Abstract:

Aims: In the Anthropocene, rapid urban expansion has turned cities into important habitats for many species. However, basic information on wildlife composition and distribution in large cities is often lacking, fragmented, or outdated. As a national central city and the core engine of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou lacks systematic research on its wildlife diversity and habitat distribution. This study aims to systematically compile data on wild terrestrial vertebrates in Guangzhou and identify key habitats to inform conservation planning. 

Methods: Based on field surveys, we collected and integrated data from literature, published monographs, news reports, and citizen science databases. We analyzed potential species distributions using the MaxEnt model and evaluated key wildlife habitats by combining the analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight method. 

Results: (1) A total of 690 species of wild terrestrial vertebrates, belonging to 33 orders and 134 families, were recorded in Guangzhou. Among them, 100 species were newly recorded, such as Amolops hongkongensis, Achalinus spinalis, Grus monacha, and Chimarrogale leander. (2) Animal diversity showed a pattern of higher richness in the east and lower in the west, with hotspots concentrated in the mountainous areas of Conghua in the north, the hilly farmland of Zengcheng in the east, and the wetlands of Nansha in the south. (3) We identified 24 key wildlife habitats covering a total area of 1,299.5 km². The existing protected area network covers approximately 78% of these key habitats, but a 22% gap (308.0 km²) remains, mainly located in northeastern Conghua, southern Nansha, and central Zengcheng. 

Conclusion: This study updates the inventory of wild terrestrial vertebrates and their key habitats in Guangzhou, providing a scientific basis for urban conservation planning and management. It also offers a valuable model for biodiversity inventory, pattern analysis, and conservation research in highly urbanized areas.

Key words: wild terrestrial vertebrates, species inventory, species diversity, key habitats, Guangzhou