Alien plant invasions in Mediterranean habitats: an assessment for Sicily

摘要: Levels of plant invasions in different habitat types were assessed several regional studies, but few them from the Mediterranean. Here we compare levels vascular invasion across habitats and communities Sicily. We used a large dataset species presences/absences vegetation plots to analyze patterns considering biogeography, life form phenology alien plants. Vegetation classified based on EUNIS classification European habitats. The invasiveness each was expressed terms its absolute percentage frequency. Representation forms phenological compared between native species. fidelity individual calculated using phi coefficient. Our analysis shows that annual woody are most represented flora Sicily tend have longer flowering period than investigated differed strongly their level by species, ranging 0 15.6% aliens all recorded. Most colonized very or completely lacked them, except for sandy coasts, naturally-disturbed riverbeds, synanthropic It must be noted, however, number occurring given does not relate severity impact habitat. Some invaded (or single) which attain high cover, transforming whole ecosystem. habitat-based approach proved suitable evaluating specificity frequency at scale, improving capacity risk assessment ecological contexts.