Geographical distribution and determining factors of different invasive ranks of alien species across China

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137929

Science of The Total Environment

Volume 722, 20 June 2020, 137929

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137929 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
The species density of alien species increased from the northwest to the southeast regions of China.
•
Climatic and social factors affecting species density distribution were determined.
•
Life-form spectra traits of various invasive alien species were found.

Abstract

Determination of the geographical distribution and life-form spectra of alien species with different invasive abilities are essential to understand the process of invasion and to develop measures to manage alien species. Based on six classifications of Chinese alien species, environmental and social data, we determined species density, life-form spectrum of alien species, and the relationship between species density of alien species and climatic or social factors. The species density of alien species increased from the northwest to the southeast regions of China for all the six ranks. The boundary line between low and high species density of alien species was consistent with the dividing line of population density (the “Hu Line”). Mean annual precipitation was the most important factor for species density in malignant invaders, serious invaders, local invaders, and species requiring further observation (Ranks I, II, III, and V, respectively). Gross domestic product per square kilometer and annual minimum temperature were the most important factors in mild invaders and cultivated aliens (Ranks IV and VI, respectively). Annual and biennial herbs made up 52.9% to 71.2% of total species in Ranks I to IV; shrubs and trees 3.7% to 14.7%. The annual and biennial herbs were 35.5% and 32.6%, and the shrubs and trees were 25.3% and 31.6% in Ranks IV and VI. Results implied that precipitation was the most important factor on species density for the invasive alien species. However, social factors and temperature were the most important factors for the non-invasive alien species. The invasive alien species had a high proportion of annual and biennial herbs and non-invasive alien had a high proportion of shrubs and trees. It is important to understand the geographical distribution and life-form spectra of various invasive alien species for alien species controls.

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Noxious alien invasive plants have attracted extensive attention owing to their significant threats to biodiversity, environment, and economies at local, regional, and global scales (Çelik and Gulersoy, 2014; Feng and Zhu, 2010; Liu et al., 2006; Liu et al., 2005; Majewska et al., 2018; Smith, 2016; Thapa et al., 2018; Thuiller et al., 2005; Xie et al., 2001). Alien species in China are those with origins outside China and that have been introduced into China either intentionally or accidentally (Jiang et al., 2011). China has a long history of accidental or deliberate introduction of exotic plant species via international trade (Liu et al., 2005). The country has a huge territory area (>9.6 million km²), spanning 52° in longitude and 50° in latitude, which supplies favorable habitats for alien species (Feng and Zhu, 2010). Alien species have more opportunities to naturalize, establish stable populations, expand their living space, and to compete for resources with native species (Jiang et al., 2011; Milbau and Stout, 2008). Therefore, studying the regional distribution and life-form spectra of alien species is essential to understand the process of invasion and to develop management measures.

Some alien invasive species have caused huge ecological and economic losses worldwide; however, not all alien species are noxious (Xie et al., 2001). According to The Checklist of the Chinese Invasive Plants (Ma and Li, 2018), 562 alien species have been recorded in China. Ma and Li (2018) classified Chinese alien species into the following six invasive ranks: malignant invaders, serious invaders, local invaders, mild invaders, species requiring further observation, and cultivated aliens based on their harm to the ecological environment and economic development, biological characteristics, and geographical distribution range (Ma and Li, 2018). Although previous studies have been conducted on the geographical distribution of several reported invasive species (Chen et al., 2017; Feng et al., 2011; Feng and Zhu, 2010; Liu et al., 2005; Pan et al., 2015) or a single species (Liu et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2016a), these studies have failed to show the complete characteristics of alien species distribution by considering a difference in their invasive ranks. In addition, even though relationships between natural and social factors and distribution patterns have been reported (Chen et al., 2017; Liu et al., 2005; Pan et al., 2015), factors that are the most important in influencing the distribution of different ranks of invasive alien species have not been fully examined.

A plant life-form is characterized by the adaptation of plants to their environmental conditions (Batalha and Martins, 2002; Weber et al., 2008; Wang et al., 2006). Whether a naturalized alien plant can adapt to a new environment largely depends on its life-form type (Weber et al., 2008). A life-form spectrum is the simplest and most conclusive classification scheme for characterizing adaptations of a group of plants in favorable seasons (Batalha and Martins, 2004; Weber et al., 2008). Therefore, the life-form spectra of alien species in different invasive ranks may reflect the characteristics of their adaptation to a new environment (Chen et al., 2017; Weber et al., 2008). However, whether different ranks of invasive plants have various life-form spectra and the characteristics of the spectra remain unclear.

In the present study, we used checklist data of Chinese alien species and invasive ranks of alien species to determine the distribution of alien species, the relationship between the distribution density and social or natural factors, and the life-form spectra of different invasive ranks. Our objectives were to determine: 1) How the distribution characteristics of alien species differed among different invasive ranks, and 2) How social or natural factors affect the distribution of alien species.

Section snippets

Data collection of alien species

We collected data of alien species and their distribution from The Checklist of the Chinese Invasive Plants (Ma and Li, 2018). The alien species included 562 species, belonging to 80 families and 325 genera that were distributed in 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions in China. According to the Flora of China, these species were classified into five life-forms, i.e., annual herb, biennial herb, perennial herb, shrubs, and trees (Huang et

Geographical distribution of species density of alien species

Species density of alien species in total and in the six ranks increased from the northwest inland to the southeast coastal areas of China (Fig. 1). The boundary line between the low and high density of alien species was consistent with the “Hu Line” (Qi et al., 2016). The “Hu Line” was discovered as a dividing line for the Chinese population density, revealing a spatial relationship between human activity and the natural environment (Chen et al., 2016; Hu et al., 2016). For total species

Distribution characteristics of alien species in various invasive ranks

Alien species density in various ranks increased from the northwest to the southeast regions of China. The results were consistent with previous studies on the geographical distribution of invasive species (Chen et al., 2017; Qi et al., 2004; Weber et al., 2008). Furthermore, we found that a boundary line between low and high alien species density was the “Hu Line.” The line is regarded as a boundary of geographical structure, climate, and economic and social development (Chen et al., 2016; Hu

Conclusions

The geographical distribution of six ranks of alien species increased from the northwest to the southeast regions of China, reflecting a significant relationship with climatic and social factors. Climatic factors, MAP and AMIT, were crucial factors in the distribution of various ranks of invasive alien species. Social factors, GPC, ground GDP, PD, and GDP, were important for the distribution, especially the ground GDP, which was crucial for the distribution of species and requires further

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Quanlai Zhou: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - original draft. Yongcui Wang: Formal analysis, Writing - original draft. Xuehua Li: Investigation, Formal analysis, Writing - original draft. Zhimin Liu: Formal analysis, Project administration, Writing - original draft. Jing Wu: Investigation, Writing - original draft. Ala Musa: Methodology, Writing - original draft. Qun Ma: Investigation, Writing - original draft. Haibin Yu: Data curation, Writing - original draft. Xue Cui:

Acknowledgments

We thank Yongming Luo and Hongmei Wang for assisting with data collection and technical support in data entry. This study was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2018YFC0507204) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (41601588). We would also like to thank Editage (www.editage.cn) for English language editing.

Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

References (45)

M.A. Batalha et al.
Life-form spectra of Brazilian cerrado sites
Flora
(2002)
X. Liu et al.
Usage, residue, and human health risk of antibiotics in Chinese aquaculture: a review
Environ. Pollut.
(2017)
P.C. Pheloung et al.
A weed risk assessment model for use as a biosecurity tool evaluating plant introductions
J. Environ. Manag.
(1999)
C.L. Smith
The effects of climate change on the invasive alien plant Hypericum pseudohenryi in South Africa
S. Afr. J. Bot.
(2016)
M.A. Batalha et al.
Floristic, frequency, and vegetation life-form spectra of a cerrado site cerrado
Braz. J. Biol.
(2004)
N.A. Çelik et al.
Monitoring changes of vegetation cover in periods of 16-days: Mardin city case (2000−2010)
Turk. Stud.
(2014)
C. Chen et al.
Risk assessment and invasion characteristics of alien plants in and around the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China
Hum. Ecol. Risk. Assess.
(2015)
M.X. Chen et al.
Population distribution and urbanization on both sides of the Hu Huanyong Line: answering the Premier’s question
J. Geogr. Sci.
(2016)
C. Chen et al.
Historical introduction, geographical distribution, and biological characteristics of alien plants in China
Biodivers. Conserv.
(2017)
J. Ding et al.
China’s booming economy is sparking and accelerating biological invasions
Bioscience
(2008)

J. Feng et al.

Alien invasive plants in China: risk assessment and spatial patterns

Biodivers. Conserv.

(2010)

J. Feng et al.

The roles of climatic factors in spatial patterns of alien invasive plants from America into China

Biodivers. Conserv.

(2011)

B. Fumanal et al.

Variability and cryptic heteromorphism of Ambrosia artemisiifolia seeds: what consequences for its invasion in France?

Ann. Bot.

(2007)

X. Guo et al.

Do the introductions by botanical gardens facilitate the invasion of Solidago canadensis (Asterceae) in China?

Weed Res.

(2016)

Z.C. Hu et al.

Spatio-temporal patterns of urban-rural development and transformation in east of the “hu huanyong line”, China

ISPRS Int. J. Geo Inf.

(2016)

Q.Q. Huang et al.

Identifying the most noxious invasive plants in China: role of geographical origin, life form and means of introduction

Biodivers. Conserv.

(2009)

H. Jiang et al.

Naturalization of alien plants in China

Biodivers. Conserv.

(2011)

D.J. Kriticos et al.

Climate change and the potential distribution of an invasive alien plant: Acacia nilotica ssp indica in Australia

J. Appl. Ecol.

(2003)

P.W. Lambdon et al.

Alien flora of Europe: species diversity, temporal trends, geographical patterns and research needs

Preslia

(2008)

W. Lin et al.

Fast economic development accelerates biological invasions in China

PLoS One

(2007)

J. Liu et al.

Invasive alien plant species in China: regional distribution patterns

Divers. Distrib.

(2005)

J. Liu et al.

Invasive alien plants in China: role of clonality and geographical origin

Biol. Invasions

(2006)

Cited by (25)

Mesophytic and less-disturbed mountainous habitats are important for in situ conservation of rare and endangered plants
2023, Global Ecology and Conservation
Protecting rare and endangered plants is important for maintaining ecosystem structure and function, conserving biodiversity, and even sustaining national economic growth. However, the effects of habitat characteristics, geographical distribution, and climatic factors on the distribution of rare and endangered plants in China, home to 19.4 % of the world’s endangered species, remain unclear. To address this important knowledge gap, we collected information on climate, altitude, habitat, and distribution of rare and endangered plants in China to determine their habitat characteristics, geographical distribution, and the relationships between environmental factors and species density. We found that rare and endangered plants tend to occur in warm, humid, and forested habitats. Mountains, rather than plains, hills, eolian landforms, tablelands, lakes, and glaciers, can provide mesophytic and less-disturbed refuges for rare and endangered plants. In particular, medium and medium high-altitude mountains located in monsoon dominated regions with high precipitation, temperature, and humidity provide habitats for species of rare and endangered plants with high density. Our findings highlight the importance for a more explicit consideration of these mountains for in situ conservation of rare and endangered plants.
Spatial patterns and hotspots of plant invasion in China
2023, Global Ecology and Conservation
Understanding the large-scale distribution patterns of invasive alien plants can not only identify potential high-risk areas but also provide key information for developing management strategies to mitigate plant invasion. Here, for the first time, we mapped the spatial distribution of 239 invasive plant species in China at much finer spatial resolution (50 × 50 km²). We also developed a new metric, invasion level score (ILS), which represent both invasive plant richness and the number of high-risk invasive plants per grid cell, to identify hotspots of plant invasion. Finally, we compared differences in invasive plant richness and ILS between protected and non-protected areas. We found that the counties and grids in the southern and eastern coastal regions of China have the highest species richness and ILS. The richness and ILS decrease from southeast to northwest China. Meanwhile, the high-risk areas for invasion level are concentrated in and around provincial capitals in the southern, eastern, and northern China. We also found that protected areas in China have significantly more invasive plants and higher ILS than non-protected areas. The grid cells with high invasive plant richness and ILS are mostly distributed in regions with high population density, likely due to urban effect. The need to direct management attention towards the southern and eastern China and particularly within protected areas was suggested by our findings. Our study provides a comprehensive assessment of the distribution and risk of invasive plants in China, as well as a scientific foundation for further advancing the prevention and management of invasive plants.
Coupling interactions and spatial equilibrium analysis of water-energy-food in the Yellow River Basin, China
2023, Sustainable Cities and Society
Citation Excerpt :
Our results confirmed that besides being the dividing line of population density in China, the Hu Line also revealed the spatial relationship between human activities and natural environment (Li et al., 2019). Previous studies have shown that the Hu Line is consistent with many boundary lines, such as the boundary for alien species density (Zhou et al., 2020), urbanization level (Chen et al., 2019), air quality (Cao et al., 2021; Zeng et al., 2022), and ecological landscape (Liu et al., 2021; Kong et al., 2022). Therefore, the spatial distribution of WEF is closely related to the natural ecological environment.
With respect to the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin (YRB), research on water-energy-food (WEF) is important for regional sustainable development. This study established an indicator system for the WEF system, and used the coupling coordination degree and decoupling model to analyze the coupling relationship of the WEF system. The multi-scale spatial equilibrium pattern was also evaluated using spatial equilibrium methods. And the results indicated that: 1) the development level of WEF in YRB increased during 2000-2019, and the coupling coordination degree developed from imminent unbalance to moderate coordination phase with a U-shaped spatial pattern; 2) the area with the optimum state of the decoupling relationship gradually expanded, and overall regional coordination significantly improved; 3) the spatial equilibrium degree increased from northwest to southeast, with the Hu Line being the dividing line and the Bole-Taipei Line being the boundary of spatial equilibrium. This study provides a scientific basis for strengthening the management of YRB, and achieving regional sustainable development.
Overview and prospects of food biosafety
2022, Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity
Citation Excerpt :
More than 544 invasive species have been introduced into China. These include 100 species that have established themselves in large areas of China and now pose threats to biosafety.29–31 Invasive organisms threaten food biosafety mainly by their effects on crop growth and human health through food contamination.
Biosafety issues have become a major threat to the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems worldwide. As problems with food production and the food supply chain have become of greater concern to consumers, issues involving biosafety and food safety from a developmental perspective need to be urgently addressed. The term, food biosafety, is the combination of the core concepts of biosafety and food safety. It refers to the effective prevention of biological threats to food production and the food supply chain by controlling foodborne diseases arising from the consumption of edible plants and animal products, by preventing the establishment of invasive species, by strictly controlling the use of antibiotics, agricultural chemicals and veterinary drugs in the food supply chain, and by initiating food defense and anti-terrorism measures to protect the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems, thereby maintaining sustainable development in China. This article provides theoretical support for the extension of food biosafety to propose an innovative plan for the international co-governance of food safety.
Spatial distribution patterns of invasive alien species in China
2021, Global Ecology and Conservation
Citation Excerpt :
We infer that the spatial distribution congruence and synergistic effect exist between invasive alien plants and animals. Biological invasion is a complex process of multi-factor interaction (Liu et al., 2005; Zhou et al., 2020). Only if the true determinants and mechanism are identified, it will be possible to predict and manage IAS invasions adequately.
The spatial distribution of invasive alien species is driven by various factors, and should be comprehensively evaluated based on multiple invasion indices and different taxonomic groups. In our study, we constructed three sets of invasion indices: (1) absolute invasive alien species (AIAS) richness; (2) weighted invasive alien species (WIAS) richness; (3) relative invasive alien species (RIAS) richness. First, we used principal component analysis (PCA) and k-means clustering to distinguish the invasion risk levels of 28 provinces in China. Then, the ordinary least squares (OLS) and partial least squares (PLS) regression methods were used to explore the factors predicting the distribution patterns of three sets of invasion indices for total species, plants and animals. Finally, the residuals’ regressions of alien plant species richness on alien animal species richness were used to evaluate the effect of environmental and anthropogenic factors on spatial congruence. Results showed that 17 provinces were identified as high invasion risk regions (Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan). For environmental factors, the potential evapotranspiration (PET) or actual evapotranspiration (AET) could better predict AIAS and WIAS richness, and area better predicted RIAS richness. For anthropogenic factors, the gross domestic product (GDP) or human population explained more variation in AIAS or WIAS richness, and transport volume or GDP could better explain the variation in RIAS richness. Generally, the environmental and anthropogenic factors showed identical prediction ability. The results of PLS regressions indicated that one set of predictors showed similar effects to the alien plants and animals within a model, and indicated the spatial distribution congruence of them. Removing the environmental and anthropogenic factors, to some extent, will weaken the congruence, but the congruence of plants and animals still exists for AIAS and RIAS richness. Our study provides meaningful information for the prediction and management of the biological invasions.
Effects of climatic and social factors on dispersal strategies of alien species across China
2020, Science of the Total Environment
Citation Excerpt :
Alien species, introduced intentionally or accidentally, often generate significant threats to ecosystem structure, function, biodiversity, and economy (Jiang et al., 2011; Xu et al., 2006; Zhou et al., 2020).
Determination of dispersal strategies of alien species and its relationship with social and climatic factors are essential to understand the mechanisms of species invasion and adaption. Based on morphological trait, dispersal mode, and dispersal agent of diaspore of 562 alien species across China, we determined: (i) the proportions of five dispersal strategies (i.e., autochory, anemochory, hydrochory, zoochory, and anthropochory), (ii) the relationships between the dispersal strategies and socio-climatic factors in 34 administrative regions across China, and (iii) the correlations between different dispersal strategies. Anthropochory, zoochory, and anemochory account for nearly 90.0% of all the dispersal strategies of alien species. Mean frost days (MFD), mean annual humidity (MAH), and gross domestic product (GDP) were the main climatic and social factors that were correlated to different dispersal strategies. Zoochory was positively related to MFD, but negatively related to the autochory and anthropochory. MAH negatively influenced the anemochory, while GDP positively influenced the hydrochory. We classified the six dispersal strategies into two groups based on the correlations among dispersal strategies, group I included autochory and anthropochory, and group II included anemochory, hydrochory, and zoochory. Within a group, dispersal strategies were positively correlated, while between groups, dispersal strategies were negatively correlated. Positive correlation between different strategies might be co-owned while negative correlation between different strategies might not be co-owned by one alien species. Understanding the characteristics of the dispersal strategies of alien species is important for policy makers when controlling the dispersal of malignant invasive alien species, predicting the distribution, and decreasing or cutting off the dispersal pathways of invasive alien species.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Geographical distribution and determining factors of different invasive ranks of alien species across China

Highlights

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Data collection of alien species

Geographical distribution of species density of alien species

Distribution characteristics of alien species in various invasive ranks

Conclusions

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Acknowledgments

Declaration of competing interest

Flora

Environ. Pollut.

J. Environ. Manag.

S. Afr. J. Bot.

Floristic, frequency, and vegetation life-form spectra of a cerrado site cerrado

Braz. J. Biol.

Monitoring changes of vegetation cover in periods of 16-days: Mardin city case (2000−2010)

Turk. Stud.

Risk assessment and invasion characteristics of alien plants in and around the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China

Hum. Ecol. Risk. Assess.

Population distribution and urbanization on both sides of the Hu Huanyong Line: answering the Premier’s question

J. Geogr. Sci.

Historical introduction, geographical distribution, and biological characteristics of alien plants in China

Biodivers. Conserv.

China’s booming economy is sparking and accelerating biological invasions

Bioscience

Alien invasive plants in China: risk assessment and spatial patterns

Biodivers. Conserv.

The roles of climatic factors in spatial patterns of alien invasive plants from America into China

Biodivers. Conserv.

Variability and cryptic heteromorphism of Ambrosia artemisiifolia seeds: what consequences for its invasion in France?

Ann. Bot.

Do the introductions by botanical gardens facilitate the invasion of Solidago canadensis (Asterceae) in China?

Weed Res.

Spatio-temporal patterns of urban-rural development and transformation in east of the “hu huanyong line”, China

ISPRS Int. J. Geo Inf.

Identifying the most noxious invasive plants in China: role of geographical origin, life form and means of introduction

Biodivers. Conserv.

Naturalization of alien plants in China

Biodivers. Conserv.

Climate change and the potential distribution of an invasive alien plant: Acacia nilotica ssp indica in Australia

J. Appl. Ecol.

Alien flora of Europe: species diversity, temporal trends, geographical patterns and research needs

Preslia

Fast economic development accelerates biological invasions in China

PLoS One

Invasive alien plant species in China: regional distribution patterns

Divers. Distrib.

Invasive alien plants in China: role of clonality and geographical origin

Biol. Invasions