Distribution and impact of alien shrub species in forest of Lithuania under changing climate

Abstract

Some alien species used in forestry may cause major problems as invaders of natural and semi-natural ecosystems. The magnitude of the problem has increased significantly over the past few decades, with are rapid increase in afforestation, climate and land use change. Invasive tree or shrub species can affect all components of an environment, from ecosystem processes to community structure and biodiversity patterns. They can limit native plant growth or change species composition. The degree to which the alien species influences the ground vegetation depends on the individual species. Several introduced species appear to have the capacity to develop new self-perpetuating vegetation types out of semi-natural vegetation. The aim the study was assess distribution, vegetation and site parameters of the most common alien shrub species in Lithuanian forest ecosystems. Data on alien shrub species abundance and distribution were obtained from the forest inventory database. It was found that the most spread alien species were: Sambucus sp. Amelanchier spicata and Sarothamnus scoparius. Amelanchier spicata dominated in northern part of eastern Lithuania, while Sambucus species were most spread in the southern part of the country. Alien shrub species were most widespread in fresh soil and pine forests.