2026/06/04 by Qiang Wang, Peter Bowler, Wen Xiong +2 · 1 voice
Environmental Science · #Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity #Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics #Fish Ecology and Management Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.3897/arphapreprints.e202715
openalex publication_date 2026/06/04 · openalex created_date 2026/06/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The Taihu Lake Basin, in the Yangtze River Delta, is one of China’s most densely populated freshwater landscapes and a major centre of aquaculture, trade and restoration. These conditions create strong opportunities for the introduction and spread of non-native aquatic species, yet basin-wide information has remained fragmented. We compiled field records, published literature, government and technical reports and other candidate records to update the inventory of established non-native aquatic species through 2024. We recorded 147 species in 53 orders, 77 families and 107 genera. Fishes (56 species) and aquatic plants (45) dominated the inventory, followed by reptiles (19) and algae (13). Records accumulated slowly before the 1980s but accelerated with economic development: 130 species (88.4%) were first recorded from the 1980s onward. Aquaculture (61 species) and ornamental or aquarium trade (57) were the leading introduction pathways. At least 101 species (68.7%) were associated with negative ecological or socio-economic impacts, and 28 species were identified as management priorities. This basin-wide inventory fills a major data gap for Taihu and provides a baseline for risk assessment, pathway regulation and coordinated biosecurity in the Yangtze River Delta.