NeoBiota (2022) 78, 45-69

Thomas Wohlgemuth, Martin M. Gossner, Thomas Campagnaro, Hélia Marchante, Marcela van Loo, Giorgio Vacchiano, Pilar Castro-Díez, Dorota Dobrowolska, Anna Gazda, Srdjan Keren, Zsolt Keserü, Marcin Koprowski, Nicola La Porta, Vitas Marozas, Per Holm Nygaard, Vilém Podrázsky, Radoslaw Puchalka, Orna Reisman-Berman, Lina Straigyte, Tiina Ylioja, Elisabeth Pötzelsberger and Joaquim S. Silva (2022)
Impact of non-native tree species in Europe on soil properties and biodiversity: a review
NeoBiota 78, 45-69
Abstract: In the context of global change, the integration of non-native tree (NNT) species into European forestry is increasingly being discussed. The ecological consequences of increasing use or spread of NNTs in European forests are highly uncertain, as the scientific evidence is either constraint to results from case studies with limited spatial extent, or concerns global assessments that lack focus on European NNTs. For either case, generalisations on European NNTs are challenging to draw. Here we compile data on the impacts of seven important NNTs (Acacia dealbata, Ailanthus altissima, Eucalyptus globulus, Prunus serotina, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Quercus rubra, Robinia pseudoacacia) on physical and chemical soil properties and diversity attributes in Europe, and summarise commonalities and differences. From a total of 103 publications considered, studies on diversity attributes were overall more frequent than studies on soil properties. The effects on soil properties varied greatly among tree species and depended on the respective soil property. Overall, increasing (45%) and decreasing (45%) impacts on soil occurred with similar frequency. In contrast, decreasing impacts on biodiversity were much more frequent (66%) than increasing ones (24%). Species phylogenetically distant from European tree species, such as Acacia dealbata, Eucalyptus globulus and Ailanthus altissima, showed the strongest decreasing impacts on biodiversity. Our results suggest that forest managers should be cautious in using NNTs, as a majority of NNT stands host fewer species when compared with native tree species or ecosystems, likely reflected in changes in biotic interactions and ecosystem functions. The high variability of impacts suggests that individual NNTs should be assessed separately, but NNTs that lack European relatives should be used with particular caution.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Hélia Marchante

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
damage/losses/economics

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ailanthus altissima (weed)
	Prunus serotina (weed)
	Acacia dealbata (weed)
	Robinia pseudoacacia (weed)
	Pseudotsuga menziesii (weed)
	Quercus rubra (weed)
	Eucalyptus globulus (weed)