Global Change Sharpens the Double-Edged Sword Effect of Aquatic Alien Plants in China and Beyond
Many alien aquatic plants are deliberately introduced because they have economic, ornamental, or environmental values; however, they may also negatively affect aquatic ecosystems, by blocking rivers, restricting aquatic animals and plants by decreasing dissolved oxygen, and reducing native biodivers...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2019.00787/full |
| _version_ | 1818560723650871296 |
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| author | Hao Wu Jianqing Ding |
| author_facet | Hao Wu Jianqing Ding |
| author_sort | Hao Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many alien aquatic plants are deliberately introduced because they have economic, ornamental, or environmental values; however, they may also negatively affect aquatic ecosystems, by blocking rivers, restricting aquatic animals and plants by decreasing dissolved oxygen, and reducing native biodiversity. These positive and/or negative ecological effects may be enhanced under global change. Here, we examine the impacts of global change on aquatic alien plant introduction and/or invasions by reviewing their introduction pathways, distributions, and ecological effects. We focus on how climate change, aquatic environmental pollution, and China’s rapid economic growth in recent decades affect their uses and invasiveness in China. Among 55 species of alien aquatic plants in China, 10 species are invasive, such as Eichhornia crassipes, Alternanthera philoxeroides, and Pistia stratiotes. Most of these invaders were intentionally introduced and dispersed across the country but are now widely distributed and invasive. Under climate warming, many species have expanded their distributions to areas where it was originally too cold for their survival. Thus, these species are (and will be) considered to be beneficial plants in aquaculture and for the restoration of aquatic ecosystems (for water purification) across larger areas. However, for potential invasive species, climate warming is (and will be) increasing their invasion risk in more areas. In addition, nitrogen deposition and phosphorus inputs may also alter the status of some alien species. Furthermore, climate warming has shifted the interactions between alien aquatic plants and herbivores, thus impacting their future spreads. Under climate change, more precipitation in North China and more frequent flooding in South China will increase the uncertainties of ecological effects of alien aquatic plants in these regions. We also predict that, under the continuing booming economy in China, more and more alien aquatic plants will be used for aquatic landscaping and water purification. In conclusion, our study indicates that both human activities under rapid economic growth and climate change can either increase the potential uses of alien aquatic plants or make the aquatic invaders worse in China and other areas in the world. These findings are critical for future risk assessment of aquatic plant introduction and aquatic ecosystem restoration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:41:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b911db6880a409b97bb3a0f4f44996b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:41:56Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b911db6880a409b97bb3a0f4f44996b2022-12-21T23:24:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2019-06-011010.3389/fpls.2019.00787442672Global Change Sharpens the Double-Edged Sword Effect of Aquatic Alien Plants in China and BeyondHao Wu0Jianqing Ding1College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, ChinaMany alien aquatic plants are deliberately introduced because they have economic, ornamental, or environmental values; however, they may also negatively affect aquatic ecosystems, by blocking rivers, restricting aquatic animals and plants by decreasing dissolved oxygen, and reducing native biodiversity. These positive and/or negative ecological effects may be enhanced under global change. Here, we examine the impacts of global change on aquatic alien plant introduction and/or invasions by reviewing their introduction pathways, distributions, and ecological effects. We focus on how climate change, aquatic environmental pollution, and China’s rapid economic growth in recent decades affect their uses and invasiveness in China. Among 55 species of alien aquatic plants in China, 10 species are invasive, such as Eichhornia crassipes, Alternanthera philoxeroides, and Pistia stratiotes. Most of these invaders were intentionally introduced and dispersed across the country but are now widely distributed and invasive. Under climate warming, many species have expanded their distributions to areas where it was originally too cold for their survival. Thus, these species are (and will be) considered to be beneficial plants in aquaculture and for the restoration of aquatic ecosystems (for water purification) across larger areas. However, for potential invasive species, climate warming is (and will be) increasing their invasion risk in more areas. In addition, nitrogen deposition and phosphorus inputs may also alter the status of some alien species. Furthermore, climate warming has shifted the interactions between alien aquatic plants and herbivores, thus impacting their future spreads. Under climate change, more precipitation in North China and more frequent flooding in South China will increase the uncertainties of ecological effects of alien aquatic plants in these regions. We also predict that, under the continuing booming economy in China, more and more alien aquatic plants will be used for aquatic landscaping and water purification. In conclusion, our study indicates that both human activities under rapid economic growth and climate change can either increase the potential uses of alien aquatic plants or make the aquatic invaders worse in China and other areas in the world. These findings are critical for future risk assessment of aquatic plant introduction and aquatic ecosystem restoration.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2019.00787/fullalien aquatic plantsbiological invasionsaquatic ecosystemglobal changeChina |
| spellingShingle | Hao Wu Jianqing Ding Global Change Sharpens the Double-Edged Sword Effect of Aquatic Alien Plants in China and Beyond Frontiers in Plant Science alien aquatic plants biological invasions aquatic ecosystem global change China |
| title | Global Change Sharpens the Double-Edged Sword Effect of Aquatic Alien Plants in China and Beyond |
| title_full | Global Change Sharpens the Double-Edged Sword Effect of Aquatic Alien Plants in China and Beyond |
| title_fullStr | Global Change Sharpens the Double-Edged Sword Effect of Aquatic Alien Plants in China and Beyond |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global Change Sharpens the Double-Edged Sword Effect of Aquatic Alien Plants in China and Beyond |
| title_short | Global Change Sharpens the Double-Edged Sword Effect of Aquatic Alien Plants in China and Beyond |
| title_sort | global change sharpens the double edged sword effect of aquatic alien plants in china and beyond |
| topic | alien aquatic plants biological invasions aquatic ecosystem global change China |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2019.00787/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haowu globalchangesharpensthedoubleedgedswordeffectofaquaticalienplantsinchinaandbeyond AT jianqingding globalchangesharpensthedoubleedgedswordeffectofaquaticalienplantsinchinaandbeyond |