Biodiv Sci ›› 2014, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (5): 667-676.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2014.14069

• Bioinventories • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The categorization and analysis on the geographic distribution patterns of Chinese alien invasive plants

Xiaoling Yan1, Quanru Liu2, Haiyang Shou1, Xianfeng Zeng3, Yong Zhang4, Li Chen5, Yan Liu6, Haiying Ma7, Shuyan Qi8, Jinshuang Ma1,*()   

  1. 1 Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602
    2 College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
    3 Department of Biology, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, Guangdong 521041
    4 College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hexi University, Zhangye, Gansu 734000
    5 Plant Germplasm Research Center, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074
    6 Herbarium of Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, Guangxi 541006
    7 School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091
    8 College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Shenyang University, Shenyang 110044
  • Received:2014-04-04 Accepted:2014-07-15 Online:2014-09-20 Published:2014-10-09
  • Contact: Ma Jinshuang

Abstract:

We used the literature, field investigations, specimen records and taxonomic research to categorize 515 alien invasive plant species from 72 families and 285 genera reported from China according to their biological and ecological characters, extent of spread within China, and amount of damage caused. Each species was put into one of 5 categories: malignant invasion (34 species), serious invasion (69 species), local invasion (85 species), general invasion (80 species), and species requiring further observation (247 species). According to our analyses of geographic distributional patterns, Chinese alien invasive plants were highly concentrated in the southwestern and eastern coastal provinces of China, and were rapidly spreading to inland China. These categories and distributional patterns of alien invasive plants could help to assess and control their invasive risk. Our results provide baseline information on Chinese alien invasive plants; and, at the same time, we put forward preliminary suggestions for further study, public education and the management of the important alien invasive plants in China.

Key words: alien invasive plant, classification, grade, China, geographic distribution pattern, management