First escaped populations report of two ornamental and cultivated plants in Iran

Based on the present field surveys, two ornamental and cultivated species with high invasion potential have escaped in certain areas of northern and southern Iran. The four o'clock flower (Mirabilis jalapa) and castor bean (Ricinus communis) have been observed to have escaped from their cultivation ranges and have consequently undergone a change in invasion status, becoming naturalized. They are extensively cultivated and naturalized in urban areas across numerous regions of Iran. The IUCN Environmental Impact Classification of Alien Taxa (EICAT-IUCN) and the Socio-Economic Impact Classification of Alien Taxa (SEICAT) were employed to evaluate the potential risks these species may pose to native flora and fauna, as well as to human well-being. It was determined that, the castor bean and four o'clock flower have the potential to cause significant and moderate impacts on native species through competitive mechanisms. In the SEICAT approach, human health and safety were identified as constituents of human well-being. As a result, the most frequent occurring mechanisms leading to environmental impacts were competition, transmission of disease and poisoning/toxicity. These results suggest that, these species may be more competitive than the native ones in the urban vegetation. It is imperative to gain a deeper understanding of their actual impact on native taxa to bridge the gap in data and ensure accurate management decisions. Therefore, it is recommended that, conservation strategies be devoted to control the spread of these species in urban ecosystems.

کلیدواژه ها:

Euphorbiaceae ، Hyrcanian Forest ، invasive status ، naturalized ، Nyctaginaceae