Scientists of Kamchatka State University (KamSU) named after In 2024, Vitus Bering identified about 50 alien plant species new to Kamchatka, such as those that actively reproduce, settle and integrate into the natural plant communities of the region outside their natural range. This was told to TASS by a researcher at the Youth Laboratory for the Study of Anthropogenic Dynamics of Ecosystems at KamSU. Vitus Bering Mikhail Kozhin.
“Among the most significant finds of about 50 species is ambrosia wormwood, found in the territory between Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Yelizovo. This is an extremely dangerous quarantine weed. Even a single detection of this plant often leads to the introduction of a special regime on entire agricultural lands. This species was recorded in Kamchatka by our research team for the first time. The situation does not cause serious concerns — ragweed is an annual plant and does not have time to form seeds in the conditions of the Kamchatka climate,” says Kozhin.
According to the scientist, other species new to Kamchatka include the Phrygian cornflower and the medium clover. At the same time, if ragweed entered the territory of Kamchatka as a weed killer for landscaping road areas, then cornflowers and clovers entered the fields as related species in grass mixtures to create fields of perennial grasses.
Also, some of the plants found are related to food waste, such as gooseberries found on roadsides. Scientists are concerned about the active spread of various types of clover, which are invading new territories of the peninsula. “Over the past decade, these clovers have been spreading massively across Kamchatka. We have discovered many locations of meadow clover, which is particularly aggressive in its distribution,” says Mikhail Kozhin.
It is specified that the researchers worked in two expeditionary teams. The first group studied the Yelizovo and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky districts, paying special attention to alien species, and the second examined the territories of agricultural enterprises in the Yelizovo, Sokoch, Ust—Bolsheretsk, Esso and Milkovo districts, as well as roadside areas. The study was conducted within the framework of the “Priority 2030” program of the national project “Science and Universities”. The results of the work are planned to be published in the summer of 2025 in the form of an extensive supplement to the flora of Kamchatka.
According to TASS at the university, the study of new plant species is of great practical importance. “To make effective management decisions, it is necessary to have a full understanding of the situation. Having an exhaustive list of growing species, we can classify them according to the degree of danger, identify short—lived species, and identify the most suitable plants for cultivation — ornamental, effective, and environmentally friendly,” the university said.