Biodiv Sci ›› 2017, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (1): 53-61.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2016259

Special Issue: 青藏高原生物多样性与生态安全

• Original Papers: Animal Diversity • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Biodiversity and distribution patterns of Triplophysa species in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Chenguang Feng1,2,3, Chao Tong1,2,3, Renyi Zhang1,2, Guogang Li1,2, Kunyuan Wanghe1,2,3, Yongtao Tang1,2,3, Cunfang Zhang1,2,*(), Kai Zhao1,2,*()   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008
    2 Laboratory of Plateau Fish Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008
    3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049
  • Received:2016-09-12 Accepted:2016-12-30 Online:2017-01-20 Published:2017-02-08
  • Contact: Zhang Cunfang,Zhao Kai

Abstract:

The northeastern region of the Tibetan Plateau is a region with high genetic diversity for endemic species. To comprehensively document the patterns of diversity and the distribution of Triplophysa species in this area, we probed the allocation of Triplophysa species using field surveys from 2012 to 2015. We found that areal shrinkage and fragmentation had occurred in some species. Species richness in this area was uneven. But the middle to upper reaches of the Heihe River, Datong River and Taohe River were uncommon areas with high species-richness and high biodiversity. Along altitudinal gradients, species richness presented a unimodal pattern and peaked at mid-elevations (2,200-2,400 m), which was the transition area between two community zones with high species richness. The unimodal pattern fit Lomolino’s prediction regarding species density and altitude. Biodiversity indices displayed uniform patterns with species richness and elevation. Consistent with most studies, the unimodal shape may be the universal pattern of biodiversity distribution along elevational gradients in the Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent highlands. The intermediate elevational regions should be conservation priorities.

http://jtp.cnki.net/bilingual/detail/html/SWDY201701007

Key words: Tibetan Plateau, Triplophysa, biodiversity, distribution pattern, elevational gradient, conservation