Prediction of Habitat Expansion and Invasion Risk Assessment of Spartina anglica and Spartina alterniflora in Korea

Gaeun  lee1   Taeyang  Choi1   Adhikari  Pradeep1   Yong-Ho  Lee1   In Yong  Lee2   Sun-Hee  Hong2,*   

1Institute of Humanities & Ecology Consensus Resilience Lab, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Korea
2Department of Plant & Environmental Science, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Korea

Abstract

Spartina anglica and S. alterniflora are highly hazardous alien species that grow on mudflats and are listed among the world’s 100 worst invasive alien weeds. In Korea, these species cause a large loss to the country’s economy, estimated at a hundred million won per year. However, managing these weeds is quite difficult because their specific habitat in tidal flats. Here, we studied the potential habitat of S. anglica and S. alterniflora and their invasion risk areas using a maximum entropy modeling (MaxEnt) approach using species occurrence records in Korea and abroad. In addition, the potential distribution area map and the tidal flat habitat map were overlapped to evaluate the diffusion risk management area considering the characteristics of the tidal flat habitat. Our study showed that the spread potential of S. anglica and S. alterniflora was high in the northwestern, western, southern, and south eastern regions, including Incheon city, Jeollanam-do province, and Busan city. The tidal flats present in such areas are at high risk. This study proposed a method of performing a species distribution model for hazardous species with little distribution point data in Korea and provided valuable information for monitoring ecosystem disturbing species growing in mudflat habitats.

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1. Global occurrence points and prediction of potential distribution of Spartina species using MaxEnt model.