Mechanisms involved in alien maples (Acer sp.) invasion process in the Central Europe. Testing hypotheses associated with species fitness

Abstract Maples ( Acer sp.) are trees/shrubs of extraordinary aesthetic value, what favours them for wide utilisation in urban greenery. However, some the non-native species became invasive new range and represent a threat to natural ecosystems. Therefore, after definition their frequency planting history Slovak cities reinvestigation ecological status, based on analysis growth, reproduction biology, fruit dispersal, phenotypic plasticity allelopathic potential, invasion hypotheses related fitness were tested non-invasive alien species, respect box elder A. negundo L.). Parks residential areas from socialistic era dominated by silver maple saccharinum L.) private gardens palm palmatum Thunb.) cultivars. A shift ´locally naturalised´ was confirmed former, taken into consideration flora list (as casual). The fastest growth found elder. latter showed also earliness, largest production, flight seed viability. Specific leaf area mostly decreased towards summer, indicating its large plasticity. effect observed maple. Hence, ´limiting similarity hypothesis´, ´ideal weed ´propagule pressure hypothesis´ ´phenotypic essential success. On other hand, ´novel weapon seem be crucial naturalisation. Palm failed all studied aspects, colonisation stage process.