data for Invasion Risk Prediction of Ascidians: A Combined Approach of Ecological Niche Modeling and Multi-Factor Assessment

As widely invasive organisms, ascidians have caused significant economic and ecological damage globally. However, current research on the global-scale invasion status of ascidians remains relatively scarce, and few studies systematically consider the impact of human and biological factors on ascidian invasions.This study established an ascidian invasion risk assessment system. Firstly, we employed the optimized species distribution models to project the distribution patterns and changes of habitat for three typical invasive ascidian species (Ciona robusta, C. savignyi, and Styela clava), and conducted an in-depth analysis of their ecological niches. The results showed that C. robusta and C. savignyi exhibited a high degree of overlap in their distribution areas and ecological niches. Environmental response curve indicated that the overlap was caused by key environment factors such as temperature and chlorophyll levels. Comparison analysis revealed that the three species have significantly different temperature tolerance ranges, particularly in terms of cold tolerance. Secondly, we adopted an optimized objective weighting method that integrated anthropogenic, biological, and environmental factors. Based on these findings, we conducted a graded assessment of global invasion risks and provided corresponding policy recommendations. This study not only yields valuable insights into understanding mechanism of ascidian invasions, but also provides a reference for fisheries practices and management.