Smart(phone)-Monitoring (SPM): An Efficient and Accessible Method for Tracking Alien Plant Species

The invasion of alien plant species outside their home range constitutes an emerging problem threatening native diversity. expansion is often favored in anthropogenic habitats, such as roads and urbanized areas, which allow the rapid colonization new sites by these species. development suitable monitoring methods fundamental both to keep pace with fast dynamics enable appropriate prompt control strategies. In this work, efficient, accessible, cost-effective method for plants using a smartphone proposed (smartphone-monitoring—SPM). Using smartphones geolocation system, geographic coordinates images matched single records can be easily acquired structured into exportable databases few steps. We tested SPM on three black-listed plants, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Arundo donax L., Robinia pseudoacacia along road network major urban centers Tuscany region (central Italy).