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Alien plants as mediators of ecosystem services and disservices in urban systems: a global review

  • URBAN INVASIONS
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Abstract

Urban areas have unique assemblages of species which are governed by novel ecological processes. People living in these environments have specific needs and demands in terms of ecosystem services (ES). Urban ecosystems are transformed in many ways by human activities and their floras comprise a high proportion of alien plant species, many of which were intentionally introduced to provide, augment or restore ES. Urban environments also have novel disturbance regimes and provide colonization sites for the establishment, dispersal and proliferation of alien plant species; such conditions often generate biological invasions which may cause marked changes to ES. We review the roles that alien plants play in providing urban ES and ecosystem disservices (EDS) globally. We identify the main ES and EDS associated with alien plants, and highlight the key species involved. A literature search revealed 335 papers, representing studies in 58 cities or urban areas in 27 countries. These studies recorded 337 alien plant species, contributing to 39 different ES and 27 EDS–310 species were recorded as contributing to ES and 53 species to EDS. A small number of alien plant taxa were frequently recorded as providing multiple ES in many urban ecosystems; the 10 most recorded species accounted for 21% of the ES recorded. Some of these species also result in significant EDS; three species accounted for 30% of the EDS recorded. Cultural services (notably aesthetics) are the most reported ES provided by alien plants in urban areas of developed countries, while provisioning services (notably food production) are most reported in developing countries. The most commonly studied EDS provided by alien plants is the impact on human health (notably allergic reactions). Eighty percent of studies on alien plants and ES and EDS have been done in developed countries. To elucidate the full range of effects of alien plants, more work is needed in developing countries. Urban planners and managers need to be mindful of both the positive and negative impacts of alien plant species to maximise the provision of ES.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge financial support from the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (C·I·B) and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant 85417 to DMR). An early version of this paper was presented at a workshop on “Non-native species in urban environments: Patterns, processes, impacts and challenges” that was hosted by the C·I·B in Stellenbosch in November 2016. Many participants at the workshop provided useful comments and suggestions that improved the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Luke J. Potgieter, Mirijam Gaertner, Christoph Kueffer & David M. Richardson

  2. Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences (HFWU), Schelmenwasen 4-8, 72622, Nürtingen, Germany

    Mirijam Gaertner

  3. Institute of Integrative Biology, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Christoph Kueffer

  4. School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, N2L3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Brendon M. H. Larson

  5. Department of Physical Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto-Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, SW542, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Stuart W. Livingstone

  6. Natural Resources and Environment CSIR, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa

    Patrick J. O’Farrell

  7. Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa

    Patrick J. O’Farrell

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  1. Luke J. Potgieter
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  7. David M. Richardson
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Correspondence to Luke J. Potgieter.

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Guest Editors: Mirijam Gaertner, John R. U. Wilson, Marc W. Cadotte, J. Scott MacIvor, Rafael D. Zenni and David M. Richardson/Urban Invasions.

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Potgieter, L.J., Gaertner, M., Kueffer, C. et al. Alien plants as mediators of ecosystem services and disservices in urban systems: a global review. Biol Invasions 19, 3571–3588 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1589-8

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