Breaking Bioclimatic Boundaries: Accidental Discovery of Overwintering Natural Populations of a Tropical Invasive Species in Northern China

Breaking Bioclimatic Boundaries: Accidental Discovery of Overwintering Natural Populations of a Tropical Invasive Species in Northern China | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 23 July 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Breaking Bioclimatic Boundaries: Accidental Discovery of Overwintering Natural Populations of a Tropical Invasive Species in Northern China Authors : Zengyuan Ke 0009-0009-6388-1363 , Yuling Li , Defu Chen 0000-0002-0496-8065 , Zengqiang Qian , Hongkun Huang , Hao Ran , and Yijuan Xu [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175327053.36244765/v1 192 views 77 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract We discovered a natural overwintering population of Pheidole megacephala in Beijing (39°N), northern China, which far exceeds the predicted distribution limit (28°N) of species distribution models. Genetic analysis and intraspecific aggression assays showed that the P. megacephala populations in Beijing consisted of two supercolonies, suggesting that their establishment involved at least two invasion events. Meanwhile, compared with populations in Guangdong, southern China, no significant difference in critical thermal minimum (CTmin) was observed between northern and southern populations (P = 0.938). Habitat of natural populations revealed that northern P. megacephala nests were adjacent to human activity zones, indicating that the species may rely on behavioral strategies to avoid low-temperature environments. The niche constructed based on macroclimate still differs significantly from the actual niche of the species, often leading to uncertainties in prediction results. We emphasize that future development of species distribution models should integrate dynamic factors (e.g., microhabitat characteristics and species behavioral adaptability) with traditional climatic variables to improve the accuracy of invasion risk assessment. Supplementary Material File (main document.doc) Download 7.35 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 23 July 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords behavioral plasticity critical thermal minimum invasive ants microhabitat adaptation overwintering species distribution models Authors Affiliations Zengyuan Ke 0009-0009-6388-1363 South China Agricultural University College of Plant Protection View all articles by this author Yuling Li South China Agricultural University College of Plant Protection View all articles by this author Defu Chen 0000-0002-0496-8065 South China Agricultural University College of Plant Protection View all articles by this author Zengqiang Qian Shaanxi Normal University College of Life Sciences View all articles by this author Hongkun Huang Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China View all articles by this author Hao Ran South China Agricultural University College of Plant Protection View all articles by this author Yijuan Xu [email protected] South China Agricultural University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 192 views 77 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Zengyuan Ke, Yuling Li, Defu Chen, et al. Breaking Bioclimatic Boundaries: Accidental Discovery of Overwintering Natural Populations of a Tropical Invasive Species in Northern China. Authorea . 23 July 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175327053.36244765/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.175327053.36244765/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'9ffaa4ad6eae1b23',t:'MTc3OTQ0MDU2MA=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();