Biodiv Sci ›› 2023, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (12): 23382.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2023382

• Special Feature: Sino BON Tenth Anniversary • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Progress and prospect of Chinese biodiversity monitoring of amphibians and reptiles

Li Cheng1(), Jiang Jianping1,*()(), Xie Feng1(), Zhao Tian1(), Che Jing2(), Li Yiming3(), Du Weiguo3(), Yang Weikang4, Xu Feng4()   

  1. 1 Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041
    2 Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223
    3 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101
    4 Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011
  • Received:2023-10-13 Accepted:2023-12-25 Online:2023-12-20 Published:2024-01-05
  • Contact: E-mail: jiangjp@cib.ac.cn

Abstract:

Background & Aims: Amphibians and reptiles are important indicators of ecosystem health, and they are vulnerable to changes in the environment. Many of their populations are undergoing rapid decline and species extinction in the worldwide. A recent assessment of Red List of China’s Vertebrates found that 37.05% of amphibians and 30.5% of reptiles are threatened. Therefore, building a national biodiversity monitoring network, to research and analyze the trend and threats of amphibians and reptiles is a prerequisite for conservation. As part of the Chinese Biodiversity Monitoring and Research Network (Sino BON), the Sino BON-Amphibian & Reptile has covered 11 key areas with rich biodiversity and high habitat heterogeneity across China. This program aims to combine intensive field surveys and ecological modeling techniques to evaluate population dynamics and community structures of amphibian and reptile species in the study areas.

Review Results: Currently, the Sino BON-Amphibian & Reptile adheres to focusing on the research of amphibian and reptile diversity. A total of 16 species were newly discovered in China, including 13 new species and 3 national new record species. Significant progress has been made in the national need for the protection of Critically Endangered amphibian (CR) Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) and Endangered (EN) amphibian Taliang crocodile newt (Liangshantriton taliangensis), the environmental DNA (eDNA) technology and radio tracking technology applied in wild, the ecological impact of desertification habitats on reptiles, and invasive alien species, which have provided strong scientific support for protecting biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles in China.

Prospects: For further progresses, it is still necessary to continuously enhance monitoring and research on amphibians and reptiles, strengthen monitoring network construction and application of advanced technologies, emphasize the protection of amphibians and reptiles from the level of laws and regulations, establish and optimize the protected areas, and implement the necessary ex situ and in situ conservation, so as to achieve more effective protection of rare amphibian and reptile resources.

Key words: amphibians and reptiles, monitoring and research, Sino BON