Invasive Alien Species in Belgium: Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Home

About BFIS

Species List

				Contact us \| Login \|

Ambrosia artemisiifolia - Ragweed

ISSG DAISIE CPS

Synonym:	Ambrosia elatior
French name:	Ambroisie annuelle
Dutch name:	Alsemambrosia
Family:	Asteraceae

Group:	Vascular plants
Origin:	North America
Habitat:	terrestrial
Introduction:	accidental

ISEIA Score : 8

Naturalization

This species is not yet naturalised in Belgium.

Establishment potential in Belgium : medium

It is already invasive in : Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland

Invasiveness

Reproduction in the wild:	no
Dispersion potential:	high
Natural habitats:	low

More on naturalization and invasiveness: Opportunistic and ruderal plant that colonises farmlands, fallow lands and road embankments. Ambrosia prefers warm areas and light, nutrient-rich soils deprived of vegetation. Though observed in several localities in Belgium, it doesn't seem to produce self-sustaining populations.

Impacts on Species

Predation / Herbivory:	low
Competition:	medium
Disease transmission:	low
Genetic effects:	low

Impacts on Ecosystems

Nutrient cycling:	unknown
Physical alteration:	low
Natural successions:	medium
Food web alteration:	low

More on impacts: The common ragweed is unlikely to outcompete other plant species as it mainly colonises soils without vegetation. It is a public health hazard as it commonly causes allergies (rhinitis, asthma...) and a weed in cereal fields.

Data Source & References

Authors:	Branquart Etienne, Vanderhoeven Sonia, Van Landuyt Wouter, Van Rossum Fabienne, Verloove Filip
Published on:	04 December 2007
Last update:	18 February 2010

References:

CPS-SKEW (2006)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia

From online fact sheets of the Swiss Commission for Wild Plants Conservation.

ISSG (Invasive Species Specialist Group) (2006)

Online fact sheets

Global Invasive Species Database, IUCN.

Lambinon, J., Delvosalle, L. & Duvigneaud, J. (2004)

Nouvelle fore de la Belgique, du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines.

Editions du Patrimoine du Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise.

Martin, P. & Lambinon, J. (2008)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia, l'ambroisie annuelle, en Belgique: émergence d'une xénophyte et incidence potentielle en santé publique.

Natura Mosana 61: 31-46.

Muller, S. (2004)

Plantes invasives en France : état des connaissances et propositions d'actions.

Publication scientifique du Museum d'Histoire naturelle, Patrimoines naturels n°62.

Verloove, F. (2006)

Catalogue of the Neophytes in Belgium (1800-2005).

Scripta Botanica Belgica 39, 89 pp.

Wittenberg, R. (2005)

An inventory of alien species and their threat to biodiversity and economy in Switzerland.

CABI Bioscience Switzerland Centre report to the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape. The environment in practice no. 0629: 155p.