The influence of climatic and human-induced factors on the spatial distribution of invasive plant species richness across the Loess Plateau

Biological invasion poses a critical global issue, leading to substantial detrimental impacts on biodiversity, the environment, and the economy. The objective of the study is to offer a thorough understanding of how both climatic and human-induced elements impact the geographic richness of invasive plant species across the Loess Plateau. We evaluate the distribution of invasive plant species at the county level across the Loess Plateau by examining herbarium records from China. We incorporate 16 climatic and anthropogenic variables to depict the local environmental settings. Furthermore, we apply a classification and regression tree approach to investigate the correlation between the richness of invasive plant species and the identified factors. Our study demonstrates that a total of 401 invasive plant species are identified, which are spread across 249 genera and 61 families. Among these, the Asteraceae family stands out as the most prevalent, trailed by Poaceae and Fabaceae. The spatial distribution of invasive plant species richness reveals a notable trend, with the highest frequencies found in the southeastern parts of the region and the lowest in the northwestern areas. It is noteworthy that regions with higher levels of economic advancement tend to harbor a more significant abundance of invasive plant species. The richness of invasive plant species on the Loess Plateau is predominantly shaped by a combination of climatic and human variables, such as annual precipitation, gross domestic product, maximum temperature of warmest month, and minimum temperature of coldest month. To fully comprehend the ecological and biological mechanisms underlying the diversity of invasive plant species on the Loess Plateau, a pioneering conceptual framework has been established. Our study suggests that achieving a harmonious equilibrium among development, conservation, and invasion mitigation is essential for recognizing emerging risks associated with habitat alterations, climate change, and socio-economic advancements in arid regions.