Factors affecting the geographical distribution of invasive species in China

Frequent international trade has accelerated alien species invasion. However, data on the distribution of invasive species after their introduction and research on the factors that determine their geographical distribution are lacking. This study analyzed the distributional trends of invasive species in China and the drivers for such trends, by identifying the effect of international trade from a dynamic analysis of 13 main invasive insect pests in three time periods - before China’s reform and opening up in 1978, from 1979 to 2001, and after China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001. The results showed that the abundance of invasive species gradually decreased from south to north and from southeast coast to inland. Guangdong(442 species) and Yunnan(404 species) provinces have the highest abundance of invasive species. Among the 13 key invasive insects investigated, 3, 10 and 13 occurred chronologically in the three periods, and invaded 7, 28 and 34 provinces, respectively. Alien pests are found to invade China through Xinjiang, the Bohai Rim and the southeast. Value of imports was a strong predictor of the number of invasive species in China, and followed by temperature heterogeneity, in explaining the richness pattern of invasive animal, plants and insects, but not that of microorganisms. This study provides a scientific basis for furthering international quarantine and effective invasive species control.