Taxonomic Assessments of Invasive Flora

Taxonomic assessments of invasive flora underpin effective biosecurity, conservation and land-management strategies by providing accurate identification, classification and nomenclatural clarity for non-native plant species. Such assessments draw upon traditional morphology, herbarium collections and modern molecular approaches to resolve species boundaries and trace invasion pathways. Integrative taxonomy, combining DNA barcoding with detailed morphological keys, has emerged as a powerful tool to delimit cryptic taxa and to detect hybrid or polyploid lineages that may contribute disproportionately to invasion success. Globally, standardised taxonomic frameworks enable cross-regional comparisons, inform risk assessments and support early detection through online databases and citizen-science platforms. Recent advances include the development of high-throughput sequencing to reconstruct phylogeographic histories of invasive lineages and the establishment of diagnostic keys tailored for rapid field surveys. As climate change and global trade accelerate species movements, robust taxonomic foundations remain critical to prioritise management interventions and to prevent further biodiversity loss.

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Taxonomic Assessments of Invasive Flora publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in taxonomic assessments of invasive flora across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Invasive species: A non-native organism that spreads rapidly and causes ecological or economic harm.

Integrative taxonomy: An approach combining morphological, molecular and ecological data to delimit and describe species.

Molecular phylogenetics: The reconstruction of evolutionary relationships using DNA sequence data.

Herbarium specimen: A preserved plant sample used as a reference for identification and classification.

Diagnostic key: A structured tool that enables users to identify organisms through successive choices of character states.

References

1. A new record for the non-native flora of Tunisia, Eclipta prostrata (Asteraceae), and a note on the national status of Erigeron bonariensis, Symphyotrichum squamatum (Asteraceae), and Lepidium didymum (Brassicaceae). Flora Mediterranea (2018).
2. Additions to terrestrial flora of Tunisia: occurrence and taxonomic notes. Check List (2020).
3. Nuevas alóctonas en Malvaceae para la flora africana del norte, con notas nomenclaturales. Collectanea Botanica (2020).