Summary
Agriculture is influenced by various factors, such as climate change, changes in land utilisation and increasing intensification of land use. These factors also have an impact on weed species. New weed species are arriving in Central Europe, causing considerable yield losses and control costs. The AgriWeedClim project analysed the changes in weed flora in Central Europe. A database (AgriWeedClim database) was set up and analysed with vegetation images of fields. The distribution of selected weeds in Central Europe was modelled under four climate scenarios and their potential spread was predicted up to the year 2100. Recommendations were developed to minimise the spread and negative consequences of these weeds.
Project description
As part of the AgriWeedClim project, historical changes in the composition of weed communities in Central Europe were analysed. These were caused by changes in land use, the introduction of alien species and climate change. Questions were answered as to which weed species have declined, increased or become newly established in the past. Key factors that led to the changes in the composition of the weed flora were identified. From these results, the most important new and emerging weed species were identified and the future spread of these species was predicted based on land use and climate change trends. In a next step, risk areas for new and emerging weed species were identified. In addition, a package of measures to limit future spread was provided and the impact of new and emerging weed species on agriculture was described.
Results
A database (AgriWeedClim database) was set up, which currently contains more than 32,000 vegetation images of fields from Central Europe. In addition, various data (e.g. ecological indicator values, biogeographical status) on the individual weed species were collected. The analyses of the changes in the weed flora show that the weed flora in Central Europe has undergone significant changes over the last 90 years. The increase and decrease (species turnover) of weed species is very pronounced. New and emerging weeds have been identified that can cause significant yield losses and control costs. In particular, weed species with a preference for nutrient-rich sites are becoming more common. This analysis also confirmed that neophytes are a group that is increasingly spreading. As part of the project, an Austria-wide online survey was also conducted among 181 farms. This survey showed that the farms were aware of a change in the weed flora on their farms. The majority of the farms surveyed stated that previously unknown weed species were appearing in their fields. 15 new and emerging weed species (12 species and 3 genera) were identified. Species that require attention include ragweed, aleppo millet, tiger nutsedge, datura and knotweed species.
The effects of climate change on these weeds were modelled under four climate scenarios and projected in four time steps (up to the year 2100) in order to illustrate potential distribution areas in Austria and Central Europe. The projections show that the modelled species have considerable distribution potential in Central Europe, whereby the expansion of suitable areas can occur at different points in time. In Austria, heavily affected cultivation regions are located in south-east Styria, the Weinviertel and Waldviertel regions and the Innviertel under current climate conditions.
Project details
Project title: New weed species under the influence of climate and land use change in Central Europe
Project acronym: AgriWeedClim
Project management: University of Vienna
Project management AGES: Dr Swen Follak, Institute for Sustainable Plant Production
Project partners: University of Vienna, Masaryk University (Brno)
Funding: KPC - ACRP
Project duration: 11.2021 to 11.2024
Publications
Glaser M., Berg C., Buldrini F., Buholzer S., Bürger J. & Chiarucci A. et al. (2022): AgriWeedClim database: A repository of vegetation plot data from Central European arable habitats over 100 years. Applied Vegetation Science 25(e12675), 1-13, doi: 10.1111/avsc.12675.
Glaser M., Dullinger S., Moser D., Wessely J., Chytrý M., Lososová Z., Axmanová I., Berg C., Bürger J., Buholzer S., Buldrini F., Chiarucci A., Follak S., Küzmič F., Meyer S., Pyšek P., Richner N., Šilc U., Steinkellner S., Wietzke A., Essl F. (2024): Pronounced turnover of vascular plant species in Central European arable fields over 90 years. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 361, 108798, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2023.108798.
Follak S., Glaser M., Griesbacher A., Essl F. (2024): Crops gone wild - weedy Helianthus annuus in Austria. BioInvasions Records 13, 565-576.
Follak S., Chapman D., Schwarz M., Essl, F. (2023): An emerging weed: rapid spread of Solanum carolinense in Austria. BioInvasions Records 12, 649-658.
Glaser M., Essl F., & Follak S. (2024). Austrian farmers perception of new weeds. Plant-Environment Interactions 5, e10129. https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.10129
Follak S., Essl F., Glaser M. (2023): Weed flora in transition. The Plant Doctor 76(11-12), pp. 7-9.
Glaser M., Follak S., Essl F. (2024): How do domestic farms deal with the "newcomers"? Agriculture May/2024, 34-35.
Dieses Projekt wird aus Mitteln des Klima- und Energiefonds gefördert und im Rahmen des Programms „ACRP“ durchgeführt.
Last updated: 29.01.2025
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