Unique role of TCs in promoting invasions

Climate change induced extreme weathers and invasive species are major threats to global biodiversity and social economy, yet the unique role of extreme weathers in facilitating biological invasions remains uncertain. we found that the richness and relative abundance of nonnative freshwater animals, especially fishes, were greater at TC-frequent sites than at TC-free sites after accounting for effects of water body landscapes, native biodiversity, and anthropogenic factors such as aquaculture and religious release of nonnative animals. Our findings highlight the importance of developing proactive strategies against the combined impacts of extreme weathers and biological invasions under sustained global change.

气候变化诱发的极端天气与入侵物种是全球生物多样性与社会经济的两大主要威胁，但极端天气在促进生物入侵过程中所扮演的独特作用仍不明朗。本研究发现，在控制水体景观、本土生物多样性以及水产养殖、外来动物宗教放生等人为因素的影响后，热带气旋（Tropical Cyclone）频发区域的外来淡水动物（尤以鱼类为甚）的物种丰富度和相对丰度均显著高于无热带气旋区域。本研究结果凸显了在全球变化持续加剧的背景下，制定针对极端天气与生物入侵复合影响的主动防控策略的重要性。