%A Bosco Pui Lok Chan, Xianglin Chen %T Species diversity and distribution of freshwater fishes at Mt. Yinggeling, Hainan Island, China %0 Journal Article %D 2008 %J Biodiv Sci %R 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2008.07021 %P 44-52 %V 16 %N 1 %U {https://www.biodiversity-science.net/CN/abstract/article_7014.shtml} %8 2008-01-27 %X

Recent fish surveys at Mt. Yinggeling in the interior of Hainan Island recorded 62 species, including 23 new to the area. Together with literature records, a total of 75 species or subspecies in 59 genera, 20 families and seven orders are now known from the Yinggeling area, representing 70.8% of the known freshwater ichthyofauna and 80.0% of the known endemic fish species of the island. The fish fauna was dominated by rheophilic hillstream species. The northern slope (Nandujiang catchment) and the southern slope (Changhuajiang catchment) shared 42 species in 36 genera (60.0% of total species), but the Nandujiang supports more species characteristic of floodplain while the Changhuajiang is dominated by hillstream species. Various diversity indices revealed that the Nankai River of the Nandujiang catchment and tributaries of the Wanchong section of the Changhuajiang are the best preserved sites with high fish diversity. Fishes concentrated in low- to mid-altitude streams and were rarely encountered above 600 m asl; none was found above 900 m asl. Yinggeling has recently been designated as a nature reserve, and it is crucial to identify sites of high conservation value based on current diversity and distribution patterns, and implement effective conservation measures for the long-term survival of its rich fish fauna.