Study On Species Distribution And Its Influencing Factors In South China

Biodiversity is one of the key issues of current biological research. The mechanisms of the formation, spatial distribution, conservation and utilization of biodiversity have been an important area of biological research. In this study, we investigated species distribution in south China and its influencing factors. The distribution data based on counties for vascular plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and inland water fish were collected from the following ways:(1) collection information of specimens in herbarium and historical museums in academies and universities;(2) Flora of China, Fauna of China and provincial monographs on taxa;(3) China digital vitual herbarium (http://www.cvh.org.cn);(4) literatures;(5) field survey by experts. Climate data were from World climate website (http://www.worldclim.org/). Elevation data in SRTM90meter resolution were from international scientific service platform (http://datamirror.csdb.cn). Spatial data of animals and plants were presented by Arcgis9.2, and spatial distribution of species were obtained. SPSS statistic software was used for data analysis. The results are summarized as follows:(1) The hotspots of plant richness are mainly located in four areas:Xishuangbanna region, Yunnan southeast and Guangxi southwest, Central and southern regions of Hainan Island, Central and southern areas of the island of Taiwan. In these areas, threatened vascular plants and endemic vascular plants are also very abundant. The hotspots of different terrestrial vertebrates differ significantly, which are distributed in Xishuangbanna region, southwest Guangxi, and Central and southern regions of Hainan Island. Threatened vertebrates and endemic vertebrates are also abundant in the island of Taiwan.(2) Altitude variation has a great impact on wild vascular plants, mammals, and birds. Altitude variation has no significant impact on amphibians and reptiles. The significant negative correlations were observed between winter precipitation and plants or mammals, the significant positive correlations were observed between winter precipitation and birds or reptiles. No significant correlation was observed between summer precipitation and plants, mammals, reptiles, or amphibians. On the contrary, summer precipitation has a significant positive correlation on birds. Environmental stability has no significant impact on vertebrates, but has a significant positive correlation on plants. Significant positive correlations were observed between productivity factor and vascular or mammals, and negative correlation was observed between productivity factor and birds. No significant correlation was observed between productivity factor and reptiles or amphibians.(3) The significant positive correlation was observed between threatened degree of species and contribution rate of primary industry, while significant negative correlation were observed between threatened degree of species and human population density, contribution rate of secondary industry. Threatened species are usually distributed in former revolutionary based areas, areas inhabited by minority, remote and poor regions. Conservation efforts should be focused on these areas.