Monitoring the presence of invasive species in natural wetlands is crucial
for numerous reasons, including their negative impact on biodiversity,
conservation and the ecosystem services provided by these important fragile
areas. The aim of this paper was to investigate the presence and
distribution of the highly invasive liana Echinocystis lobata (wild
cucumber), and to determine its coenological relations with the native plant
species in the Ramsar sites of the southern part of the Pannonian Plain (the
southeastern part of Central Europe, northern Serbia). We conducted the
phytocenological research of the selected protected riparian areas in detail
over a six-year period (2011-2015 and 2020). This study revealed the
significant presence of the highly invasive species E. lobata in the studied
sites. Wild cucumbers were found in 146 plots in four out of the seven
investigated areas. Cluster analyses distinguished four groups of relev?s
dominated by E. lobata, which were described, and their dominant and
constant species were identified. Habitat type identification was done, and
the habitat preferences of E. lobata were determined. The spatial
distribution of the four groups is such that they occur in a number of
different habitat types or local communities. The species pool which makes
up each of these four groups is thus geographically larger than the local
community under study, so we can treat them as independently established and
well-defined new community assemblages. Plant communities dominated by the
invasive species E. lobata have not been described previously. Therefore,
this work provides new data, and contributes to the further research and
comparative analyses needed to describe invasive plant communities dominated
by wild cucumber. In addition, the identification of habitat types which are
most occupied by E. lobata is very important for managers of protected
areas, as it allows them to better control and remove this highly invasive
species, but also to prevent its further spread.
