expansion and reduce the threat to the urban ecosystems and citizens’ health. We hypothesise that in the secondary range H. sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum settle sites with relatively high temperature (Tr), lightening (Lc), and soil moisture conditions similar to that in their natural range. 17 populations and four localities (sites) of H. sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum were studied. They were found within forest, meadow, riverine and ruderal plant communities. It is indicated that the advent species fully adapted to the conditions of the environment. The difference by ecological indicators Lc2 and Tm1 is pointed out. According to the results of our research, for the area of Kyiv urban agglomeration the growth of H. sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum is indicated in the plants communities of six classes. They spread most in ruderal plant communities of the: Robinietea, Artemisietea, Epilobietea classes. The studied species belong to invasive plant species in Ukraine and are characterized by extremely high effect on the environment and high invasive potential.

DISTRIBUTION OF SOSNOVSKY HOGWEED (HERACLEUM SOSNOWSKYI) ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE SECONDARY RANGE IN THE EUROPEAN PART OF RUSSIA

The distribution of the Sosnovsky hogweed on the southern border of the secondary range in the European part of Russia on the example of the Kursk Region is investigated in the work. It is revealed that Sosnovsky hogweed grows mainly in the western part of the Region in the vicinity of places where it was cultivated in fields in the second half of the twentieth century. The analysis of invader occurrence in anthropogenic and natural ecosystems of the Region revealed patterns of distribution that are characteristic of invasive species at initial stages of their secondary range formation: most of the foci are present in anthropogenic and semi-natural habitats; medium-sized foci predominate (from 100 sq. m. to 1 ha); the greatest number of foci was found in the areas located along roads. The intensive distribution of hogweed in settlements of the Region, especially with pronounced depopulation processes, was revealed. Among natural and semi-natural habitats, most of the foci were found along the banks of reservoirs. In forests, hogweed is found mainly in small groups of vegetative rosettes on the outskirts, with the exception of areas with a strong anthropogenic impact, where multiple foci with generative shoots are formed. At present, hogweed is not found on arable land due to the intensive cultivation of agricultural land in the Region. Plant communities with Heracleum sosnowskyi in the Kursk Region are represented by 4 syntaxons: association Urtico dioicae-Heracleetum sosnowskyi , association Rudbeckio laciniatae - Solidaginetum canadensis variant Heracleum sosnowskyi , association Chelidonio-Aceretum negundi variant Heracleum sosnowskyi , derivative community Heracleum sosnowskyi [ Agropyretalia intermedio-repentis ].

Seed morphology and sculpture of invasive Impatiens capensis Meerb. from different habitats

Impatiens capensis is an annual plant native to eastern North America that is currently spreading across Europe. In Poland, due to this plant’s rapid spread in the secondary range and high competitiveness in relation to native species, it is considered a locally invasive species. The microstructure of seeds is an important tool for solving various taxonomic problems and also provides data useful for determining the impact of various environmental factors on the phenotypic variability of species. This issue is particularly important in regard to invasive species which occupy a wide range of habitats in the invaded range. There are few reports on seed size and thus far no descriptions of the seed ultrastructure of I. capensis in the analyzed literature. We present new data on the seed morphology of I. capensis growing in different habitats and conditions in the secondary range of the species. The studied populations differed significantly in each of the investigated traits (seed length, width, circumference, area, roundness, and mass). Our findings showed that anthropogenic disturbances in habitats and some soil parameters (presence of carbonates, potassium, loose sand, and moisture) were statistically significant with various seed sizes and morphology in the studied populations of I. capensis. Moreover, our studies showed maximum seed length (5.74 mm) and width (3.21 mm) exceeding those values given in the available literature. For the first time, we also provide a detailed SEM study of the ultrastructure of the seed coat of I. capensis. There are two types of epidermal cells on the seeds: (a) between the ribs (elongated with straight anticlinal walls, slightly concave outer periclinal walls, and micropapillate secondary sculpture on the edges with anticyclic walls), and (b) on the ribs (isodiametric cells with straight anticlinal walls and concave outer periclinal walls). Unlike the variability of size and weight of seeds, the coat ornamentation has turned out to be a steady feature within the studied secondary range of I. capensis.

Ethnic Associations and Entrepreneurship

The chapter interrogates the peculiarities of business and marketing activities among the Black Africans' organized social spaces such as religious associations, parties, and get-togethers. This demonstrates the ability of Black African groups to adjust to a secondary range of social conditions in the UK through the adoption of social networking practices that tracks the contours of their cultures and entrepreneurial agency.

Euphorbia glyptosperma (Euphorbiaceae), an alien species new for the flora of Russia

A common North American species Euphorbia glyptosperma Engelm. (subgen. Chamaesyce Raf., sect. Anisophyllum Roep.) is reported for Russia for the first time. It was collected in Saratov, Rostov, Volgograd, Astrakhan administrative regions, the Republic of Kalmykia, Stavropol Territory, and the Republic of Dagestan during 1997–2006. It differs from morphologically similar species E. chamaesyce L. and E. humifusa Willd. in having prominent transverse ridges on the facets of seeds and very short styles. Now this species is likely expanding its secondary range in Russia, as well as in Western Europe.