Studia botanica hungarica

Author(s): Király, G.
Title: An invader at the edge of the world: Sporobolus neglectus (Poaceae) discovered at a remote locality in Hungary
Year: 2016
Volume: 47
Pages: 335-344.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17110/StudBot.2016.47.2.335

Abstract: In 2016, Sporobolus neglectus, a new alien grass species of North American origin has been recognized in Hungary in a particular situation: within a widely isolated part of the Duna–Dráva National Park. The locality is situated S of Vízvár village on the right bank of the Drava River in the territory “Jama”, encompassed (excluding the eastern side bordered by Drava) from all directions by Croatian territories. S. neglectus composed a dense stand on 0.2 hectares in a secondary sandy grassland, its dominance is likely supported by the damages caused by wild boar. The establishment of the species in Jama territory is not in accordance with the inundations of the Drava River; also an accidental introduction from the Hungarian mainland seems to be very unlikely. The stand of S. neglectus was introduced here probably in connection with wild game feeding made by illegal hunters coming from Croatia. In view of the locality near Vízvár, the species is able to colonize barren sandy surfaces in mass; accordingly, it is a potential invader in the dry sandy grasslands of Hungary, especially in the neighbouring Belső-Somogy region.
Keywords: alien species, invasion, national park, pathways, secondary habitats

Journal: Studia botanica hungarica
Journal abbreviation: Studia bot. hung.
ISSN: 0301-7001
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Barina, Z.