Are Hong Kong and Taiwan stepping‐stones for invasive species to the mainland of China?

Abstract

Understanding the origins and introduction pathways of invasive species is a fundamental issue for invasion biology, which is necessary for predicting and preventing future invasion. Once an invasive species is established in a new location, this location could serve as a stepping‐stone for further invasions. However, such “stepping‐stone” effect has not been widely investigated. Using the published literature and records, we compiled the first found locations of 127 top invasive species in China. Our study showed that the most common landing spots of these invasive species were Hong Kong (22 species) and Taiwan (20 species), which accounted for one‐third of the invasive species in China. Our analysis revealed that the invasive species in mainland China were more likely to transport from Hong Kong than Macau, a neighboring region with a similar area and colonial history. Similarly, more invasive species were also first landed on Taiwan than Hainan, a nearby island sharing similar climate conditions. Together, our findings indicate that Hong Kong and Taiwan are the most important stepping‐stones for invasive species to the mainland of China and suggesting that the increasing trade exchange of China's coastal ports constitutes a potential risk for the spread of more invasive species. We suppose that they would be the future stepping‐stones for invasive species to the mainland of China and these coastal ports regions where improved biosecurity is needed now.

Impact of the Mid-Pleistocene Revolution and Anthropogenic Factors on the Dispersion of Asian Black-Spined Toads (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)

“…The geographical isolation of the island by the sea straight (about 50 m deep) prevented natural secondary colonisation of the island [ 118 ]. Thus, the clustering of haplotypes present in the geographically distant but trade-wise close Taiwan and Hong-Kong [ 119 ] suggests a recent human-induced introduction resulting in a secondary extension. This dispersion pathway for D. melanostictus is supported by the species resistance to drought [ 120 ] as exemplified by invasions in Eastern Wallacea [ 121 ] and Madagascar [ 122 ].…”

Review of the genus Strumigenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in Hong Kong with the description of three new species and the addition of five native and four introduced species records

“…By its central position in Asia and its leading role in regional and global trade, Hong Kong presents numerous opportunities for the introduction, establishment, and spread of introduced species ( Lu et al 2018 ). Our results suggest that introduced Strumigenys species are particularly diverse and common in open and disturbed habitats.…”

Are Invasive Patterns of Non-native Insects Related to Woody Plants Differing Between Europe and China?

“…This is coherent with the data from Qi and Lu (2018), who already listed 17 non-native species associated to woody tropical plants in the tropical provinces of China. Lu et al (2018) also proposed that Taiwan and Hong-Kong could considered as stepping-stones for invasion to mainland China, citing the example ofa drywood termite (Incisitermes minor) brought to Hong-Kong from Japan along with timber and which then spread to Zhejiang. More globally, Wan and Yang (2016) noted that the spatial distribution of invasive insect pests in China showed a general pattern of gradually declining concentration from southeast to northwest, mainly because of increased opportunities for the introduction of invasive species by sea due to rapid development of coastal economies (Eastern China's international trade accounted for 86.5% of the national total in 2013).…”