Abstract:
The invasive success of the freshwater snail species
(Pomacea canaliculata) continues to wreak havoc
around the world. The present study was initiated to
analyse spatial trend and associated environmental
conditions related to the invasive success of P. canaliculata
in Asia. Systematic searches were performed to
identify relevant studies through different databases,
and appropriate statistical methods like spatial autocorrelation,
standard deviational ellipse method and
PCA were used to generate new knowledge on this
species. The potential invasive range of this species is
between 40°N and 40°S lat. The present study reveals
that the spatial distribution of P. canaliculata is most
significantly correlated with human population density,
followed by humidity, temperature and precipitation.
Moreover, the grazing rates are dramatically
affected by nutrient content of freshwater macrophytes.
Spatial autocorrelation analysis result indicates
clustered dispersion pattern of this snail, and
standard deviational ellipse depicts the invasion trend
of P. canaliculata moving from East Asia to potential
areas in South and West Asia. We therefore conclude
that P. canaliculata is likely to be the ‘next harmful
visitor’ to South and West Asian countries.
