Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne

English New Zealand pigmyweed Status LU: established. 1st record: LU & ITW 2020.
Lëtzebuergesch Weier-Nolkraut Status Eur.: established. 1st record: UK 1911.
Français Crassule des étangs RA: ISEIA: B1 – Watch List. Harmonia+: 0,44
Deutsch Nadelkraut Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - New Zealand pigmyweed Wikipedia - Deutsch - Nadelkraut Wikipedia - Nederlands - Watercrassula | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Crassula helmsii | CABI
Nederlands Watercrassula Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Crassula helmsii

2011, Pilley, England, UK

Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne, native to New Zealand and Australia, is an aquatic or semi-terrestrial plant that colonises a wide variety of freshwater habitats. The plant’s ability to grow from stem fragments enables it to easily spread from ponds and ornamental pools into the wild. Waterfowl, mammals, downstream movement and flooding all play an important role in plant dissemination. New Zealand pigmyweed can cause major environmental problems in freshwater habitats. It forms dense vegetation mats that deplete oxygen, outcompete native species and may affect the breeding success and survival of threatened aquatic plants and amphibians. Mats choke ponds and drainage ditches, impede water flow and adversely affect recreational activities. In rivers, flow behaviour may change when the plant occurs in masses (Branquart et al. 2013).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-04-21.

Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne was first recorded in the wild by Jean-Paul Wolff on 2020-07-23 as part of a SICONA monitoring project, growing all over a pond in Moukebrill near Grass (MNHNL, 2000-, Wolff 2020).
First reported in Belgium in 1983, this species experienced a strong expansion about 15 years later and will probably be found in other parts of the territory of the Flora. The plant is highly variable depending on whether it grows in water (aquatic phenotype) or on the banks of more or less dry ponds (terrestrial phenotype) (Lambinon & Verloove 2012).

Management

Our neighbouring countries have already gained experience with the management of the species and made it available in publications: Dortel & Dutartre 2018, Delbart et al. 2011, Ewald 2014, van der Loop et al. 2018.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Following its discovery in Luxembourg in July 2020, the species has been reassessed on 24 July 2020 to B1 (2+3+2+3) = Watch List by Christian Ries and Yves Krippel. Assessment before the appearance of the species in Luxembourg: B0 (2+3+2+3) = Alert List (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,44 = (Overall Invasion score 0,76 x Overall Impact score 0,57) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,76Invasion
0,57Impact
0,44Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Branquart, E., I. Stiers, L. Triest, S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum & F. Verloove, 2013. Harmonia database: . Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2020-02-28]
  • CABI, 2019. Crassula helmsii. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-02-28]
  • Dortel, F. & A. Dutartre, 2018. La Crassule de Helms (Crassula helmsii Cockayne, 1907) : Fiche d’alerte détaillée, première analyse des risques, possibilités de régulation et mesures de biosécurité. 23 p. [PDF]
  • Delbart, E., A. Monty & G. Mahy, 2011. Gestion de Crassula helmsii en Belgique plus difficile qu’il n’y paraı̂t? Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 41: 226–231. [PDF]
  • Ewald, N.C., 2014. Crassula helmsii in the New Forest – a report on the status, spread and impact of this non-native invasive plant, and the efficacy of novel control techniques following a 2 year trial. Partner Annex Report for RINSE prepared on behalf of the New Forest Non-Native Plants Project. Freshwater Habitats Trust, Oxford. [PDF]
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne observed on 2020-07-23, occurrence ID MNHNL00000005TLE, via https://mdata.mnhn.lu [accessed 2021-02-22].
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2020. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-02-28]
  • Oly, M., 2022. Kartierung invasiver gebietsfremder Wasserpflanzen im Großherzotum Luxemburg, Untersuchungen zur Verbreitung von invasiven gebietsfremden Wasserpflanzen in einer beispielhaften Auswahl an Stillgewässern, Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. 117 pp. 
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]
  • van der Loop, J.M.M., L. de Hoop, H.H. van Kleef & R.S.E.W. Leuven, 2018. Effectiveness of eradication measures for the invasive Australian swamp stonecrop Crassula helmsii. Management of Biological Invasions (2018) Volume 9, Issue 3: 343–355. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2018.9.3.16 [PDF]
  • Wolff, J.-P., 2020. Crassula helmsii observation at iNaturalist. URL: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54040409 [accessed 2020.07.24].

 Page content last updated on 2023-08-17.

Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Th.Wolf

English Yellow-flowered Strawberry Status LU: established. 1st record: LU <2007, ITW 2008.
Lëtzebuergesch Schäinäerdbier Status Eur.: established. 1st record: <1850.
Français Fraisier des Indes RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: 0,05
Deutsch Scheinerdbeere Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Yellow-flowered Strawberry Wikipedia - Français - Fraisier des Indes Wikipedia - Deutsch - Scheinerdbeere Wikipedia - Nederlands - Schijnaardbei | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Duchesnea indica
Nederlands Schijnaardbei Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Th.Wolf is a plant native to SE-Asia that prefers relatively moist and shaded habitats. It grows preferentially on soils with high nitrogen supply and benefits from increasing anthropogenic nitrogen deposition. It occurs in woods, grasslands and urban parks. Seeds are known to be dispersed by birds (Branquart et al. 2012).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Th.Wolf in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-04-21.

In Luxembourg, Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Th.Wolf was first planted in the Mediterranean Garden in Schebsange before 2007 (Moes G. in litt.). The species was first documented in the wild on 2008-10-31 by Florian Hans at Ennëschte Bësch in the municipality of Bertrange (MNHNL 2000-; Krippel et al. 2010). It occurred on about 2 m² along the roadside and a recently cleared softwood plot, together with Alliaria petiolata, Ranunculus repens, Scrophularia nodosa and Urtica dioica.

There are five records of the species in the MNHNL-mdata online portal, four from Luxembourg City and one from Schengen (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

The Yellow-flowered Strawberry is cultivated for ornamental purposes in parks and gardens, it is subspontaneous or naturalised in former parks, garden surroundings, forest roads and cemeteries. This rather rare to rare species is expanding, especially in the western part of the environment (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 351).

Duchesnea indica was planted in 2002 in the Reimerwee park of the Kirchberg arboretum in Luxembourg City. This population has established itself well (Helminger 2018).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (2+1+2+1) (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,05 = (Overall Invasion score 0,59 x Overall Impact score 0,09) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,59Invasion
0,09Impact
0,05Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Branquart, E., P. Dupriez, S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum, F. Verloove, 2012. Harmonia database: Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Th.Wolf. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-09]
  • GBIF 2020. Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2020-02-28.
  • Helminger, T., 2018. Personal communication to Lucie Lentz during summer 2018.
  • Krippel, Y. & G. Colling, 2010. Notes floristiques. Observations faites au Luxembourg (2008- 2009). Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 111: 11-32. [PDF 209 KB]
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Th.Wolf in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-05]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Th.Wolf in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-06]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]

 Page content last updated on 2021-03-03. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-14.

Bidens frondosa L.

English Beggarticks Status LU: established. 1st record: LU & ITW 1959.
Lëtzebuergesch Schwaarzfriichtegen Duebelzant Status Eur.: established. 1st record: IT 1750-1800.
Français Bident feuillé RA: ISEIA: C2. Harmonia+: 0,18
Deutsch Schwarzfrüchtiger Zweizahn Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Beggarticks Wikipedia - Français - Fougère d'eau Wikipedia - Deutsch - Schwarzfrüchtiger Zweizahn Wikipedia - Nederlands - Zwart tandzaad | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Bidens frondosa | CABI
Nederlands Zwart tandzaad Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Bidens frondosa L. is a pioneer plant species of moist grounds; it colonises river banks, mud flats, ditches, ponds and other open alluvial habitats (Branquart et al. 2019).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Bidens frondosa L. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-04-21.

Bidens frondosa L. was first documented in Luxembourg by Léopold Reichling and Marcel Etringer on 10th September 1959 on the bank of the Moselle between Stadtbredimus and Hüttermühle, 1 km downstream of the Paul Eyschen Monument, municipality of Stadtbredimus (Reichling 1962; Obs. key: DSS00465000000XF, MNHNL 2000-).

Currently, more than 70 observations of Bidens frondosa are documented, most of them originating in the Moselle valley (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

The species is currently expanding to the west of the flora territory (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 722).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C2 (2+2+2+1) (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,18 = (Overall Invasion score 0,64 x Overall Impact score 0,28) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,64Invasion
0,28Impact
0,18Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Branquart, E., S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum, F. Verloove, 2019. Harmonia database: Bidens frondosa L.. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-02]
  • CABI, 2014. Bidens frondosa [original text by Ian Popay]. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-02-28]
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Bidens frondosa L. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-05]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Bidens frondosa L. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-06]
  • Reichling, L., 1962. Notes floristiques 1959. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 64: 3-52. [PDF 3155 KB]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]

 Page content last updated on 2021-03-02.

Azolla filiculoides Lam.

English Water fern Status LU: established. 1st record: LU ~2002, ITW 2009.
Lëtzebuergesch Waasserfar Status Eur.: established. 1st record: 1870s-1880s.
Français Fougère d’eau RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: 0,22
Deutsch Großer Algenfarn Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Water fern Wikipedia - Français - Fougère d'eau Wikipedia - Deutsch - Großer Algenfarn Wikipedia - Nederlands - Grote kroosvaren | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Azolla filiculoides | CABI
Nederlands Grote kroosvaren Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Azolla filiculoides Lam. (Syn.: A. caroliniana Willd.) originates from tropical America and is naturalised in Western, South and Central Europe and the Canary Islands. Azolla filiculoides form stands that may expand or regress rapidly, depending in particular on thermal factors. Two species of Azolla have been reported in the Flora territory: A. filiculoides and A. caroliniana, but it is now known that these two names are synonymous (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 41).

Azolla filiculoides is an aquatic fern that settles in ponds, ditches, water reservoirs, wetlands, channels and slow flowing rivers, often together with Lemna minuta. It does not tolerate turbulence or fast flowing water. The plant is spread by flood waters and by the movement of birds, animals and people. It can form dense, floating and monospecific mats at the surface of water bodies that reduce light penetration and gas exchange. These mats often reduce the development of algae, other aquatic plants and animals. However, dense populations seem to be transient and well localised (Branquart et al. 2010).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Azolla filiculoides Lam. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-04-21.

In Luxembourg, Azolla filiculoides was first reported around 2002 from a private garden pond by Claude Reckinger (in litt. 2021). The water fern was first observed in the wild by Karl-Georg Gessner on 10th July 2009 in three ponds close to Bourscheid (Kesselkapp), where it grew in more or less extended carpets in 3 ponds together with Lemna minor, Alisma plantagoaquatica and Glyceria fluitans (MNHNL 2000-, Krippel & Colling 2010: 12).

Discovered in several ponds located in the open countryside, this small fern native to tropical America was known for a few years already in Luxembourg in leisure ponds in private gardens, where it had been introduced with other aquatic plants (Krippel & Colling 2010: 12).

A spectacular proliferation of the water fern appeared in autumn 2005 in the channel of Jouy nearby Metz in French Lorraine (Muller 2006).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (2+2+2+2) (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,22 = (Overall Invasion score 0,66 x Overall Impact score 0,33) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,66Invasion
0,33Impact
0,22Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Branquart, E., I. Stiers, L. Triest, S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum, F. Verloove, 2010. Harmonia database: Azolla filiculoides Lam.. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-02]
  • CABI, 2014. Azolla filiculoides [original text by Martin Hill]. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-02-28]
  • Krippel, Y. & G. Colling, 2010. Notes floristiques. Observations faites au Luxembourg (2008- 2009). Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 111: 11-32. [PDF 209 KB]
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Azolla filiculoides Lam. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-05]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Azolla filiculoides Lam. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-06]
  • Muller, S., 2006. Prolifération spectaculaire d’’Azolla filiculoides (Azollaceae, Pteridophyta) dans le canal de Jouy près de Metz (Lorraine, France) à l’automne 2005. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 107: 31-38. [PDF 828 Kb]
  • Oly, M., 2022. Kartierung invasiver gebietsfremder Wasserpflanzen im Großherzotum Luxemburg, Untersuchungen zur Verbreitung von invasiven gebietsfremden Wasserpflanzen in einer beispielhaften Auswahl an Stillgewässern, Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. 117 pp. 
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]

 Page content last updated on 2023-08-17. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-13.

Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroed.

English Juneberry Status LU: established. 1st record: LU 1961, ITW <2000.
Lëtzebuergesch Amerikanesch Leebirchen Status Eur.: established. 1st record: FR ~1850-1900.
Français Amélanchier d’amérique RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: 0,07
Deutsch Kupfer-Felsenbirne Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Juneberry Wikipedia - Français - Amélanchier d'amérique Wikipedia - Deutsch - Kupfer-Felsenbirne Wikipedia - Nederlands - Amerikaans krentenboompje | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Amelanchier lamarckii | CABI
Nederlands Amerikans krentenboompje Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Amelanchier lamarckii A

Amelanchier lamarckii. Photo: 12. April 2007, Wouter Hagens. commons.wikimedia.org

In its introduced range, Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroed. thrives on sandy, acidic soil, especially in heathlands, in open woodlands, along forest edges and in urban areas. Juneberry is apomictic and breeds true from seed. Fruits are dispersed by birds over long distances. Juneberry populations are slowly expanding in Western European countries (Belgium, Germany, Great Britain) and reported to be locally invasive. Juneberry can reduce the development of ground vegetation but it rarely forms dense monospecific stands. Outcompetition of native species is considered as unlikely. Impact on native vegetation is poorly reported in the scientific literature (Branquart et al. 2012).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroed. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-04-21.

Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroed. was first reported as Amelanchier canadensis by Léopold Reichling on 1961-06-06 and 1961-06-08 from his garden in Avenue Guillaume, Belair, Luxembourg City (MNHNL 2000-a, LUXNAT Nr 48638).

The species was first observed in the wild by Yves Krippel on 2000-08-04  in the nature reserve Ditgesbaach near Ettelbruck (MNHNL 2000-b).

Amelanchier lamarckii was next recorded in Luxembourg by Krippel & Scheer (2006: 10) on 2003-09-04 on the western slope of Esch-sur-Sûre castle. The species is currently (2018) still present there (Krippel et al. 2019: 164). The next records date before 2008 and cannot be dated exactly as Welter et al. (2008: 62) list 4 undated locations.

In Luxembourg, juneberry is commonly planted as an ornamental tree, which is the case for the records of the species in the municipalities of Luxembourg City (Cents, Limpertsberg) and Hesperange (Welter et al. 2008: 62). In the municipality of Feulen, the species seems to be widely grown in gardens, squares and along streets (MNHNL 2000-c).

Juneberry is a melliferous species born in Europe from a North American strain (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 373).

Juneberry is an apomictic microspecies, and presumed to be of hybrid origin (A. laevis and either A. arborea or A. canadensis) and therefore under the rules of botanical nomenclature it would be known as Amelanchier × lamarckii (Wikipedia contributors 2019).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (1+2+2+1) (Ries et al. 2013: 18).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,07 = (Overall Invasion score 0,57 x Overall Impact score 0,13) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,57Invasion
0,13Impact
0,07Risk

Worldwide distribution

CABI 2009: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/4831#toDistributionMaps

Bibliography

  • Branquart, E., S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum & F. Verloove, 2012. Harmonia database: Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroed. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-16]
  • CABI, 2009. Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroed. [original text by Vicki Bonham]. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2019-11-22]
  • Krippel, Y. & A. Scheer, 2006. Flore et végétation du château féodal d’Esch-sur-Sûre au Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 106: 3-16. [PDF 253 Kb]
  • Krippel, Y., S. Schneider, A. Schopp-Guth & T. Walisch, 2019. Feuchtwiesen, Felsbiotope, Silikatmagerrasen, Burgen, Eichen-Niederwälder – Lebensräume auf Schiefer im Norden Luxemburgs. Tuexenia Beiheft 12: 137-187.
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-a. Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. Amelanchier lamarckii F. G. Schroeder observed on 1991-06-06, occurrence ID LUXNATFUND398819, via https://mdata.mnhn.lu [accessed 2021-01-13].
  • MNHNL, 2000-b. Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. Amelanchier canadensis observed on 2000-08-04, occurrence ID DSS002920000069H, via https://mdata.mnhn.lu [accessed 2021-01-12].
  • MNHNL, 2000-c. Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroed. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-02]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroed. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-16]
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Welter A., J.Turk & J. Trossen, 2008. Les arbres introduits au Luxembourg. Inventaire des essences arborescentes non indigènes de pleine terre présentes sur le territoire du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Ferrantia 53, Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg, ISSN 1682-5519, 111 pp.
  • Wikipedia contributors, 2019. Amelanchier lamarckii F.G. Schroed. in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 September 2019, 16:47 UTC. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amelanchier_lamarckii&oldid=915169386 [accessed 2 October 2019]

 Page content last updated on 2021-03-02. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-13.

Ameiurus nebulosus Lesueur, 1819

English Brown bullhead Status LU: established. 1st record: 1892.
Lëtzebuergesch Kazewels Status Eur.: established.
Français Barbotte brune RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: n/a.
Deutsch Katzenwels Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Brown bullhead Wikipedia - Français - Barbotte brune Wikipedia - Deutsch - Katzenwels Wikipedia - Nederlands - Bruine dwergmeerval | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Ameiurus nebulosus
Nederlands Bruine dwergmeerval Back to the list of vertebrates

Brief description

Ameiurus nebulosus HungaryAmeiurus nebulosus Lesueur, 1819 is a fish species that lives in standing and slow-running waters where it can cope with low oxygen levels, water pollution and high temperatures. The omnivorous species can form very dense populations and is able to dominate freshwater fish communities. The diet of large-sized bullheads has been found to consist almost exclusively of juvenile fishes. Although there is some concern about its strong competitive and predatory ability, it is difficult to find hard evidence of species displacement or ecosystem disruption.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, Ameiurus nebulosus Lesueur, 1819 was first documented as early as 1892 (21st January 1892) in a pond in Diekirch (Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 1892 cit. in Feltgen 1902: 101).

In 2005, two adults and 300 juveniles were caught in the Moselle river in Stadtbredimus while some 500 juveniles were observed the same year in the marina near Schwebsange. No other river in Luxembourg seems to be populated by the species.

There is no distribution map available because no data has been entered into the Recorder-Lux database so far (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2020).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (1+1+2+2) (Ries et al. 2014: 199).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Administration de la gestion de l’eau, 2010. Les poissons au Luxembourg : Cartographie des poissons, lamproies et écrevisses du grand-duché de Luxembourg. 2e éd., 213 pp.
  • Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 2 (1892): 3.
  • Feltgen, E., 1902. Vademecum des Luxemburger Fischereiliebhabers. P. Worré-Mertens, Luxemburg. 148 S.
  • GBIF, 2019. Ameiurus nebulosus (Lesueur, 1819) in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2020-04-22.
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2020. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [accessed 2020-04-22]
  • Ries, C., M. Pfeiffenschneider, Engel, E., J.-C. Heidt & M. Lauff, 2014. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of vertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 115: 195-201. [PDF 247 KB]

 Page content last updated on 2020-04-30. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-27.

Ondatra zibethicus (Linnaeus, 1766)

English Muskrat Status LU: established. 1st record: 1954.
Lëtzebuergesch Bisamrat Status Eur.: established. IAS of EU concern (2017).
Français Rat musqué RA: ISEIA: B3, Watch List. Harmonia+: n/a.
Deutsch Bisamratte Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Muskrat Wikipedia - Français - Rat musqué Wikipedia - Deutsch - Bisamratte Wikipedia - Nederlands - Muskusrat | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Ondatra zibethicus | CABI
Nederlands Muskusrat Back to the list of vertebrates

Brief description

Overgrazing by muskrats can cause the local extinction of aquatic plants and the destruction of reed beds and of fish nursery areas. Due to its burrowing activity, the species degrades river banks and affects river flow. It can exert a strong predation pressure and threaten freshwater mussel and crustacean populations. It could also act as a reservoir for different pathologies and causes damage to agriculture. The muskrat is included in the appendix under recommendation no 77 of the Council of Europe as a species which has proved to be a threat to biological diversity and for which eradication is strongly recommended (Branquart et al. 2011).

IAS of Union concern

In 2017, Ondatra zibethicus L. was added to the list of invasive alien species of Union concern (Anonymous 2017) which implies that member states shall take all necessary steps to prevent it’s unintentional introduction or spread.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Ondatra zibethicus Linnaeus, 1766 in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-04-21.

The first documented occurrence of Ondatra zibethicus L. in Luxembourg dates from 1954. It was found by zoologist Joseph Hoffmann (1911-2000) on 17th August 1954 in the resected meander named “Al Mudder” near Pettingen, Municipality of Mersch (Heuertz 1957: 43; MNHNL 2000-). The invasion originated in the Lorraine Moselle. Since then, the species has spread and has achieved a nationwide distribution (Schley & Herr 2019: 168).

In 2024, 419 observations of species in Luxembourg are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2024).

Historical note: because of the threat of an invasion from the Belgian-Dutch border, where the muskrat had escaped from farms, the Luxembourg Water and Forest Directorate issued a grand ducal decree on 17 December 1930 prohibiting, inter alia, its import to or its transport in the grand duchy (Heuertz 1957: 46-47).

Management

Action plan

An action plan concerning the muskrat has been published in 2020:

Finalised Action Plan for Ondatra zibethicus (De Sousa & Lestang 2020)

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

B3 (3+3+3+1) = Watch List (Ries et al. 2014: 199).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Fact sheet

PDF fact sheet of the Nature and Forestry Administration: FR | DE

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Anonymous, 2017. Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2017/1263 of 12 July 2017 updating the list of invasive alien species of Union concern established by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union L 182: 37-39 (13.7.2017).
  • Branquart, E., M. D’aes, B. Manet, G. Motte, V. Schockert & J. Stuyck, 2011. Harmonia database: Ondatra zibethicus L.. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-28]
  • CABI, 2009. Ondatra zibethicus L. [original text by Patrick Triplet]. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-02-04]
  • De Sousa, T. & L. Lestang, 2020. Plan d’action pour espèces exotiques envahissantes au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg: le Rat musqué, Ondatra zibethicus (Linnaeus, 1766). Version 2020-09-04. Administration de la nature et des forêts, Luxembourg. 21 pp.
  • Heuertz, M., 1957. Premières captures de rats musqués (Ondatra zibethicus L.) au grand-duché de Luxembourg. Archives de la section des sciences de l’Institut grand-ducal N.S. 24: 41-51.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Ondatra zibethicus L. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-02-04]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Ondatra zibethicus L. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-02-04]
  • Naturverwaltung (ed.), 2013. Jagbare Wildtierarten Luxemburgs. 96 pp.
  • Pir, J.B. & L. Schley, 2015. Développement des connaissances sur la répartition et l’écologie des mammifères au Luxembourg entre 1990 et 2015. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 116: 437-455.
  • Ries, C., M. Pfeiffenschneider, Engel, E., J.-C. Heidt & M. Lauff, 2014. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of vertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 115: 195-201. [PDF 247 KB]
  • Schley, L., C. Schanck, M. Schaul & C. Sinner, 2001. Neubürger und Heimkehrer unter den Wildtieren Luxemburgs. Beiträge zur Jagd- und Wildforschung 26: 141-154.
  • Schley, L. & J. Herr, 2019. Säugetiere Luxemburgs. Hrsg.: natur&ëmwelt a.s.b.l., Ministère du développement durable et des infrastructures, Administration de la nature et des forêts. 219 S. ISBN 978-2-9199511-0-9 [French edition: Les mammifères du Luxembourg, ISBN 978-2-9199511-2-3]

 Page content last updated on 2024-07-31. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-28.

Ovis aries musimon (Pallas, 1811)

English Mouflon Status LU: established. 1st record: 1905.
Lëtzebuergesch Mouflon[ref name=”DFL”]Derrmann-Loutsch, L., 2006. Dictionnaire Français-luxembourgeois. Luxembourg: Éd. Saint-Paul. 606 S. ISBN 978-2-87963-634-4[/ref], Muffel(-schof) Status Eur.: established.
Français Mouflon RA: ISEIA: C2. Harmonia+: n/a.
Deutsch Mufflon Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Mouflon Wikipedia - Français - Mouflon Wikipedia - Deutsch - Mufflon Wikipedia - Nederlands - Moeflon | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Ovis aries | CABI
Nederlands Moeflon Back to the list of vertebrates

Notes on taxonomy and nomenclature

On February 4, 2020, we changed the title of this page from Ovis ammon (Linnaeus, 1758) to Ovis aries musimon (Pallas, 1811) according to the CABI fact sheet: “Given that it is generally assumed that European mouflons are feral populations of ancient domestic stocks, it is advisable to denominate them taxonomically as Ovis aries (…), subspecies musimon, which is the name used in this datasheet, following ITIS (2016)” (CABI 2016). For more details read the detailed “Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature” in the CABI fact sheet (CABI 2016).

The distribution of the species at GBIF is split due to the use of several synonyms, e.g. Ovis ammon (Linnaeus, 1758) (GBIF 2020a) and Ovis aries musimon (Pallas, 1811) (GBIF 2020b).

Other scientific names in use in Luxembourg

  • Ovis ammon (Linnaeus, 1758) [used in: Ries et al. 2014; Schley & Herr 2019]
  • Ovis ammon musimon (Pallas, 1811) [used in: Massard & Kintziger 1994]

Brief description

Eifelpark Gondorf Mufflons

Mouflons in a wildlife park in the Eifel (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) in August 2008

The European mouflon is the westernmost and smallest sub-species of mouflon. It was originally found only on the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia, but has since been introduced into many other regions of Europe (Wikipedia contributors 2020).

The European mouflon is a small sheep, particularly compared to its Asian relatives and to some domestic breeds. Sexual dimorphism is present, with males weighing about 30% more than females. Both sexes can exhibit horns, although not all females (and none in the Sardinian population) do. The horns of males can be up to 60 cm long and are curved into a circle. The coat colour is reddish-brown; darker in winter, when males have a black mane with whitish tones on the snout, the ventral area and the distal part of the legs (Asian mouflon from Asia Minor and Iran have more distinct colours). The whitish tones of the face increase with age. The anal white coat is well marked. The tail is black and short. Mouflons have thick skin and wool; the dense winter coat is shed in spring. Males are more robust than females and possess long hair on the neck, chest and front of the forelegs; they also show a characteristic side spot, the “saddle”, of whitish tones, which is much less marked in females (CABI 2019).

The European mouflon is a wild sheep that originates from the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia; it is thought to be descended from semidomesticated wild sheep from the Near East brought to Sardinia around 8000 years ago. It has been introduced to many countries in Europe and some elsewhere, mostly as a quarry species for hunting; the extent to which populations have become established or increased varies from country to country. In most countries there is little evidence of serious adverse effects (although there has been little research on the subject), but the mouflon is considered invasive in Hawaii and the Canary Islands, where it has had serious adverse effects on native vegetation (CABI 2019).

As early as the 18th century mouflons were introduced in various regions of Europe (Niethammer 1963 cit. in: Massard & Kintziger 1994: 187).

Health issues of mouflons outside their home range

Mouflon are a longstanding matter of concern in most regions outside their home range. Not well adapted to most of the habitats where they have been released, many animals are suffering from problems with their hooves (foot rot, hoof overgrowth; Piegert & Uloth 2000) (Apollonio et al. 2010).

In the case of the mouflon, NABU North Rhine-Westphalia demands that this non-native species be completely shot down for reasons of nature conservation and animal protection, because the individuals, optimally adapted to life on rocky islands, develop hoof problems as a result of the soft soils prevailing here. Their hooves often grow extremely long and cause considerable pain. They also increase the pressure on the natural growth in the forest. Furthermore, mouflons damage rare biotopes such as rocky heads (NABU, 2020).

Examples from 2 regions:

  • Bavaria: The mouflon is not very well adapted to the living conditions prevailing in Bavaria. Thus, the animals often suffer from serious claw diseases on the softer soils in our country (Wildtierportal Bayern 2020).
  • Switzerland: The free mouflon lives in forested areas, from the lowlands to the mountains. It needs hard and stony soils to grind down its fast growing hooves. In the wildlife park this is made possible by stone fields, as otherwise deformities and infections can develop (Wildpark Mühletäli 2020).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Ovis ammon Linnaeus, 1758 in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-04-21.

Currently, mouflons are present in three areas of Luxembourg: the Our valley, the northern Upper Sûre area and around Heffingen/Echternach (Massard & Kintziger 1994; Schley & Herr 2019: 34).

A former population in the Meysembourg area is extinct (Lux 2005). The grand ducal compound (“Gatter”) at Grünewald near Imbringen was opened to the public in 2009 (SPC 2020).

A male mouflon was run over near the animal park “Escher Déierepark” at Gaalgebierg in Esch-sur-Alzette in 2012 (MNHNL 2000-), it can be assumed it was an escaped animal.

Currently, 35 records of mouflons are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2020).

The mouflon in the regions of Luxembourg

Grand ducal compound at Grünewald (1905-2009)

Since 1905 mouflons were kept in the grand ducal compound in Grünewald near Imbringen, municipality of Junglinster (Massard & Kintziger 1994). Several animals have been introduced in 1905 from a game park near Wiesbaden, Germany (Massard & Kintziger 1994: 188; Lux 2005). According to Decker (1979), a second batch of mouflons entered Luxembourg in 1921: six animals from Het Loo (NL) (cit. in: Massard & Kintziger 1994: 188). In 1953, most of the grand ducal mouflons were sold (e.g. to Spain), but at the same time a few other mouflons were imported from the enclosure of the Duke of Bavaria (Decker 1979).

The cited sources don’t mention if this population still existed in the 1990ies. The grand ducal compound in Grünewald (nicknamed “Gatter”) was opened to the public on 9 April 2009, following the agreement of 16 January 2009 between the Luxembourg State and the grand ducal administration (SPC 2009).

Upper Sauer region (1970-)

In 1968, on the proposal of the High Council for Hunting, the Minister of the Interior instructed the Water and Forestry Administration to prepare the introduction of mouflons into the Luxembourg natural environment in the Kaundorf region. In 1970, 14 animals were released into the natural environment near Kaundorf. Since then, and until the beginning of the 1990s, the population has been steadily increasing due to the rather restricted shooting plan: the population numbers about 200 animals and has proliferated over an area of about 9,000 ha. In 1994, in view of the poor health situation of the herd and the numerous damages caused to the forest, the mouflon hunt was widely opened and the shooting plan was abolished. In the 2000s, the population stabilizes at about 60 individuals (spring counting) (Lux 2005).

In 1992, the population was estimated at 100-120 animals living in the area around the barrier lake of the Upper Sauer (Massard & Kintziger 1994).

Our valley near Hosingen (1970-)

The mouflon population around Hosingen originates from the former wildlife park “Wildpark Hosingen”, which existed between 1970 and 1984 and where deer, wild boars, fallow deer, mouflons, mountain goats and indigenous bird species were introduced to visitors in enclosures on an area of around 150 hectares (SISPOLO 2015).

The park had financial problems from 1983 (Lux 2005) and shut down in 1984. This was followed by the escape of some of the animals (fallow deer and mouflons). In the 2000s, the mouflon population numbers about 30 individuals (spring counting) (Lux 2005).

Meysembourg aera (1972-1993)

A mouflon enclosure was established in Meysembourg in 1972. Shortly afterwards, several animals fled and settled in the Christnach/Heffingen region. In the 1980s, the population numbered about 100 animals. In 1984, severe barking damage was noted, followed by a wide opening for hunting from 1985 onwards. In 1993 the population became extinct (Lux 2005).

Echternach aera (1995-)

As far as the Echternach region is concerned, there is a strong presumption of illegal releases (Lux 2005):

  • In October 1995, first appearance of moufflons in the “Haardt” forest near the lake of Echternach, their origin being unknown (120 animals). In winter 2003/04, the Haard population amounts to ± 160 animals.
  • In October 1996, first appearance of moufflons near the Mélickshaff and in Kalkesbaach near Consdorf, their origin also unknown (20 animals). February 2005: 16 animals.
  • In December 1996, first appearance of moufflons at Seiterhof near Berdorf, also unknown provenance (20 animals). February 2005: 70 animals.

At the end of February 2005, a new population count by the Water and Forestry Administration (before the calving) indicates that the mouflon population in the region before the calving in March 2005 was 264 head. The female sex predominates in the composition of the herds in the Echternach region. Based on observations in recent years, it can be said that the population always increases by one third after giving birth. The population in the Echternach region should therefore have reached the current level of ± 350 animals (Lux 2005).

Schley & Herr (2019: 34) confirm that the mouflon population in the area around Heffingen/Echternach originates from an illegal release. In 2020, there is estimated to be between about 100 (Anonyme 2020) and 200 (Magar 2020, ota 2020) mouflons in that region.

Estimated damages caused by mouflon

The mouflons cause different kinds of damage. For example, the following damage can currently be seen in the Echternach region (Lux 2005):

  • debarking of trees, especially spruce trees;
  • spike grazing in leaf plantations and natural regeneration;
  • damage to agricultural crops;
  • disturbance of native deer by non-native mouflons.

In the summer of 2003, an inventory was carried out in the canton’s forests of Echternach, to determine the debarking damage caused by the mouflons, resulting in a damaged area of 18,79 ha. The damaged species are mainly spruce and Douglas fir, the hardwood species are less affected by debarking. Recently it has also been observed that natural regeneration of beech has been damaged by mouflons (bud browsing) (Lux 2005).

In 2020, in the press, various statements are made about the damage caused by muffled animals:

  • lessentiel.lu: There is estimated to be about 100 mouflons in that region and the damage they cause is estimated at 31.814,77 euros, as well as the prevention of forest regeneration (Anonyme 2020).
  • wort.lu: Yves Wengler (CSV), mayor of Echternach, estimates that the 200 or so mouflons living in the woods of his commune caused damage of 100.000 euros (ota 2020).

Management

Mouflon hunt in Luxembourg

The addition of the administrative hunt to the law on hunting

Note: this chapter is an excerpt of the answer of Lucien Lux (2005) to parliamentary question n°377.

Since the first appearance of mouflons in the region of Echternach in 1995, the administration of Water and Forests has been very concerned about this presence. Since the mouflon is not a native species and there are no other populations of this species in the region, it soon became clear that the population could only be the result of clandestine or even illegal releases, without it having been possible so far to establish who was responsible.

As the sheep population continued to grow, on the initiative of the Minister of the Environment two meetings were held in autumn 2003 with tenants and representatives of the hunting unions in the Echternach region to find a solution to the worrying situation. At these meetings, the final goal was clearly formulated, namely to achieve a “zero” mouflon population within a reasonable period of time (5 years) by means of hunting. To this end, the Water and Forestry Administration had developed various models for reducing the population. The following recommendations were made to hunting tenants: priority should be given to shooting female animals and an attempt should be made to reduce the population by more than half in the first hunting year. This proposal was accepted by the representatives of the unions and the hunters, and voluntary commitments were signed by all hunting tenants.

At the end of winter 2004/05 (March 2005), the Water and Forestry Administration analysed the current situation and drew up an interim assessment of the commitments made by the hunting tenants. It turned out that the situation has not improved at all, but on the contrary has worsened. Although some hunting tenants have made an effort to shoot as many animals as possible, this does not seem to be the case for others. Indeed, recent counts carried out by the Water and Forestry Administration at the end of February 2005 show that the combined effort of all hunting tenants has been absolutely insufficient.

The current hunting legislation does not confer any right of direct intervention by either the Ministry of the Environment or the Water and Forests Administration to reduce a game species once the animals are in a state of natural freedom. The Government is therefore relatively powerless in the face of this situation and must confine itself to recommendations.

This is why the Minister of the Environment recently tabled a bill amending the hunting legislation and including the following point: introduction of the right of initiative for the State with a view to organizing administrative hunting under certain well-defined conditions, alongside the right of initiative of the hunting syndicate, which is to be maintained. The conditions which must be met before the administrative hunting procedure can be initiated are as follows:

  • high concentrations of game, as evidenced by the presence of crop damage;
  • unauthorised releases of animal species, whether or not they are classified as game;
  • control of epizootic diseases.

Legal aspects

The law of 25 May 2011 on hunting (Mémorial 2011) stipulates:

  • Art. 10. Shooting with a bullet is obligatory for the hunting of deer, roe deer, wild boar, mouflon and fallow deer (Mémorial 2011: 1729).
  • Art. 13. The hunting of deer, wild boar, roe deer, fallow deer and mouflon may be subject to a shooting plan. This plan determines the number of animals, distributed according to their species, type, age or sex, which must or may be shot on a given territory during a given period. / A Grand Ducal regulation determines the procedures for drawing up the shooting plan, the species of game covered by it, the duration of the plan and the related control measures (Mémorial 2011: 1729).
  • In the annex to the Act, the ‘mouflon (Ovis musimon)’ is considered to be a species belonging to the wild fauna and classified as ‘large game’ alongside deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and fallow deer (Dama dama) (Mémorial 2011: 1741).

Hunting statistics

Mouflons shot per km² in the hunting season 2017-2018 (Schley & Celllina 2018: 25)

Hunting statistics show that the number of hunted mouflons has been increasing from around 20 in the late 1980s to over 150 since 2000, with a peak of 250 during the hunting season 2009/2010 (Naturverwaltung 2012). Since then, the number of shot animals decreased to about 75 in 2013/2014 (Naturverwaltung 2014) and stayed at a similar level in the hunting season 2017-2018 (Schley & Celllina 2018: 9). Schley & Herr (2019: 35) state that about 100-150 mouflons are shot in Luxembourg every year.

The geographical distribution of shot mouflons for the hunting year 2017/18 (see map on the right) is in line with the mouflon distribution (see above) based on data from Recorder-Lux, GBIF and iNaturalist (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2020).

Administrative hunt in 2020

In February 2020, the Ministry of the Environment planed an administrative hunt for mouflons in the Echternach region which was not carried out yet (2020-03-12)1. End of 2019, the Higher Council for Hunting (Conseil supérieur de la chasse) had given the go-ahead for this hunt (Magar 2020).

The public debate on mouflon in Luxembourg

Parliamentary questions

  1. 2005-03-29: Question écrite n°377 [PDF]. Sujet: Mouflon. Auteur : Monsieur Jos Scheuer, Député. Auteur de la réponse: Monsieur Lucien Lux, Ministre de l’Environnement (Lux 2005) [PDF].
  2. 2006-06-20: Question écrite n°1124 [PDF]. Sujet: Présence du mouflon sur le territoire du Luxembourg. Auteurs: Monsieur Marco Schank, Député; Monsieur Marcel Oberweis, Député; Madame Françoise Hetto-Gaasch, Députée (Hetto-Gaasch et al. 2006). Auteur de la réponse: Monsieur Lucien Lux, Ministre de l’Environnement (Lux 2006) [PDF].
  3. 2019-10-28: Question écrite n°1402 [PDF]. Sujet: Colonies de mouflons. Auteur: Monsieur Marc Goergen, Député (Goergen 2019a). Auteur de la réponse: Madame Carole Dieschbourg, Ministre de l’Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable (Dieschbourg 2019) [PDF].
  4. 2019-12-18: Question écrite n°1623 [PDF]. Sujet: Colonies de mouflons. Auteur: Monsieur Marc Goergen, Député (Goergen 2019b). Auteur de la réponse: Madame Carole Dieschbourg, Ministre de l’Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable (Dieschbourg 2020a) [PDF].
  5. 2020-01-22: Question urgente n°1746 [PDF]. Sujet: Chasse au mouflon. Auteur: Monsieur Marc Goergen, Député (Goergen 2020a). Auteur de la réponse: Madame Carole Dieschbourg, Ministre de l’Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable (Dieschbourg 2020b) [PDF].
  6. 2020-03-02: Question urgente n°1961 [PDF]. Sujet: Chasse aux mouflon. Auteur: Monsieur Marc Goergen, Député (Goergen 2020b). Destinataire: Madame Carole Dieschbourg, Ministre de l’Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable.

Social media

From the end of February 2020 onwards, the debate surrounding the mouflon hunt was the subject of controversy, hateful debates and excesses on social networks in Luxembourg.

On February 28 2020, the political party “Piratepartei Lëtzebuerg” posted a video on its Facebook account criticising the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development Carole Dieschbourg for her position in the hunt for mouflons (Piratepartei Lëtzebuerg 2020; Pautsch 2020).

Following a series of hateful and threatening comments against her, Carole Dieschbourg announced on 4 March 2020 via her Facebook account to take legal action (Dieschbourg 2020c; Frati 2020).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C2 (3+2+1+1) (Ries et al. 2014: 199).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Anonyme, 2020. Le Luxembourg veut chasser les mouflons. L’Essentiel, 17 décembre 2019. http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/luxembourg/story/le-luxembourg-veut-chasser-les-mouflons-18262683
  • Apollonio, M., R. Andersen & R. Putman, 2010. European ungulates and their management in the 21st century. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK ; New York. 604 p.
  • Bingenheimer V., 2018. Eine unangenehme Wahrheit – Trotz massiver Abschüsse vermehren sich die Mufflons im Wald bei Echternach ungebremst. Luxemburger Wort 3. April 2018: 18-19. [PDF 4.3 MB]
  • CABI, 2019. Ovis aries musimon Pallas, 1811 [original text by Jorge Cassinello]. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2019-11-22]
  • Decker, P. 1979. Die Einbürgerung von Mufflons in Luxemburg. Direction des eaux et forêts, Rapport non publié, 8 p.
  • Dieschbourg, C., 2019a. Réponse de la Ministre de l’Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable à question N°1402 de Monsieur Marc Goergen concernant Colonies de mouflons. Q-2019-O-E-1402-02. [chd.lu]
  • Dieschbourg, C., 2020a. Réponse de la Ministre de l’Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable à question N°1623 de Monsieur Marc Goergen concernant Colonies de mouflons. Q-2019-O-E-1623-02 [chd.lu]
  • Dieschbourg, C., 2020b. Réponse de la Ministre de l’Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable à question N°1746 de Monsieur Marc Goergen concernant Chasse au mouflon. Q-2019-O-E-1746-02 [chd.lu]
  • Dieschbourg, C., 2020c. Post on Facebook, 2020-03-04, 09:38. URL: https://www.facebook.com/DieschbourgCarole/ [accessed 2020-03-12]
  • Frati, C., 2020. La justice saisie / Carole Dieschbourg ciblée par des messages haineux. paperjam online 2020-03-04. URL: https://paperjam.lu/article/dieschbourg-prend-mouflon-par- [accessed 2020-03-12]
  • GBIF, 2020a. Ovis ammon (Linnaeus, 1758) in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://www.gbif.org/species/2441122 [accessed 2020-02-04]
  • GBIF 2020b. Ovis aries subsp. musimon (Pallas, 1811) in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://www.gbif.org/species/6165157 [accessed 2020-02-04]
  • Goergen, M., 2019a. Question N°1402 de Monsieur Marc Goergen concernant Colonies de mouflons. Q-2019-O-E-1402-01 [chd.lu]
  • Goergen, M., 2019b. Question N°1623 de Monsieur Marc Goergen concernant Colonies de mouflons. Q-2019-O-E-1623-01 [chd.lu]
  • Goergen, M., 2020a. Question N°1746 de Monsieur Marc Goergen concernant Chasse au mouflon. Q-2019-O-E-1746-01 [chd.lu]
  • Goergen, M., 2020b. Question N°1961 de Monsieur Marc Goergen concernant Chasse aux mouflon. Q-2019-O-E-1961-01 [chd.lu]
  • Hetto-Gaasch, F., M. Oberweis & M. Schank, 2006. Question N° 1124 de Mme Françoise Hetto-Gaasch et M. Marcel Oberweis et M. Marco Schank concernant Présence du mouflon sur le territoire du Luxembourg. Q-2005-O-E-1124-01 [chd.lu]
  • ITIS, 2016. Integrated Taxonomic Information System online database. http://www.itis.gov
  • Lux, L., 2005. Réponse du Ministre de l’Environnement à la question parlementaire no. 377 de Monsieur le député Jos Scheuer. 2005-04-18.
  • Lux, L., 2006. Réponse du Ministre de l’Environnement à la question N° 1124 de Mme Françoise Hetto-Gaasch et M. Marcel Oberweis et M. Marco Schank concernant Présence du mouflon sur le territoire du Luxembourg. Q-2005-O-E-1124-02 [chd.lu]
  • Magar, M., 2020. Une première chasse au mouflon au Luxembourg. L’essentiel 10 janvier 2020. URL http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/luxembourg/story/une-premiere-chasse-au-mouflon-au-luxembourg-31427844 [accessed 2020-03-06]
  • Massard, J.A. & P. Kintziger, 1994. Le Mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon) au Luxembourg: notes historiques sur son introduction et analyse de la population des mouflons de la région de la Haute-Sûre. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 95: 187-208. [PDF 1058 KB]
  • Mémorial 2011. Loi du 25 mai 2011 relative à la chasse. Mémorial A, 111: 1727-1741.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Ovis ammon in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-02-04]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2020. MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-02-04]
  • NABU, 2020. Das Mufflon. NABU Nordrhein-Westfalen. URL: https://nrw.nabu.de/natur-und-landschaft/landnutzung/jagd/jagdbare-arten/weitere-saeugetiere/06783.html [accessed 2020-03-09]
  • Naturverwaltung (ed.), 2012. Technischer Bericht der Naturverwaltung betreffend Wildtiermanagement und Jagd, Nummer 2 (2012), 68 pp.
  • Naturverwaltung (ed.), 2013. Jagbare Wildtierarten Luxemburgs. 96 pp.
  • Naturverwaltung, 2014. Bulletin technique de l’Administration de la nature et des forêts en matière de gestion de la faune sauvage et de chasse, numéro 3 (2014), 72 pp.
  • Niethammer, G., 1963. Die Einbürgerung von Säugetieren und Vöglen in Europa. Ergebnisse und Aussichten. Hamburg, P. Parey, 319 p.
  • ota, 2020. Carole Dieschbourg menacée de mort. Online article on wort.lu. URL: https://www.wort.lu/fr/luxembourg/carole-dieschbourg-menacee-de-mort-5e60d048da2cc1784e3579c9 [accessed 2020-03-06]
  • Pautsch, M. 2020. Facebook / Carole Dieschbourg schaltet wegen Kommentaren mit Morddrohungen Autoritäten ein. Tageblatt online, 2020-03-05. URL: https://www.tageblatt.lu/headlines/carole-dieschbourg-schaltet-wegen-kommentaren-mit-morddrohungen-justiz-ein/?fbclid=IwAR0L6ONV1fONfskNmxVMZ23VsB9wp-sIpvbXtAEQQi59HegKnS7s5kfy5V8 [accessed 2020-03-12]
  • Piegert, H. & W. Uloth, 2000. Der Europäische Mufflon. Hamburg. 280 p.
  • Pir, J.B. & L. Schley, 2015. Développement des connaissances sur la répartition et l’écologie des mammifères au Luxembourg entre 1990 et 2015. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 116: 437-455.
  • Piratepartei Lëtzebuerg, 2020. Video on Facebook, 2020-02-28, 22:02. URL: https://www.facebook.com/Piratepartei/videos/2508661829350143/ [accessed 2020-03-12]
  • Ries, C., M. Pfeiffenschneider, Engel, E., J.-C. Heidt & M. Lauff, 2014. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of vertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 115: 195-201. [PDF 247 KB]
  • Scheuer, J., 2005. Question N° 0377 de M. Jos Scheuer concernant Mouflon. Q-2004-O-E-0377-01 [chd.lu]
  • Schley, L. & J. Herr, 2019. Säugetiere Luxemburgs. Hrsg.: natur&ëmwelt a.s.b.l., Ministère du développement durable et des infrastructures, Administration de la nature et des forêts. 219 S. ISBN 978-2-9199511-0-9 [French edition: Les mammifères du Luxembourg, ISBN 978-2-9199511-2-3]
  • Schley, L. & S. Cellina, 2018. Technischer Bericht der Naturverwaltung betreffend Wildtiermanagement und Jagd, Nr. 7, 52 S. Administration de la nature et des forêts, Diekirch. [PDF 13 MB]
  • SISPOLO, 2015. Historischer Überblick der Aktivitäten und der Entstehung des SISPOLO-Syndikats. URL: https://www.sispolo.lu/geschichte-1.html [accessed 2020-03-06]
  • SPC, 2009. Ouverture au public de la forêt du Grünewald. 09-04-2009. Service Presse et Communication. URL: http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/actualites/evenements/2009/04/Grunewald/index.html?highlight=Gr%C3%BCnewald [accessed 2020-03-12]
  • Wildpark Mühletäli, 2020. Mufflon / Europäisches Wildschaf. URL: http://www.wildpark-muehletaeli.ch/tiere-im-park/mufflon/ [accessed 2020-03-09]
  • Wildtierportal Bayern, 2020. Muffelwild. URL: http://www.wildtierportal.bayern.de/wildtiere_bayern/096779/index.php [accessed 2020-03-09]
  • Wikipedia contributors, 2020. ‘European mouflon’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 18 January 2020, 21:49 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_mouflon> [accessed 2020-02-04]

 Page content last updated on 2021-06-15. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2020-02-05.

  1. On 29 February 2020 a private hunt on mouflon took place in the Echternach region.[]

Lemna minuta Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth

English Least duckweed Status LU: casual. 1st record: LU & ITW 2002.
Lëtzebuergesch Klinzeg Intelëns Status Eur.: established. 1st record: FR 1965.1
Français Lentille d’eau minuscule RA: ISEIA: B1, Watch List. Harmonia+: 0,24.
Deutsch Winzige Wasserlinse Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Least duckweed Wikipedia - Nederlands - Dwergkroos Deutsch | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Lemna minuta | CABI
Nederlands Dwergkroos Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Lemna minor & minuta PG

Mixed stand of Lemna minor (large leaves) and Lemna minuta (small leaves, more transparent).

Lemna minuta Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth is an aquatic plant that settles in shallow standing or slow-flowing waters, often in shaded conditions. Outbreaks of the species cause dense floating mats at the water surface that reduce light penetration and gas exchanges, causing the predominance of respiratory activities and the reduction in dissolved oxygen in water beneath the mats. As for native duckweed species, outbreaks are usually limited in time and space and are favoured by increased levels of water eutrophication that often cause the disappearance of submerged macrophytes. Waterfowl and Cyprinid fish are known to eat duckweeds to supplement their diet which may help to reduce outbreaks (Branquart et al. 2010).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Lemna minuta Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-04-21.

Lemna minuta Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth was first documented in Mecheren near Remerschen (Municipality of Schengen) close to the bird watch station on 21 June 2015 by Guy Colling and on 29 June 2015 by A. Mesterházy (Krippel & Colling 2016: 39; MNHNL 2000-). It should be noted that the tiny water lens had already been reported for the Remerschen ponds in 2002 by Gérard Schmidt (in litt.), but no herbarium specimens had been taken at that time (Krippel & Colling 2016: 39).

This American aquatic monocotyledon, the smallest species of its kind (Synonym: Lemna minuscula Herter), was discovered in the wild here in 1983 (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 976). Given its pervasive potential, it was listed on the alert list (Ries et al. 2013).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

B1 (2+3+2+3) = Watch List. Reassessed 16 February 2017 by Yves Krippel and Christian Ries. Assessment before the appearance of the species in Luxembourg: B0 (2+3+2+3) = Alert List (Ries et al. 2013).

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,24 = (Overall Invasion score 0,67 x Overall Impact score 0,35) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,67Invasion
0,35Impact
0,24Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Branquart, E., I. Stiers, L. Triest, S. Vanderhoeven, W. Van Landuyt, F. Van Rossum & F. Verloove, 2010. Harmonia database: Lemna minuta Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth. Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-11]
  • CABI, 2021. Lemna minuta. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2021-03-04]
  • Krippel, Y. & G. Colling, 2016. Notes floristiques. Observations faites au Luxembourg (2014-2015). Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 118: 27-51. [PDF 1,33 MB]
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Lemna minuta Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-11]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Lemna minuta Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-11]
  • Oly, M., 2022. Kartierung invasiver gebietsfremder Wasserpflanzen im Großherzotum Luxemburg, Untersuchungen zur Verbreitung von invasiven gebietsfremden Wasserpflanzen in einer beispielhaften Auswahl an Stillgewässern, Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. 117 pp. 
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 123: 115-127. [PDF 241 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel, M. Pfeiffenschneider & S. Schneider, 2013. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of non-native vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 114: 15-21. [PDF 652 KB]

 Page content last updated on 2023-08-18. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-19.

  1. Cf. CABI 2021.[]

Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758)

English Fallow deer Status LU: established. 1st record: 1977.
Lëtzebuergesch Damhirsch Status Eur.: established.
Français Daim européen RA: ISEIA: B2, Watch List. Harmonia+: n/a.
Deutsch Damhirsch Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Fallow deer Wikipedia - Français - Daim européen Wikipedia - Deutsch - Damhirsch Wikipedia - Nederlands - Damhert | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Dama dama
Nederlands Damhert Back to the list of vertebrates

Brief description

Damhirsch Wildpark

Fallow deers at wildlife park Klotten, Eifel, Germany, August 2011

Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758) prefers open, deciduous woodlands and conifer plantations with open areas. Fallow deers are very adaptable to almost all ecological conditions. The species can cause considerable damage to woodlands when populations are not managed. At high densities, they can alter the structure of vegetation communities and cause biodiversity loss, although moderate deer densities tend to promote higher biodiversity. Above some density threshold, fallow deer can also cause the decline of roe deer populations (Branquart et al. 2009).

The species originates from the Near East (Turkey, Iran, etc.) (Schley & Herr 2019:32).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Dama dama Linnaeus, 1758 in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2025-04-21.

In Luxembourg, Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758) is thought to have been introduced accidentally into the wild when some individuals escaped from the animal park in Hosingen in 1977.

Hunting statistics show that the population of fallow deer is concentrated in the southern part of the Upper Sauer region and in the Our valley (Naturverwaltung 2012, Naturverwaltung 2014, Schley & Herr 2019: 32; Schley & Celllina 2018: 27).

Records in the Recorder-Lux database show that fallow deers also live in the Mullerthal region (MNHNL 2000-).

Fallow deer hunt in Luxembourg

Fallow deers shot per km² in the hunting season 2017-2018 (Schley & Celllina 2018: 27)

The first fallow deer were shot in 1979 and numbers shot reached 54 in 1995 (Schley et al. 1998). In the 1990s, the number of shot deer per year amounted to over 50 and increased to approximately 125-150 animals since 2007.

The geographical distribution of shot fallow deers for the hunting year 2017/18 (see map on the right) is in line with the fallow deer distribution (see above) based on data from Recorder-Lux, GBIF and iNaturalist (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2020).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

B2 (3+3+2+1) = Watch List (Ries et al. 2014: 199).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Branquart, E., M. D’aes, A. Licoppe, B. Manet, G. Motte, V. Schockert & J. Stuyck, 2009. Harmonia database: Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758). Harmonia version 1.2, Belgian Forum on Invasive Species. URL: http://ias.biodiversity.be [accessed on 2019-10-28]
  • GBIF, 2019. Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758) in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-04-22]
  • Klees, H., 1981. Luxemburger Tiernamen. Beiträge zur luxemburgischen Sprach- und Volkskunde XIV. Institut grand-ducal, Section de linguistique, de folklore et de toponymie. 2. Aufl. 131 S. Imprimerie Pierre Linden, Luxembourg.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758) in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-02-04]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758) in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-02-04]
  • Naturverwaltung (ed.), 2012. Technischer Bericht der Naturverwaltung betreffend Wildtiermanagement und Jagd, Nummer 2 (2012), 68 pp.
  • Naturverwaltung (ed.), 2013. Jagbare Wildtierarten Luxemburgs. 96 pp.
  • Naturverwaltung, 2014. Bulletin technique de l’Administration de la nature et des forêts en matière de gestion de la faune sauvage et de chasse, numéro 3 (2014), 72 pp.
  • Pir, J.B. & L. Schley, 2015. Développement des connaissances sur la répartition et l’écologie des mammifères au Luxembourg entre 1990 et 2015. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 116: 437-455.
  • Ries, C., M. Pfeiffenschneider, Engel, E., J.-C. Heidt & M. Lauff, 2014. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of vertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 115: 195-201. [PDF 247 KB]
  • Schley, L. & J. Herr, 2019. Säugetiere Luxemburgs. Hrsg.: natur&ëmwelt a.s.b.l., Ministère du développement durable et des infrastructures, Administration de la nature et des forêts. 219 S. ISBN 978-2-9199511-0-9 [French edition: Les mammifères du Luxembourg, ISBN 978-2-9199511-2-3]
  • Schley, L. & S. Cellina, 2018. Technischer Bericht der Naturverwaltung betreffend Wildtiermanagement und Jagd, Nr. 7, 52 S. Administration de la nature et des forêts, Diekirch. [PDF 13 MB]
  • Schley, L., A. Krier, A. Baghli & T.J. Roper, 1998. Hunting records of game species in Luxembourg during the period 1946 to 1995.. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 99: 69-75. [PDF 47KB]

 Page content last updated on 2020-04-22. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-27.