Importance of researching invasive species against the threat of future pandemics: the study of invasive plants in Azerbaijan

Research article: Importance of researching invasive species against the threat of future pandemics: the study of invasive plants in Azerbaijan

Author: R.T. Abdiyeva

Institute of Botany, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, 40 Badamdar Highway, Baku AZ1004, Azerbaijan

For correspondence: abdiyeva.rena@mail.ru

Received 11 October 2020; Received in revised form 26 October 2020; Accepted 30 October 2020

Abstract:

The world is concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic. An active search is underway for ways to combat this threat. Invasions of plants and animals can be carriers of pathogens, themselves cause diseases and allergic reactions in humans. In recent decades, there has been an increase in their ac- tivity. The main reasons are intensive trade, population displacement and climate impacts. Once in a new environment, invasive species can multiply in large numbers. The researchers note that data on the early phases of invasions are extremely useful for understanding and predicting their distri- bution around the world. The identification of new alien species and the subsequent study of their influence on humans is one of the ways to combat their negative influences. Alien insects, birds, mam- mals, fungi and plants can become one of the reasons for the transfer of the pandemic, and their spread leads to its globalization. In Azerbaijan, in the study of invasions, as in the world, attention is paid to the problem of identification and registration of invasive species. This article presents some data on invasive plant species: the species that negatively affect human life are indicated, a compar- ative analysis of the content of the invasive fraction is carried out in the botanical- geographical re- gions of Azerbaijan.

Keywords: Invasions and COVID-19, invasive flora of Azerbaijan, methods of investigating invasions, the impact of invasions on humans

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