Plant invasions in China - challenges and chances.
Invasive species cause serious environmental and economic harm and threaten global biodiversity. We set out to investigate how quickly invasive plant species are currently spreading in China and how their resulting distribution patterns are linked to socio-economic and environmental conditions. A co...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2013-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3653845?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811306215115849728 |
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| author | Jan C Axmacher Weiguo Sang |
| author_facet | Jan C Axmacher Weiguo Sang |
| author_sort | Jan C Axmacher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Invasive species cause serious environmental and economic harm and threaten global biodiversity. We set out to investigate how quickly invasive plant species are currently spreading in China and how their resulting distribution patterns are linked to socio-economic and environmental conditions. A comparison of the invasive plant species density (log species/log area) reported in 2008 with current data shows that invasive species were originally highly concentrated in the wealthy, southeastern coastal provinces of China, but they are currently rapidly spreading inland. Linear regression models based on the species density and turnover of invasive plants as dependent parameters and principal components representing key socio-economic and environmental parameters as predictors indicate strong positive links between invasive plant density and the overall phytodiversity and associated climatic parameters. Principal components representing socio-economic factors and endemic plant density also show significant positive links with invasive plant density. Urgent control and eradication measures are needed in China's coastal provinces to counteract the rapid inland spread of invasive plants. Strict controls of imports through seaports need to be accompanied by similarly strict controls of the developing horticultural trade and underpinned by awareness campaigns for China's increasingly affluent population to limit the arrival of new invaders. Furthermore, China needs to fully utilize its substantial native phytodiversity, rather than relying on exotics, in current large-scale afforestation projects and in the creation of urban green spaces. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:41:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d481bc81a4c54d8ea8818b588bc9500d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:41:30Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-d481bc81a4c54d8ea8818b588bc9500d2022-12-22T02:53:54ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0185e6417310.1371/journal.pone.0064173Plant invasions in China - challenges and chances.Jan C AxmacherWeiguo SangInvasive species cause serious environmental and economic harm and threaten global biodiversity. We set out to investigate how quickly invasive plant species are currently spreading in China and how their resulting distribution patterns are linked to socio-economic and environmental conditions. A comparison of the invasive plant species density (log species/log area) reported in 2008 with current data shows that invasive species were originally highly concentrated in the wealthy, southeastern coastal provinces of China, but they are currently rapidly spreading inland. Linear regression models based on the species density and turnover of invasive plants as dependent parameters and principal components representing key socio-economic and environmental parameters as predictors indicate strong positive links between invasive plant density and the overall phytodiversity and associated climatic parameters. Principal components representing socio-economic factors and endemic plant density also show significant positive links with invasive plant density. Urgent control and eradication measures are needed in China's coastal provinces to counteract the rapid inland spread of invasive plants. Strict controls of imports through seaports need to be accompanied by similarly strict controls of the developing horticultural trade and underpinned by awareness campaigns for China's increasingly affluent population to limit the arrival of new invaders. Furthermore, China needs to fully utilize its substantial native phytodiversity, rather than relying on exotics, in current large-scale afforestation projects and in the creation of urban green spaces.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3653845?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Jan C Axmacher Weiguo Sang Plant invasions in China - challenges and chances. PLoS ONE |
| title | Plant invasions in China - challenges and chances. |
| title_full | Plant invasions in China - challenges and chances. |
| title_fullStr | Plant invasions in China - challenges and chances. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plant invasions in China - challenges and chances. |
| title_short | Plant invasions in China - challenges and chances. |
| title_sort | plant invasions in china challenges and chances |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3653845?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jancaxmacher plantinvasionsinchinachallengesandchances AT weiguosang plantinvasionsinchinachallengesandchances |