?Plant invasions in riparian areas of the Middle Danube Basin in Serbia

Riparian areas experience strong invasion pressures worldwide and represent important points of spread for invasive alien plants (IAPs) in the European mainland. The Danube Basin is a well-known point high plant levels. Given that middle part critically understudied general lack data Serbia, study aimed to provide an insight into spatial patterns invasions riparian Serbia (Middle area). A total 250 field sites, distributed along 39 rivers (nine catchment areas) six canal sections, were studied during four-year period (2013–2016) presence abundance IAPs. At landscape scale, we distribution IAPs, differences levels different between canals. local investigated how proximity roads/railway lines, housing areas, land-use types (primarily agriculture), dominant vegetation on site related patterns. Of 26 those with weedy behavior, long history cultivation affinity prevailed area. zones exhibited highest terms IAPs richness abundance, followed by Timok, Sava Zapadna Morava rivers. Surprisingly, Danube-Tisa-Danube network had lowest level. agriculture observed as significant predictors On other hand, lines was not Finally, our provides first systematic overview IAPs’ Middle which could basis long-term monitoring development future management plans.