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The recent spread of the invasive woody alien plant Melia azedarach  511

              ly, i.e. i) the introduction frequency, ii) the climatic trend, and iii) the interac-
              tion with potential disseminators. As concerns the first driving factor, the Per-
              sian lilac is still planted for shading and ornamental purposes in many urban
              and sub-urban areas. Moreover, we believe that M. azedarach will be neither
              limited by natural enemies, as it is well protected by numerous chemical com-
              pounds  with  strong insecticidal  (BREUER &  DEVKOTA,  1990;  CHEN et  al.,
              1996) and nematicidal (NTALLI et al., 2010) properties, nor by climatic con-
              straints, especially if the warming trend recorded on a regional basis over the
              last 30 years (D’ASARO et al., 2007) will be confirmed.
                  The invasive behavior of M. azedarach may be enhanced if it widens its
              spectrum of potential dispersers. This may occur, as Sicily hosts many species
              belonging to the same groups of birds (Passeriformes, Piciformes) and bats
              (Chiroptera)  which  disperse  Melia’s  fruits  in  South  Africa  (VOIGT et  al.,
              2011); besides, Wood pigeons (Columba palumbus, Linnaeus 1758) feeding
              on  Melia have  already  been  observed  in  the  territory  of  Trabia  (Palermo
              province, Rosa E.B. Carvalho, pers. comm.).

                  Ackowledgements — Part of the data here reported have been carried out by the first author
              during field investigations within his doctoral thesis in “Sistemi Arborei Agrari e Forestali” (XXIV
              cycle), Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (SAF), University of Palermo. The authors
              are grateful to the anonymous referee whose suggestions allowed to improve the text.


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