Habitat fragmentation is one of the main human activities causing native biodiversity loss and spread of alien species.
Habitat fragmentation is one of the main human activities causing native biodiversity loss and spread of alien species.
Different research studies have highlighted the role of roadsides as a suitable habitat for invasive alien plants and how land use variables explain species density. The results allow a targeted approach to monitoring, containment and control of the most problematic species described at country level in Europe, such us the implementation of control programs related to road construction and maintenance.
Similar studies are recommended to cover larger areas, such as Southern and South-eastern European countries, in order to identify new potential invasive alien plants on roadsides and to prevent their further spread along the roadsides network in Europe.
Roadsides are, in many cases, accessible areas where citizens can have a relevant role in the monitoring of species easy to recognize (e.g. Ailanthus altissima). This was the case of a citizen science initiative in Trieste (Italy), where people were involved in the reporting of alien plant species, providing relevant information of the species patterns along the roads of their nearby urban and surrounding areas.
For more information:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/epp.12465
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320701000477