PLANT COMMUNITIES DISTURBED BY INVASIVE SPECIES ON THE PĂPĂDIA ISLAND IN THE DANUBE BASIN

Abstract

The territory under study is is represented by Papadia Island in the Danube Basin. This island located near the town of  Dăbuleni is characterized by a very rich flora and fauna and an extremely valuable biodiversity from a conservation point of view. Invasive species have a negative impact on forest, grassland, and agricultural ecosystems around the world, sometimes associating and forming segetal or ruderal plant communities.  Exotic species compete with native species and threaten ecosystem stability. The studies on alien species are of particular interest today to protect natural habitats and reduce or eliminate ecological and economic damage. Invasive species are one of the most serious threats to biodiversity. The paper presents the results obtained from the studies carried out regarding the plant communities whose structure is disturbed by the increase in the number of invasive species, as well as their density on the Păpădia Island in the Danube basin. In this region, the intensive abiotic activity, but not only that, has brought about the invasion of allochtone (invasive alien) species plants in the natural and semi-natural degraded ecosystems, especially in alluvial forest habitats. The species has been found in the following în mai multe types de comunități vegetale.