Biodiv Sci ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (4): 24145.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2024145  cstr: 32101.14.biods.2024145

• Special Feature: Strategic Biological Resources • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Population status and habitat of critically endangered Jiangxi giant salamander (Andrias jiangxiensis)

Murong Yi1,2#,Ping Lu3#, Yong Peng4, Yong Tang4, Jiuheng Xu4,Haoping Yin1,2, Luyang Zhang5, Xiaodong Weng3, Mingxiao Di3, Juan Lei6, Chenqi Lu1,2, Rujun Cao1,2, Nianhua Dai3, Deyang Zhan4,Mei Tong4, Zhiming Lou4, Yonggang Ding4, Jing Chai1*, Jing Che1*   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China

    2 Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China

    3 Institute of Biological Resources, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330096, China

    4 Jiangxi Jiulingshan National Nature Reserve, Yichun, Jiangxi 330600, China

    5 Beijing Mountains & Seas Eco Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing 101100, China

    6 MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, College of Life

    Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

  • Received:2024-04-15 Revised:2024-07-15 Online:2025-04-20 Published:2024-09-18
  • Contact: Jing Che

Abstract:

Aims: In order to support conservation efforts for the endangered Jiangxi giant salamander, we conducted a comprehensive long-term field monitoring project to assess population dynamics, species distribution, and potential threats to the species. The findings from this study will serve as crucial guidance for the development and implementation of conservation initiatives for this endangered species.

Methods: In this study we established long-term monitoring of both population ecology and habitat of the wild population of the Jiangxi giant salamander (Andrias jiangxiensis) in the Jinjia tributary of the Beiliao River between 2021 to 2023. The population status was evaluated using the mark-and-recapture method which allowed us to gather essential data on population characteristics, life history, habitat condition.

Results: A total of 628 adult and juvenile Jiangxi giant salamanders were successfully captured. Among them, 543 were tagged with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, and 230 were recaptured at least once. Using the Schnabel model for estimating population size from mark-and-recapture, the population size was estimated to be 474 individuals (95% CI: 427–534). The calculated population density was 79 individuals/km (95% CI: 71–89) or 1.31 individuals/100 m2 (95% CI: 1.19–1.48). An analysis of population structure indicated that few individuals had a body size smaller than 30 cm or larger than 70 cm. During the three consecutive years of 2021 to 2023, a total of 738 larvae were observed between January and March, a time of the year when the newly hatched larvae swim out of their breeding cave and begin to forage. In contrast, only 12 larvae were seen across the whole habitat range between April and December, with an extremely low catch per unit effort (CPUE) (0.38 individuals/person·hour). Our observations indicate that larvae of the Jiangxi giant salamander face challenges from both predators and environmental factors, leading to a low survival rate in their natural habitat. Habitat assessments have revealed significant threats to the isolated population of this species, including environmental fluctuations such as floods and perturbations of water flow, which pose a risk to their survival.

Conclusion: This study recommends the evaluation of the Jiangxi giant salamander as Critically Endangered (CR) and a National Class I Protected species. Consequently, we urge the implementation of specific conservation actions.

Key words: endangered species conservation, field survey, population size, population status, assessment