Riparian areas as invasion corridors of Xanthium strumarium in Serbia
2016
Anđelković, Ana | Živković, Milica | Cvijanović, Dušanka | Novković, Maja | Marisavljević, Dragana | Pavlović, Danijela | Radulović, Snežana
Xanthium strumarium L., also known as common cocklebur, is a potentially invasive weed species in Serbia. It is one of the most competitive weeds, strongly affecting the yield of some crops, such as maize, soybean, sunflower, sugar beet, etc. Since watercourses act as important transportation routes for the long-distance dispersal of weeds and the fruit of X. strumarium is easily dispersed by water, our aim was to analyse the degree of X. strumarium invasion in riparian areas of Serbia and examine the role of rivers and canals as its potential invasion corridors. The field research was carried out during the summer months of 2013,2014, and 2015, along the course of 35 rivers and five major canals of the Danube- Tisa-Danube Hydrosystem (HSDTD) in Serbia. Fieldwork was conducted along 100 m long transects of 500 m long river stretches (chosen following the RHS methodology), where the invasive alien weed species presence and abundance were recorded. Over the period of three years, the presence of X. strumarium was recorded along the course of 33 rivers (94.25%), while it was documented along 66.85% of the total number of river stretches. However, along the canals, it was recorded in only 12% of the localities. The data on the distribution ofX. strumarium expand the existing knowledge on the distribution of this economically harmful weed species in our country, while at the same time highlighting riparian areas of rivers as potentially important corridors of its spread.
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