Contribution to the knowledge on the distribution of Aristolochia clematitis in riparian and roadside habitats of Serbia

Aristolochia clematitis L., belonging to the Aristolochiaceae family and commonly known as common birthwort or Dutchman's pipe, is a rhizomatous perennial herb best known for its unpleasant odor. It is widespread in Serbia, favoring warm, nutrient-rich soils in sunlit areas. It thrives in habitats such as floodplain forests, riverbanks, embankments and roadsides. This species is also significant from a plant, animal and human health perspective, as a phytopathogenic virus host, poisonous plant and producer of aristolochic acid I (AAI), a nephrotoxic and carcinogenic compound linked to Balkan endemic nephropathy. Field studies in Serbia were conducted along 236 riparian and 180 roadside field sites, where its presence and abundance were recorded along 100 m long vegetation transects. RDA analyses were performed using Canoco 5.0, with A. clematitis cover as a response variable and selected habitat features as explanatory variables. Generalized additive model (GAM) was done to fit a response curve of A. clematitis on the elevation gradient. A. clematitis was documented in 42 field sites, with the highest number of field sites being in the Danube catchment area (riparian) and along the E-75 highway (roadside). The cover of A. clematitis varied, equaling the cover of cca. 5% in 66.67% of riparian field sites, with some roadside sites reaching 30% cover. Analyses show that the presence and cover of A. clematitis was positively associated with lower altitudes and the presence of some anthropogenic features (e.g. debris) within the studied reach of the river. The study highlights the need for targeted control measures, considering the cover and abundance of A. clematitis in specific locations.