News & Events

Naturalization of European plants on other continents

06.12.2017

More and more plant species are introduced by humans in new areas. Which factors determine whether plants can settle permanently elsewhere?

An international research team with the participation of Franz Essl from the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research at the University of Vienna is now showing for the first time how binding to different habitats controls the man-made spread of European plant species to other continents. The research results are currently published in the renowned science journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" [read more]

Kalusova V, Chytry M, van Kleunen M, Mucina L, Dawson W, Essl F, Kreft H, Pergl J, Weigelt P, Winter M, Pyšek P (2017) "Naturalization of European plants on other continents: the role of donor habitats". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

The Echium plantagineum is native to southern Europe. In Australia and South Africa - as shown in the picture - it was introduced, growing here today in large stocks (Copyright: Ladislav Mucina).