DIFFERENCE IN THE INVASIVE POTENTIAL OF OPUNTIA GENUS INHABITING THE SOUTH OF IBERIAN PENINSULA

The Opuntia genus is extended through the South of the Iberian Peninsula with three species or subspecies: Opuntia ficus-indica (f. ficus-indica), Opuntia ficus-indica (f. amyclaea) and Opuntia dillenii. In the present study, O. amyclaea and O. ficus-indica are considered ecologically different forms and not to be the same species because their two different environmental adaptations.
During four years we have studied the expansion of these three species in the Iberian Peninsula keeping in mind the universally accepted definition of alien species from both qualitative and quantitative point of view.
According to these data, it can be concluded that O. dillenii is the only truly invasive species, even into areas with very restrictive characteristics.
On the other hand, O. amyclaea can be considered as a species with a weak invasive potential of very specific environmental characteristics.
Finally, O. ficus-indica has not invasive power, so that this species is not dangerous to the Iberian environment or its flora.
Thereby, in order to protect the local flora, some environmental activities should be taken with focus on eradicating the expansion of O. dillenii.

VIII International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal

M. Blasco , M.J. Angulo, A. Lloret-Salamanca , P.G. Lloret , E. Moreno

alien, invasive plant, cactus pear

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1067.8