“Running” bamboo and piranha. In Poland

At the beginning of April, an article appeared in the magazine “Scientific Reports” in which the presence of the wild population of the bamboo genre was first described Phyllostachys bissetia in Europe. In the years 2022-2024, researchers observed the position of this plant near the Lubatówka River, one of the tributaries of Wisłok. Not far, because near the coast of San, the presence of a giant mission was found (Miscanthus×giganteus) – popular decorative grass.

This is a disturbing discovery, because both of these species show strongly invasive features and can displace native plants from their positions.

“There is an urgent need to raise awareness among gardeners, hobbyists, sellers and plant importers about the threats to the environment resulting from the spread of invasive plants,” the authors of the article pointed out. Bioinvasia is easier to stop if it is detected early and reacts quickly.

– Let's not undress the plants that we grow in the garden – appealed by dr hab. Aneta Bylak, prof. University of Rzeszów and the main author of the study. The Polish hydrobiologist said that some residents get rid of plant residues from their gardens, throwing them on the banks of nearby rivers and streams, hoping that “water will take it”. She warned that this is a careless approach, especially if foreign species are grown, it could be a source of large ecological problems.

The researcher explained that Bambus Bisseta comes from Asia and Europe is a foreign species.

– A whole group of species of the genus Phyllostachys is called 'Running Bamboos' – it is 'running bamboo', which is almost impossible to stop – she described. Plants come from China, many of them are frost -resistant and easily spread through underground rhizomes. – Such bamboo even under asphalt can go to the other side of the road – the expert pointed out.

The risk of invasion also carries the cultivation of a giant miscantic – high decorative grass. This plant reaches three meters and is bred as a decorative plant. Environmentalists noticed that the clumps of Miscanthus are already appearing on Polish rivers.

The researcher explained that Bambus Bissete and Miskant do not yet belong to invasive plants in Poland, so they can be sold and bought without restrictions. In the future, however, it may be necessary to enter them on the list of invasive foreign species before they get out of control.

Bamboo and missions are planted in the gardens, because they grow quickly, do not require complex treatments, look attractive and create compact, green screens. What is an advantage for owners of home gardens, for wild nature can be a great downside: the ease of multiplication and spread of the plant means that biodiversity in the area it compired quickly falls.

Bylak added that if someone wants to grow these plants in the garden – they should install root barriers so that the bamboo does not get out of control. You also need to be careful with leftovers, because bamboo can even grow out of a fragment of the stem.

“Even a 10 -centimeter piece of the above -ground stem can root again,” the ecologist explained. And she joked that there was no way to count on dealing with the invasion of pandas, for which bamboo is a delicacy.

Prof. Bylak also told about foreign animal species with which she encountered in her research of Polish rivers. Researchers met, for example, red -legged turtles – which probably bored owners freed into the environment, not guessing that they are a huge threat to biodiversity.

– And once we even caught Pirania in San. Fortunately, it was a harmless herbivorous species, and besides, as from the tropics, it will not survive winter with us – she assured.

The expert also informed that local authorities are responsible for removing foreign invasive species in Poland. This should be informed about the observation of foreign species threatening biodiversity. A photo of the habitat with geolocation can also be sent to the Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences, which keeps records of foreign species.