Taxonomy,distribution,and contemporary exposure of terrestrial mammals to floods and human pressure across different areas for biodiversity conservation in China

A significant research focus is placed on identifying animal species and areas at future risk to human-induced alterations of the environment and long-term changes in climatic conditions.Yet,the extent to which exposure to extreme climatic events and intense human pressure can increase the risk of harmful impacts on species remains poorly investigated.Focusing on terrestrial mammals in China,one of the world’s megadiverse countries,we investigated patterns of contemporary exposure to floods and human pressures and determined their taxonomic representation and distribution across three major area-based conservation schemes,namely,national nature reserves(NNRs),priority areas for biodiversity conservation(PABCs),and key biodiversity areas(KBAs).Among the 440 species assessed with moderate or high exposure to floods,327(∼75%)also qualified as moderate or high in exposure to intense human pressure.These species mainly belong to the orders Chiroptera,Eulipotyphla,and Rodentia.Likewise,there were 305,311,and 311 species with moderate or high exposure to flood and intense human pressure represented across NNRs,PABCs,and KBAs,respectively.Our findings support the prioritization of KBAs for expansion of site-based protection efforts such as NNRs in China,considering threats to species from exposure to adverse effects from both extreme climate and human pressure.

中国哺乳动物形态、生活史和生态学特征数据集

物种特征是生物对生存环境适应和响应的表现,反映了物种的生态位、适合度和生态功能。特征数据库的建立和共享是研究生物多样性维持与丧失、物种进化与适应、生态过程与生态系统功能、物种对气候变化和人类干扰响应、种内与种间关系等的基础。中国是世界哺乳动物物种数最多的国家之一,然而目前中国还没有包含哺乳动物形态、生活史、生态学和地理分布等物种特征的数据库。我们系统查阅了文献和各种数据资料,共收集整理出中国有分布记录的754种哺乳动物(包括近些年野外绝灭种、分布存疑种)的体重、脑容量、体长、尾长、前臂长(翼手目)、后足长、耳长、性成熟时间、妊娠期、窝崽数、年窝数、世代长度、食性、活动模式、是否特有种、濒危等级、海拔范围、栖息地类型、栖息地宽度、动物地理界、生物群系、分布型、动物地理区划和分布省份或水域等24个生态特征数据。在这些特征中,除了分布省份或水域及是否特有种外,其余特征数据均存在不同程度的缺失,数据的完整度为30%‒100%。本数据库收录的哺乳动物种数为目前中国哺乳动物种数的上限,为中国哺乳动物研究提供了基础数据,推进中国哺乳动物多样性信息共享和深度挖掘。