Current status and study of the problem of alien plant species spread in agroecosystems of Ukraine: global challenges and national prospects

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the scientific achievements of Ukrainian researchers in studying the problem of the spread of alien (adventive) plant species on the territory of Ukraine. Based on the systematization of a significant body of literature (including monographs, articles in leading professional journals, and proceedings of international and national conferences), the results of studies dedicated to the adventive fraction of the phytobiota actively invading ecosystems across various regions of Ukraine are described in detail. These studies cover a wide range of issues, from the taxonomic identification of alien species to the assessment of the ecological consequences of invasive processes. Ukrainian scientists apply diverse methodological approaches, including classic floristic and geobotanical descriptions, long-term monitoring of the spread dynamics of key invasive species, experimental research into their competitive interactions with native flora, and mathematical modeling of potential distribution ranges. The main contribution lies in the systematic collection, in-depth systematization, generalization, and comprehensive ecological and botanical analysis of data on adventive species. This includes critical information regarding introduction pathways, the rate of their propagation, the adaptive mechanisms ensuring their success, and the degree of impact on indigenous coenoses. Particular emphasis is placed on investigating the ecological niches effectively occupied by adventive species and their aggressive ability to displace native species, often leading to the formation of monodominant communities and a reduction in local biodiversity. It has been determined that the key factors contributing to successful adventisation are significant disturbances to natural ecosystems resulting from intense anthropogenic activity. These include intensive agricultural production, rapid urbanization, the construction of transportation routes (which serve as dispersal corridors), and global climate change. The study highlights that investigating the processes of invasion and adventisation of the Ukrainian flora is of paramount importance in the context of biological pollution (bio-threats) and ensuring biodiversity conservation. Biological pollution caused by invasive species constitutes a significant threat to ecological stability, sustainable economic development, and even public health. The research conducted by Ukrainian scientists enables a precise assessment of the problem’s scale and the identification of the most aggressive invasive transformer species, which is a necessary foundation for developing effective strategies for their control and management. The research materials convincingly confirm that the dynamics of adventive species spread directly correlate with the level of anthropogenic load. The increasing intensity of human economic activity (including unregulated deforestation, massive ploughing of lands, recreational overload, as well as changes in the hydrological regime of territories) causes the degradation of natural ecosystems. This, in turn, creates ideal conditions for the penetration, establishment, and expansion of alien species by reducing the competitiveness of the native flora