Alien species have become a major environmental problem worldwide. They affect local biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The invasion of Quercus rubra L. into forest communities of the Central Russian forest-steppe is considered against the background of current trends in reforestation and climate change. The work uses data from long-term observations in conditions of introduction and forest phytocenoses. The results of the study show that Q. rubra is invasively active in the forest-steppe region. Further climatic fluctuations and priorities in forestry may lead to an expansion of its secondary forest-steppe habitat.

L.A. Lepeshkina