Spread of invasive plant species in the territory of the Ukrainian Carpathians

The uncontrolled spread of invasive plants poses a threat to biodiversity by displacing native flora and disrupting established ecotopes. The primary factors contributing to their spread include human activity, the absence of natural enemies and competitors, and the ability to overcome limiting factors. We have analyzed and summarized information related to the spread of invasive plant species in the territory of the Ukrainian Carpathians, the border of which is formed in the northeast along a line connecting the cities of Sudova Vyshnya, Komarne, Mykolaiv, Zhydachiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kolomyia, and Chernivtsi, and extends to the west along the state border. As a unique ecoregion, the Carpathians perform ecological functions such as regulating water balance, preventing erosion, and preserving soil resources. Additionally, the Carpathian region is an important tourist and cultural center, and the spread of invasive plants negatively affects the attractiveness of these areas for tourists, as well as traditional forms of economic activity such as forestry and agriculture. The analysis highlighted key research directions related to the issue of invasive flora spread in the Carpathian region, namely: creating lists of invasive plants for specific regions, researching the origin and modes of spread of invasive species, developing methods for control or preventive actions to prevent further spread, and forecasting the future expansion of adventive species. The most dominant families in terms of the number of invasive species in the Ukrainian Carpathians are Asteraceae, the number of species of which is from 18 % to 30 %, Brassicaceae – 8–12 %, and Poaceae – 8–10 %. According to the time of introduction, the ratio of archaeophytes and chenophytes is about 1:2.5 in all regions, except for the analyzed regions of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, where the ratio was either reversed or 1:1. The predominant localities of origin are Mediterranean, North American and Irano-Turanian.