Biodiv Sci

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A large-scale pattern in species diversity of reptiles in the Yangtze River Basin

Xiaodong Yu 1, Tianhong Luo 1, Qiang Dai 2, Yuming Wu 1, Hongzhang Zhou 1*   

  1. 1 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080
    2 Chengdu Institu of Biology, Chinese Academy teof Sciences, Chengdu 610041
  • Online:2005-07-20 Published:2005-07-20
  • Contact: Hongzhang Zhou

Abstract:

We synthesized information on reptile biodiversity in the Yangtze River Basin. We documented 166 species that had been recorded and described from the basin. There are 3 orders, 18 families and 68 genera. Of these, 24 species are endemic and 54 endangered. Since the distribution patterns of terrestrial reptiles are determined by the deep rivers and high mountains to a great extent, we divided the Yangtze River Basin into 19 sub-regions. Except the headwater of the basin, the other 18 sub-regions show similar values in species richness and G-F index. However, the proportion of endemic species decreased gradually from the headwater to the estuary of the basin with the gradient of elevation. Based on the species distribution in 19 sub-regions (Jaccard similarity), cluster analysis was used to analyze the similarity of reptiles in the 19 sub-regions. The 19 sub-regions were clustered into five groups: (1) The headwaters of the basin, (2) Hengduan Mountains and Yunnan Plateau, (3) Sichuan Basin and Qinling-Dabashan Mountains, (4) Guizhou Plateau, Jiangnan hills, the Two-Lake Plain and the delta of the Yangtze River Basin, (5) Poyang Lake Plain, lower reaches of the basin, and Huaiyang Mountains (from Hanjiang River to Dabieshan Mountain). This grouping reflects the environmental characteristics of the total basin and the three large topographic platforms of the Chinese mainland.