Abstract We present results of the first major attempt to record the distribution of aquatic alien species in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot using Geographical Information System. A total of 32 alien species, including four macrophytes (Salvinia molesta, Pistia stratiotes, Eichhornia crassipes and Cabomba furcata) and 28 fish were recorded from the southern part of the Western Ghats. Seven of these have established natural populations and are invasive, which includes Oreochromis mossambicus, O. niloticus (Cichlidae), Poecilia reticulata, Gambusia affinis (Poeciliidae), Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Loricariidae), Cyprinus carpio (Cyprinidae) and Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae). Oreochromis mossambicus is the most extensively distributed invasive fish in the region. Major reservoirs serve as a spawning hub for species such as C. gariepinus and C. carpio. Significant pathways for the establishment of most alien species in Western Ghats were aquarium trade and aquaculture. Given the increasing records of alien species and proliferation of invasive species in the southern region of the Western Ghats, urgent research and policy interventions are suggested, including the development of a comprehensive database on distribution, trade, invasion biology, as well as determining both short-term and longterm impacts on endemic fauna.

中文翻译：

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印度西高止山脉南部水生生态系统中外来入侵物种的分布

摘要 我们介绍了使用地理信息系统记录西高止山脉生物多样性热点地区外来水生物种分布的首次重大尝试的结果。西高止山脉南部共记录了 32 种外来物种，包括 4 种大型植物（Salvinia molesta、Pistia stratiotes、Eichhornia crassipes 和 Cabomba furcata）和 28 条鱼类。其中七个已经建立了自然种群并且是侵入性的，其中包括莫桑比克罗非鱼、尼罗罗非鱼（慈鲷科）、网纹波西拉鱼、甘布西拉（Poeciliidae）、翼翅目（Loricariidae）、鲤鱼（Cyprinidae）和Clarias gariepinus（Clariidae）。Oreochromis mossambicus 是该地区分布最广的入侵鱼类。主要水库是 C. 等物种的产卵中心。gariepinus 和 C. carpio。在西高止山脉建立大多数外来物种的重要途径是水族馆贸易和水产养殖。鉴于西高止山脉南部地区外来物种记录的增加和入侵物种的扩散，建议采取紧急研究和政策干预措施，包括开发关于分布、贸易、入侵生物学的综合数据库，以及确定短期- 对地方性动物群的长期和长期影响。