The expansion of thermophilic plants in the Iberian Peninsula as a sign of climatic change

摘要: Investigations conducted in the Iberian Peninsula over last three decades show how some thermophilic plant species have extended their range. The native species, Dittrichia viscosa (L.) W. Greuter, and Sonchus tenerrimus L., expanded, apparently without any direct intervention by man. In addition, alien crossed biogeographical barriers to expand range into new areas. These include taxa from neotropics Cape Province of South Africa which colonised areas close Mediterranean coast (Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) King. & H. Rob., Araujia sericifera Brot., Tropaeolum majus L. Arctotheca calendula Levyns). By analysing thermometric data series 10 meteorological stations, we were able correlate expansion ranges these with mean temperature increases, particularly those minimum temperatures. If other (native introduced) also increase range, this could serious consequences for biodiversity.