Informationeninvasive Arten

invasive aquatic neophytes




What is it about?

Plants that are not native to an area, but settle and form stable populations, are called neophytes. Neophytes are not harmful in themselves. If the species have the potential to multiply rapidly and displace native species, they are referred to as invasive plants. Such invasive species can contribute to the extinction of rare, only locally occurring species or varieties. They can also change existing ecosystems by replacing key species that are indispensable to native animals as food crops.

To avoid this, the EU decided to take countermeasures against the uncontrolled spread of animals and plants. In October 2014, the EU adopted the "Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament an of the Council on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species" .
It says:
"Chapter II
PREVENTION
Article 7
Restrictions
1. Invasive alien species of Union concern shall not be intentionally:
(a) brought into the territory of the Union, including transit under customs supervision;
(b) kept, including in contained holding;
(c) bred, including in contained holding;
(d) transported to, from or within the Union, except for the transportation of species to facilities in the context of eradication;
(e) placed on the market;
(f) used or exchanged;
(g) permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated, including in contained holding; or
(h) released into the environment.

2. Member States shall take all necessary steps to prevent the unintentional introduction or spread, including, where applicable, by gross negligence, of invasive alien species of Union concern."

A commission, with the help of botanists and zoologists, compiles a list of plants, animals and fungi that are alien to the EU whether these species are classified as invasive species. The goal is to prevent the further spread of such species, to minimize their populations and to restore damaged ecosystems.

The Union list

Myriophyllum aquaticum
Myriophyllum aquaticum

Eichhornia crassipes
Eichhornia crassipes
pictures: Maike Wilstermann-Hildebrand

The Union list lists all plants and animals that are considered as invasive species and therefore may no longer be brought into the territory of the EU in the future. The keeping, propagation and transmission of these species is prohibited. The plants on the Union list also include aquatic and swamp plants, which we have used as aquarium plants.

The invasive alien plant species of the first union list of 2016:
Baccharis halimifolia
Cabomba caroliniana
Eichhornia crassipes
Heracleum persicum
Heracleum sosnowskyi
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Lagarosiphon major
Ludwigia grandiflora
Ludwigia peploides
Lysichiton americanus
Myriophyllum aquaticum
Parthenium hysterophorus
Persicaria perfoliata
Pueraria montana var. lobata


2017 9 more species were added:
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Asclepias syriaca
Elodea nuttallii
Gunnera tinctoria
Heracleum mantegazzianum
Impatiens glandulifera
Microstegium vimineum
Myriophyllum heterophyllum
Pennisetum setaceum


Information on the list of animal and plant species and their status of occurrence in Germany can be found on the page of the Bundesamt für Naturschutz.

Sources and related information:

Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament an of the Council on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species

Stefan Nehring, Sandra Skowronek (2017): Die invasiven gebietsfremden Arten der Unionsliste der Verordnung (EU) Nr.1143/2014 Erste Fortschreibung 2017.- BfN-Skripten 471 2017

Bundesamt für Naturschutz

Flyer des Julius-Kühne-Instituts zu Invasiven Wasserpflanzen

Christel Kasselmann (2017): Neophyten und invasive Wasserpflanzen.- Datz 10/2017, 16 - 31

Christel Kasselmann (2017: Verboten: Steckbriefe der betroffenen aquatischen Arten.- Datz 10/2017, 32 - 48