Railway network of Southern Bulgaria as a pathway for the introduction and spread of alien invasive plants
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Date
2026-05-08
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Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski"
Abstract
The railway networks and its adjacent areas represent important corridors for the introduction and secondary spread of alien plant species. Most of them possess high adaptive
potential and expand rapidly into non-native environments. As a result, they often become invasive and cause substantial ecological disruption on a global scale. Therefore, the aim of this study was to document the floristic composition of 37 railway stations in Southern Bulgaria and to identify alien invasive plants (AIP). As a result of observation, a total of 413 vascular plant taxa were recorded. The species richness was recorded in Asteraceae (67 species), followed by Poaceae (45 species) and Fabaceae (33 species), respectively. A moderate level of species was observed in Brassicaceae (20 species), Lamiaceae (18 species), Plantaginaceae (17 species), and Rosaceae (17 species). Based on phytogeographic characteristics, predominant Euro-Asian (17.05%) and Euro-Mediterranean (15.01%) elements, while AIP were 11.45% from total recorded flora. Overall, the highest numbers of AIP were recorded at stations by intensive railway traffic, the presence of abandoned wagons, and poorly maintained surrounding areas. Most of alien taxa originated from North America (40.91%), followed by Asia (13.64%) and South America (11.36%). Generally, the high proportion of AIP identified confirms that the railway network is a major route for plant invasions. The results of this study provide scientific information for future monitoring and the development of management measures targeting alien plant species.
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Keywords
alien plants, biological invasions, railway corridors, synanthropic flora