Analisi dei processi di invasione di piante esotiche nei paesaggi costieri sabbiosi del Veneto

This study analyses the effects of disturbance (mainly human, but also natural) on the process of invasion by alien species in the coastal dune systems of Veneto region. The research has been articulated into two levels, one focusing on morphological and functional traits of coastal dune wild species (natives and aliens) and the other on the plant community level. The results highlight that height, large leaf area and SLA are useful traits for the successful colonisation of the most invasive species along the mobile coastal dunes. Human impact has deeply contributed to the decay of the quality and functionality of coastal ecosystems, reducing the resistance native plant communities are able to oppose the arrival of invasive alien species under less disturbed conditions.