Moving out of town? The status of alien plants in high-Arctic Svalbard, and a method for monitoring of alien flora in high-risk, polar environments

Rising human activity in the Arctic, combined with a warming climate, increases the probability of the introduction and establishment of alien plant species. While settlements are known hotspots for persistent populations, little is known about colonization of particularly susceptible natural habitats. Systematic monitoring is lacking and available survey methods vary greatly.

Here we present the most comprehensive survey of alien vascular plant species in the high-Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to date, aimed at: i) providing a status within settlements; ii) surveying high-risk habitats such as those with high visitor numbers and nutrient enrichment from sea bird colonies; iii) presenting a systematic monitoring method that can be implemented in future work on alien plant species in Arctic environments; and iv) discuss possibilities for mapping alien plant habitats using Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs).

The systematic grid survey, covering 1.7km2 over three settlements and six b...