Alien, Naturalized and Invasive Plants in China

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Botany
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Biological invasions pose significant ecological and economic threats.
• Alien, naturalized, and invasive species represent distinct stages of non-native plant establishment.
• Predicting and preventing invasions requires understanding the relationships between these plant assemblages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the characteristics of alien, naturalized, and invasive vascular plants in China.
• To identify key factors influencing the transition from alien to naturalized and invasive status.
• To inform strategies for managing and preventing biological invasions.

Main Methods:

• Review of plant families, lifeforms, origins, and introduction pathways.
• Analysis of phylogenetic diversity of alien, naturalized, and invasive plant species.
• Examination of introduction purposes (e.g., ornamental, economic).

Main Results:

• Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae families are dominant among alien, naturalized, and invasive plants.
• High rates of naturalization observed in Amaranthaceae, Solanaceae, Convolvulaceae, and Euphorbiaceae.
• Annual herbs and species introduced from America showed higher invasiveness potential.
• Ornamental and economic introductions significantly contributed to naturalized and invasive populations.
• Invasive species exhibited phylogenetic clustering and distinctness from alien/naturalized species.

Conclusions:

• Phylogenetic differences play a role in a species' invasiveness.
• Human activities, particularly introductions for economic and ornamental purposes, are major drivers of invasions.
• Considering species phylogeny alongside fundamental characteristics is crucial for risk assessment of introduced species.