Alien plants of Kyrgyzstan

Study Extent

The dataset contains information on the distribution of alien plants in Kyrgyzstan. It covers all available data, including legacy and ongoing research, and is open for regular updates.

Sampling

The dataset is compiled from occurrences documented by herbarium specimens and photographs. In each case the taxonomic identity has been verified or established by the authors. Undocumented observations were included when originated from the authors or traced from reliable published sources. Georeferencing is original when available, or provided by the authors with the utmost accuracy possible using the historical paper maps and contemporary digital mapping resources (Google Maps as a reference); elevation and coordinate uncertainty is estimated individually in each case. All coordinates were converted into WGS84 datum. The nomenclature is not based on any single source but compiled by the first author from a variety of phylogenetic, taxonomic and nomenclatural sources.

Quality Control

The taxonomic identity and geographical location of each record have been assessed by the authors on case by case basis, and corrected when necessary. The original scripts of locality data are stored along with the interpreted information.

Method steps

1. The floristic checklist was screened and a residence status (native or alien) was established for each species.
2. Distributional data were collected for each alien species from herbarium collections, citizen-science resources and literature.
3. Each record was evaluated taxonomically.
4. The locality data was processed for each record and structured according to the Darwin Core format.
5. The period and pathway of introduction were established or inferred for each case, and the resulting information was compiled for a synopsis of alien plants of Kyrgyzstan (published in installments in Biodiversity Data Journal).

The dataset is supposed to include species of vascular plants but is limited to angiosperms. So far, no alien plants have been registered in Kyrgyzstan among pteridophytes and pinophytes.

1. Magnoliophyta
   rank: class

The study covers the whole territory of Kyrgyzstan.