Land Use Change and Plant Invasion: Plant Invasion Due to Changed Landscape Use, Changed Behavior and Ecological Problems of Native and Non-Native Species

Dear Colleagues,

Human landscape transforming activity is a factor that has been known and studied for a long time. It has many aspects, both economic and ecological. Among other factors, increasing human activities are also responsible for the phenomenon of biological invasion.

Cities, roads, and areas under agricultural cultivation significantly reduce the extent of vegetation or the possibility of the propagation of the propagule. Urbanisation is known to cause changes in plant biodiversity due to fragmentation, the loss of suitable habitats, and increased pollution; abandoning cultivation is the opposite process. This is where succession can begin, as new conditions and new habitats appear that plant species can quickly explore.

However, this means creating a significantly changed plant community, where different non-native and native plants show changed behaviour. Increasing human overuse and climate change are impacting some native and non-native invasive plant species that are showing an explosive increase in their population numbers. These invasive species can eliminate food sources for wildlife, particularly if they are inedible or toxic, and can destroy animal habitats, resulting in changes in migratory patterns.

While the invasion of non-native species is the focus of attention, the details and ecological background of the "explosions" of native invader species have been poorly researched, which is why this is an important and timely research task. The interaction of exotic and native species is also a noteworthy research topic.

The theme of this SI fits into the scope of the Land journal since it seeks to bring to light the connection between human activity, landscape changes, and different aspects of biological invasion.

In this Special Issue, we encourage researchers to submit their manuscripts on the following topics:

• How does human land use affect the functioning of plant communities?
• What are the most important effects of land use changes on specific invader plant species?
• What are the most important factors that can still influence the rate of spread of invasive species?
• What “skills” or specific plant traits do invasive species possess? What strategies contribute to their success in terms of patterns of spatial spread and increasing local dominance? How do they conquer an area?
• How can we eradicate or stop their spread? What nature conservation treatment methods are known, and how effective are they?
• What are the economic consequences of the expansion of invader plant species?

Dr. Judit Hází
Guest Editor

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