CAS Biodiversity Research

Biodiversity catalogue of China
To explore and update the status of biodiversity in China, CAS organized experts from 850 universities and institutes to conduct more than 40 national-scale scientific expeditions on natural resources since 1950s. In 2008, CAS launched the Catalogue of Life: China, which has since been updated annually, with a total of 138,293 species and intraspecific units included in the 2022 edition. 
 • Flora Republicae Popularis Sinicae, Flora Fungorum Sinicorum, Fauna Sinica, Flora of Pan-Himalaya
 • Catalogue of Life: China (2022) 
 • Catalogue of Life: China
 • Vegetation Division Map of China
 • Vegetation Map of China
 • Updated Version of the Vegetation Map of China (2020)

More study cases:

[1] Hu et al. Spatial patterns and conservation of genetic and phylogenetic diversity of wildlife in China. Sci Adv. 2021; 7(4):eabd5725. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd5725.

[2] Ji et al. Reliable, verifiable and efficient monitoring of biodiversity via metabarcoding. Ecol Lett. 2013; 16: 1245-1257. doi: 10.1111/ele.12162.

[3] Li et al. Climate and topography explain range sizes of terrestrial vertebrates. Nat Clim Chang 2016; 6: 498–502. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2895.

[4] Liu et al. Hydraulic traits are coordinated with maximum plant height at the global scale. Sci Adv 2019; 5: eaav1332. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav1332.

[5] Liu et al. Congener diversity, topographic heterogeneity and human-assisted dispersal predict spread rates of alien herpetofauna at a global scale. Ecol Lett. 2014; 17: 821-829. doi: 10.1111/ele.12286.

[6] Orr et al. Global Patterns and Drivers of Bee Distribution. Curr Biol. 2021; 31: 451-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.053.

[7] Qian et al. Phylogenetic dispersion and diversity in regional assemblages of seed plants in China. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2019; 116: 23192–201. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1822153116.

[8] Wang et al. Stochastic simulations reveal few green wave surfing populations among spring migrating herbivorous waterfowl. Nat Commun 2019; 10: 2187.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09971-8.

[9] Wang et al. Nutrient enrichment modifies temperature biodiversity relationships in large-scale field experiments. Nat Commun 2016; 7: 13960. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13960.

[10] Wei et al. Nonlinear dynamics of fires in Africa over recent decades controlled by precipitation. Glob Chang Biol. 2020; 26: 4495-4505. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15190.


Origin and evolution of biodiversity 
China is both the ‘cradle’ and ‘museum’ of biodiversity. The origin of many biomes is closely related to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding areas, the formation of the East Asian monsoon, and the aridity in the western region. The Hengduan Mountains are the ‘cradle’ of the origin and diversification of alpine species and have contributed to the floristic diversity in the Himalayas and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. 
A study shows the topographic map of the Tibet-Himalaya-Hengduan region
Ding et al., Science 369, 578–581 (2020)

More study cases:

[1] Hu et al. Arctic introgression and chromatin regulation facilitated rapid Qinghai-Tibet Plateau colonization by an avian predator. Nat Commun 13, 6413 (2022). Doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-34138-3

[2] Chen et al. Is the East Asian flora ancient or not? Natl Sci Rev 2018; 5: 920–32. https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwx156.

[3] Ding et al. Ancient orogenic and monsoon-driven assembly of the world’s richest temperate alpine flora. Science 2020; 369: 578–81. DOI: 10.1126/science.abb4484.

[4] Du et al. The behavioural and physiological strategies of bird and reptile embryos in response to unpredictable variation in nest temperature. Biol Rev 2015; 90: 19–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12089

[5] Hu et al. Comparative genomics reveals convergent evolution between the bamboo-eating giant and red pandas. PNAS 2017; 114: 1081–6. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1613870114.

[6] Li et al. Divergence and plasticity shape adaptive potential of the Pacific oyster. Nat Ecol Evol. 2018; 2(11):1751–1760 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0668-2.

[7] Liu et al. Predicting the responses of subalpine forest landscape dynamics to climate change on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Global Change Biol. 2021; 27: 4352–4366. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15727.

[8] Lu et al. Evolutionary history of the angiosperm flora of China. Nature 2018; 554: 234–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature25485.

[9] Shi et al. Mesozoic cupules and the origin of the angiosperm second integument. Nature 2021; 594: 223-226. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03598-w

[10] Xu et al. Human activities have opposing effects on distributions of narrow-ranged and widespread plant species in China. PNAS 2019; 116: 26674–81. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1911851116.

[11] Zhu et al. Divergent and parallel routes of biochemical adaptation in high-altitude passerine birds from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. PNAS 2018; 115: 1865–70. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1720487115.

[12] Cheng et al. Parallel genomic responses to historical climate change and high elevation in East Asian songbirds. PNAS 2021, 118 (50) e2023918118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023918118


Maintaining mechanisms of biodiversity
The coexistence of multiple species sharing similar resources within local communities in a species-rich area has always been the core issue in ecology. The conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) that is caused by negative interactions between individuals within species, due to intraspecific competition for resources or transmission of diseases, pests, and predators among individuals of the same species, is assumed to be an important mechanism for maintaining biodiversity. Multi-trophic interspecific interactions may play an important role in determining community biodiversity. Mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungi (opposite to pathogenic fungi) could reduce the strength of CNDD.
A study revealed the relationships between CNDD and pathogenic and EcM fungus accumulation rates over tree ontogeny. 
Chen et al., Science 366, 124–128 (2019)

More study cases:

[1] Chen et al. Differential soil fungus accumulation and density dependence of trees in a subtropical forest. Science 2019; 366: 124-8. DOI: 10.1126/science.aau1361.

[2] Gu et al. Climate-driven flyway changes and memory-based long-distance migration. Nature 2021; 591: 259-264. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03265-0.

[3] He et al. Ecosystem traits linking functional traits to macroecology. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34: 200-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2018.11.004

[4] Jia et al. Tree species traits affect which natural enemies drive the Janzen-Connell effect in a temperate forest. Nat Commun 2020; 11: 286. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-14140-y.

[5] Kong et al. Spatial models of giant pandas under current and future conditions reveal extinction risks. Nat Ecol Evol. 2021; 5: 1309-1316. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01520-1.

[6] Li et al. Large numbers of vertebrates began rapid population decline in the late 19th century. PNAS 2016, 113 (49) 14079-14084; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1616804113

[7] Liu et al. Ambient climate determines the directional trend of community stability under warming and grazing. Global Change Biol. 2021, 27: 5198-5210. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15786.

[8] Nie et al. Exceptionally low daily energy expenditure in the bamboo-eating giant panda. Science 2015; 349: 171-4. DOI: 10.1126/science.aab2413.

[9] Yang et al. Why functional traits do not predict tree demographic rates. Trends Ecol Evol 2018; 33: 326-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2018.03.003.

[10] Zhang et al. Convergent evolution of Rumen microbiomes in high-altitude mammals. Curr Biol 2016, 26: 1873-979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.05.012

[11] Zhou et al. Why wild giant pandas frequently roll in horse manure. PNAS 2020; 117: 32493-32498. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2004640117.


Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and services
Species diversity can increase primary productivity and carbon fixation of plant communities, suggesting that biodiversity and its conservation can mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as providing other valuable ecosystem services. Conservation policy of the China government significantly increases certain ecosystem services in China. 
  
Improvement in ecosystem service provision and decline in habitat for biodiversity in China from 2000 to 2010. 
Ouyang et al. Science 352 (6292), 1455-1459 (2016)
 
A study explained the relationships among ecosystem assets, GEP, and decision making. 
Ouyang et al., PNAS, 117 (25): 14593–14601(2020)

More study cases:

[1] Chen et al. Plant diversity enhances productivity and soil carbon storage. PNAS 2018; 115: 4027-32. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1700298114.

[2] Feng et al. Revegetation in China’s Loess Plateau is approaching sustainable water resource limits. Nat Clim Chang 2016, 6: 1019-22. DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE3092.

[3] Huang et al. Impacts of species richness on productivity in a large-scale subtropical forest experiment. Science 2018; 362: 80-3. DOI: 10.1126/science.aat6405.

[4] Lu t al. Effects of national ecological restoration projects on carbon sequestration in China from 2001 to 2010. PNAS 2018, 115: 4039-44. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1700294115.

[5] Ouyang et al. Improvements in ecosystem services from investments in natural capital. Science 2016; 352: 1455-9. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf2295.

[6] Tang t al. Carbon pools in China’s terrestrial ecosystems: New estimates based on an intensive field survey. PNAS 2018; 115 (16) 4021-4026. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1700291115.

[7] Tihelka et al. Angiosperm pollinivory in a Cretaceous beetle. Nature Plants 2021; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-021-00893-2

[8] Wei et al. The value of ecosystem services from giant panda reserves. Curr Biol 2018; 28: 2174–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.046.

[9] Zheng et al. Benefits, costs, and livelihood implications of a regional payment for ecosystem service program. PNAS 2013; 110: 16681–6. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1312324110

[10] Zhu et al. Regional scalable priorities for national biodiversity and carbon conservation planning in Asia. Sci Adv. 2021, 7: eabe4261. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe4261.

[11] Wang et al. Phylogenetic relatedness, functional traits, and spatial scale determine herbivore co-occurrence in a subtropical forest. Ecological Monographs 2021, 92(1):e01492. 10.1002/ecm.1492
 

Invasive alien species
Biological invasions by alien species are regarded as one of the top five direct drivers (together with habitat destruction, over-exploitation, climate change and pollution) of recent global biodiversity loss, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The impacts of alien species are linked to the declining conservation status of around one-quarter of threatened species and are the leading cause associated with global extinctions since 1500CE. Alien species can also drive the degradation of ecosystem functions by altering trophic interactions, nutrient cycling and habitat structures.
  
A study showed the established and predicted richness of alien animals in global protected areas. 
Liu et al. Nat Commun 11, 2892 (2020)

More study cases:

[1] Wang et al. Global economic costs of mammal invasions. Sci. Total Environ., 857, Part 2, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159479.

[2] Zhang et al. Biological invasions facilitate zoonotic disease emergences. Nat Commun 13, 1762 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29378-2


Biodiversity and climate change
Species can respond to climate change through changes in geographic range, phenology, behavior and physiological plasticity, and adaptive evolution. China's large latitudinal and altitudinal gradients provide an excellent platform for studying changes in species' ranges. 
Characteristics of all of the averaged (A) start of the growing season and (B) end of the growing season in Tibetan Plateau during the period 1960-2014. 
Yang et al., PNAS 114 (27) 6966-6971 (2017)
 
More study cases:

[1] WAN et al. Broad-scale climate variation drives the dynamics of animal populations: a global multi-taxa analysis. Biol Rev, (2022) 97: 2174-2194. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12888


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