China’s zoogeographical regionalization based on terrestrial vertebrates

doi:10.17520/biods.2017135

Abstract

Abstract:

China’s previous zoogeographical regionalization designations were delineated according to expert knowledge and experience. However, these previous designations have limited application in wildlife conservation and management because of a lack of quantitative footing. Additionally, there are still significant differences in the ecological components of some of the basic units. In order to meet the needs of wildlife protection and management, especially the needs of the Second National Survey on Terrestrial Wildlife Resources in China, we carried out national wildlife survey unit zoning, based on Zhang Rongzu’s “Zoogeographical Regions of China”. In this study, hierarchical clustering was applied to a 5 km × 5 km grid of faunistic and environmental components, based on a comprehensive species distribution dataset, consisting of 262 amphibians, 358 reptiles, 814 birds, and 350 mammals. Our results delineated China into 2 realms, 7 regions, 19 sub-regions, 54 zoogeographical provinces, 239 eco-geographical units, and 310 survey units. Compared to Zhang’s scheme, the number of realms, regions, sub-regions, and zoogeographical provinces are the same and most of the boundaries are broadly consistent, however, some discrepancies also emerge. To meet the needs of wildlife conservation and management, two hierarchical levels of zoogeographical units were added, namely eco-geographical units and survey units.

http://jtp.cnki.net/bilingual/detail/html/SWDY201712009

Key words: wildlife, regionalization, clustering, zoogeography, eco-geographical unit, survey unit

Erhu Gao, Jiekun He, Zhichen Wang, Yang Xu, Xiaoping Tang, Haisheng Jiang. China’s zoogeographical regionalization based on terrestrial vertebrates[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2017, 25(12): 1321-1330.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2017135

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2017/V25/I12/1321

Figures/Tables 5

Fig. 1 Results from hierarchical clustering on chorotype proportion of each grids. (a) 7 clusters and (b) 19 clusters. Codes from A to G in the figures representing 7 zones that can be identified, while codes Aa and Ab representing 2 zones that can be further identified in zone A, and so on.

Fig. 2 Distribution patterns of the main chorotypes in China

Fig. 3 Map of zoogeographical regions of China for terrestrial wildlife survey

Fig. 4 Classification tree on the regional fauna of seven zoogeographical regions

Fig. 5 Proportion of chorotype along elevation gradients in the Hengduanshan Mountains

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