Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nwab 032
Nwab 032
ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY
1
State Key Laboratory
of Vegetation and
Environmental Special Topic: Ecological Civilization—Insights into Humans and Nature
Change, Institute of
Botany, Chinese
Academy of Sciences,
The global significance of biodiversity science in China:
Beijing 100093,
China; 2 Ministry of an overview
Education Key
Laboratory of Ecology
Xiangcheng Mi1,† , Gang Feng2,† , Yibo Hu 3 , Jian Zhang 4 , Lei Chen1 ,
Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original
work is properly cited.
Natl Sci Rev, 2021, Vol. 8, nwab032
multidisciplinary study of biodiversity in order to 9000 years [15], and human-induced loss of natural
(Continued from conserve it while considering evolutionary and habitat has caused species decline and losses across
previous page) ecological processes, anthropogenic influences and several millennia. This process intensified in the 20th
6
Center of environmental changes affecting it. century. Rapid increases in human population and
Conservation Biology, China harbours over 35 000 higher plant species urbanization during the last 50 years have pushed a
Core Botanical
[7], over 2700 terrestrial vertebrate species [8] large number of species to the brink of extinction or
Gardens, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, and over 28 000 marine species [9], with a high to extinction in the wild, e.g. Yangtze River dolphins
Menglun 666303, proportion of endemic species [10]. Among the or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer), Rhododendron kanehirae,
China; 7 Nicholas 36 global biodiversity hotspots (https://www. and Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) [16]. Thus, the
School of the
Environment, Duke conservation.org/priorities/biodiversity-hotspots), combined effects of natural and anthropogenic
University, Durham, the ‘Mountains of Southwest China’ hotspot lies factors have been, and still are, shaping biodiversity
NC 27708, USA; almost entirely (>98%) within China, and the patterns in China.
8
Department of
Geography, Remote ‘Himalaya’ (33%), ‘Mountains of Central Asia’ Over the past two decades, research and pub-
Sensing Laboratories, (29%) and ‘Indo-Burma’ (15%) hotspots lie partly lications on China’s biodiversity have increased
University of Zurich, within China. In general, biodiversity in China is dramatically in quantity and quality. The number of
Zurich 8057,
Switzerland; 9 State
much higher than in any other country covering papers published in international journals has grown
Key Laboratory of similar latitudes. Three factors may explain this from a few dozen in 2000 to over 1700 in 2019
Biocontrol, high biodiversity. First, China is among the few (Fig. 1). The Nature Index 2020 Annual Tables
Guangdong Key countries with the whole spectrum of climate zones, highlighted the Chinese Academy of Sciences and
Laboratory of Plant
Resources, Key from tropical to cold temperate. Around 40% of several other institutions from China as among the
Laboratory of the land surface of China rises above 2000 m in most prolific producers of high-quality research
Biodiversity Dynamics elevation. The high geodiversity in China, in turn, in the natural sciences. Chinese institutions make
and Conservation of
Guangdong Higher creates a wide range of habitats for diverse species. up all top-ten fastest-rising institutions worldwide,
Education Institutes, Its mountainous areas serve as macroclimatic and including those in environmental and life sciences
School of Life microclimatic refugia for many endemics [11]. (http://www.nature.com/collections/chdeajdica).
Sciences, Sun
Yat-Sen University,
Second, the orogeny of the Himalaya, the uplift of Both of these are closely related to biodiversity sci-
Guangzhou 510275, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and the subsequent ence and conservation. The List of Highly Cited Re-
China; 10 Center for development of the East Asian monsoon had huge searchers 2019 (https://clarivate.com/) also shows
Biodiversity Dynamics
impacts on China’s landforms, topography and a good performance from China. Chinese mainland
in a Changing World
(BIOCHANGE) and climate [12]. The result was an elevated rate of increased its share of Highly Cited Researchers
Section for species diversification and speciation [13]. Third, significantly, from 483 or 7.9% in 2018 (covering
Ecoinformatics and during the ice ages of the Pleistocene, large parts the period 2006–16) to 636 (10.2%) in 2019 (for
Biodiversity,
Department of of China remained relatively warm and humid, the period 2008–18). In 2014, 113 Highly Cited
Biology, Aarhus serving as climatically stable refugia for many relict Researchers were from Chinese mainland, whereas
University, Aarhus C, taxa, such as ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) and dawn by 2019, there were 347, nearly a 3-fold increase.
DK-8000 Denmark
and 11 University of redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) [14]. Be- There are multiple reasons behind this accel-
Chinese Academy of sides natural diversity-promoting processes, human erating progress, including increasing financial
Sciences, Beijing activities have reshaped China’s biodiversity. Agri- investment in basic research at national and
100049, China
cultural activities in China date back at least 8000– provincial levels and significant improvements in
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⑥
① · Cataloguing and big biodiversity data
⑥
② · Biodiversity dynamics and monitoring
40°N
40°N
⑦
③
Inventory &
Monitoring
30°N
⑧
30°N
④
⑤
20°N
20°N
⑤
⑤ South China Sea Islands
1:96,000,000
Elevation (m)
-136 – 0 2001 – 3000
1 – 500
Processes & Threats &
3001 – 4000
501 – 1000 4001 – 5000
1001 – 1500
Chinese ecologists’ and biologists’ research capacity Considering the global significance of China’s
through international collaborations. In addition, biodiversity and the marked improvement in
the recent establishment of multiple excellent biodiversity research by Chinese research institutes
ecological research platforms (e.g. Chinese Forest over the past two decades, this paper provides an
Biodiversity Monitoring Network, the Biodiver- overview of the achievements. Our purpose is to
sity and Ecosystem Functioning Experiment in summarize recent advances in biodiversity science
China (https://bef-china.com/), and the Chi- by scientists from China and to identify potential
nese National Ecosystem Research Network barriers and future directions for further advancing
(http://cnern.cern.ac.cn/en/)) have enhanced biodiversity science, both in China and worldwide.
understanding of biodiversity across spatial and The rich experiences and lessons learned over recent
temporal scales. Building on these successes, there decades also provide useful examples for other coun-
has been an increase in conservation research capac- tries and regions hoping to follow a similar develop-
ity (e.g. the Chinese Union of Botanic Gardens, the ment path. In reviewing publications with Chinese
Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, and the National institutions as the first affiliation in high-profile jour-
Park-centred protected area system). Policies within nals such as Science and Nature (and other journals
various government programmes (e.g. the Grain in their families) or high-impact systematic efforts,
for Green Programme, Returning Grazing Land to we highlight the significant progress of biodiversity
Grassland Project, and Three-North Shelter Forest science in China in three critical research areas:
Programme) [17] and a key national governance (i) inventory and monitoring (what and how many
strategy for ecological civilization promotes national species are present in China, and where are they
conservation efforts. They enable restoration and located? How and why do they change over time?);
conservation to complement biodiversity and (ii) mechanisms and processes (origination, evo-
related research. Notably, the Chinese government lution and adaptation, environmental relations,
has invested US$378.5 billion over the past few and biotic interactions within China’s biota); and
decades in 16 massive sustainable development (iii) threats and responses (how is biodiversity
projects [17] and has thereby substantially slowed threatened, and how does it respond to global
biodiversity decline [18].
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Table 1. Number of species, endemic species and threatened species for well-studied revised into the Flora of China with 49 volumes
taxonomic groups in China. in English [24]. Plants of China: A Companion to
Number Number Flora of China followed to answer the question
Number of endemic of threatened of why there are so many species in China and
Taxonomic group of speciesa species species how the Chinese people have traditionally used
them [21]. Recently, both Fauna Sinica, with 162
Bryophytes 3021 524 186 volumes (Table S2), and Florarum Cryptogamarum
Ferns 2129 842 182 Sinicarum, with 96 volumes, have been published
Gymnosperms 237 88 148 (Table S3). The compilations of floras of most
Angiosperms 28 996 14 693 3363 provinces and dozens of provincial-level faunas have
Amphibians 408 272 176
been completed, providing detailed descriptions of
Reptiles 461 142 137
regional biodiversity. Moreover, the Fossil Flora of
Birds 1372 77 146
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been thoroughly inventoried. We still lack sufficient in our knowledge may bias further biogeographic
data to assess the threat to them. Second, some analysis and biodiversity conservation planning.
remote areas such as south-eastern Tibet and Further research should explore poorly inventoried
border areas in Yunnan province have not been well taxonomic groups and areas and check questionable
inventoried for most taxonomic groups. Finally, identifications of herbarium specimens using DNA
only 10% of specimens in Chinese collections barcoding. Such research may elucidate mechanisms
have precise geographic localities. Moreover, some of biodiversity formation at biogeographic scales
species are certainly misidentified [32]. These gaps by integrating the big data from species catalogues
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with data about the tree of life, geological history Atlas of China (1 : 1 000 000) and a vegetation di-
and other factors influencing species distributions vision map (1 : 10 000 000) were both published in
over time. 2001, with 11 groups of vegetation types and 796 for-
mations [37]. The two maps were subsequently up-
National Specimen Information Infrastructure dated with 960 formations and subformations and
and big biodiversity data 116 vegetation regions [38]. Since the two vegeta-
In recent decades, increasing effort and financial tion maps were based on vegetation surveys in the
investment have enabled the development of 1980s, China’s vegetation map was recently updated
many biodiversity databasing platforms. Dozens with 12 vegetation types and 866 vegetation for-
are now online [33]. The Chinese National mations/subformations. About 3.3 million km2 of
Specimen Information Infrastructure (NSII; China’s vegetated area has changed vegetation type
http://www.nsii.org.cn/) was established in 2003 since the first vegetation map in the 1980s [39]. The
ZYZ
DXAL
FL
Synthesis Center LS
DLS
ML
QLFP QLHG CBS1
Standard & Criteria CBS2
Zoological Botanical Microbial
Sub-Center Sub-Center Sub-Center BTM
Data Management
Mammal & Sharing BDGS
ObNet CFor BiO
WL TT
Remote Sensing
Bird ObNet Steppe & QJY-GTS
Desert ObNet
Soil Microbial YLXS
ObNet MuL
Amphibian Forest Canopy
and Reptile PE
ObNet Desert ObNet
NBH CBL
Insect ObNet
Soil
Invertibrate
ObNet
Sino-BON CForBio
Qianjingyuan
National Park site
Legend
5 ha plot
+ 1 ha plot
0.04 ha plot
+ 0.09 ha plot
24 ha plot
Survey grid
Functional zones
Traditional utilization zone
Core protection zone
Recreation and exhibition zone
Ecological conservation zone
Figure 4. An illustration of how Sino-BON is organized from sites (Qianjiangyuan National Park, GTS) to subnetwork (CForBio) and national-scale network
(Sino-BON) for monitoring dynamics of species and ecosystems, and multiple trophic interactions through cooperation among the 10 subnetworks.
Top left panel: structure of Sino-BON (Chinese Biodiversity Monitoring and Research Network) including a synthesis centre and zoological, botanical
and microbial sub-centres. The Zoological sub-centre includes six subnetworks (ObNet): Mammal, Bird, Amphibian and Reptile, Fish, Insect and Soil
Invertebrate. The Botanical sub-centre includes three subnetworks: CForBio (Chinese Forest Biodiversity Monitoring Network), Steppe and Desert, and
Forest Canopy. The microbial sub-centre includes only the microbial subnetwork. Top right panel: 20 large forest dynamics plots along latitude in Eastern
China. Bottom right panel: 1 km × 1 km grids in four zones of Qianjiangyuan National Park. Bottom left panel: biodiversity monitoring at the Park from
top to bottom: drone for near-surface remote sensing, forest crane for canopy biodiversity, infrared-triggered camera for mammals and birds, automated
acoustic recording device for songbirds, phylogeny of woody species with molecular data, dendrometer measuring the growth of trees, seed rain trap,
seedling plot, and insect nest trap. The map of China is from http://bzdt.ch.mnr.gov.cn/.
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each with an area around 20 ha, covering forests National Forest Inventory
from boreal to tropical zones. The plots monitor The State Forestry and Grassland Administra-
1893 woody species and more than 2.69 million tion of China has established a national-scale
tree individuals with a total plot area of 658.6 ha forest inventory system to monitor forest re-
[45]. In some of the CForBio plots, the Sino-BON- sources and biodiversity. The national forest
Forest-Canopy subnetwork has equipped eight for- inventory has been conducted at five-year inter-
est cranes to monitor forest canopy microclimate vals since 1973. The ninth inventory was in 2018
and its diversity of plants, arthropods and microbes (http://www.forestry.gov.cn/gjslzyqc.html). A
[46]. The Sino-BON-Mammals subnetwork has set systematic sampling design uses 2 × 2 km to
up 20–150 infrared-triggered cameras in 1 × 1 km 8 × 8 km grids in all provinces to conduct a qual-
grids of 30 representative natural forests to moni- itative assessment. Permanent plots (0.0667 ha
tor terrestrial mammals and ground-dwelling birds. each) have standardized measurements in each plot,
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Similarly, Hynobiidae, an ancient lineage of living of admixture and isolation between heterogeneous
salamanders, diversified with the continuous uplift habitats in sky-islands have driven intraspecific pop-
of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its neighbour- ulation diversification of the cushion willow (Salix
ing regions [55]. The concept of a ‘proto-Tibetan brachista) and likely many other species in the
Plateau’ with a flat centre is contentious. For exam- Hengduan Mountains [69].
ples, well-preserved fossil palm leaves suggest an ex-
tensive valley system with a floor lower than 2.3 km Refugia acting as an evolutionary museum
above sea level in central Tibet during the late Pa- for relict species
leogene (25 Ma) [56]. Moreover, the south-eastern China is also an evolutionary museum. Qiu et al.
margin of Tibet in the latest Eocene (∼34 Ma) synthesized previous phylogeographic studies to
was likely to have been ∼3000 m above sea level identify refugia of relict species, including those
and attained its present elevation only in the early near the south-eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan
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independently along the Silk Road, which resulted tively stable glacial-interglacial climate (most no-
in the development of local varieties [74]. tably south-western China) have higher proportions
Studies on domestic plants and animals also of both endemic bird species and endemic plant
unravel the mechanisms of rapid evolution behind species [81,82]. Contemporary temperature is posi-
artificial selection, providing insights into the past. It tively associated with overall tree species richness in
also suggests strategies for future crop and livestock China and North America, perhaps supporting the
breeding, considering conditions to ensure their metabolic theory of ecology [34]. Notably, Chinese-
survival under future climates. For example, under led research has also shown that glacial-interglacial
artificial selection, some of the candidate genes climate change, along with contemporary climate,
highly expressed in the Chinese native dogs’ (Canis topographic heterogeneity, and species traits, deter-
lupus familiaris) brain evolved rapidly. They were mine the range-size of terrestrial vertebrates at the
partially responsible for dogs’ behavioural trans- global scale [83].
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[79,95]. Notably, an influential global study found dynamics plots have provided strong evidence for
that root trait diversity was greatest in the tropics. CNDD in temperate, subtropical and tropical forests
It declined sharply in temperate and desert biomes [100]. For instance, density dependence can be a
due to both evolutionary history and soil resource key factor in structuring seedling survival patterns
supply [79]. Another global study showed that wa- at very local scales. This can, in turn, result in a
ter availability influenced the relationship between community showing compensatory trends [101].
maximum plant height and hydraulic traits, e.g. taller In some cases, negative interactions also operate
species from wet regions had greater xylem efficiency among neighbours of closely related species [102],
and lower hydraulic safety [96]. At the national scale, but this effect’s strength is smaller than for con-
precipitation, plant life-form and evolutionary his- specific neighbours [100]. By incorporating multi-
tory together affect the relationship between the ple life stages and numerous influential factors, the
type of leaf margins of Chinese woody plants and strength of CNDD also varies with tree life stages
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current findings suggest that restoring biodiversity dominant species [129]. The combined effects of
based on multispecies afforestation strategies can above- and belowground biodiversity explained 45%
effectively mitigate climate change and provide of the variation in ecosystem multifunctionality
many other benefits and services. [125]. Yet high livestock diversity (sheep and cattle
In subtropical forests, the biotic interactions grazing vs. sheep or cattle or no grazing) increased
across trophic levels and interspecific trait varia- ecosystem multifunctionality by increasing diversity
tion mediated the mechanisms underpinning the of a range of taxonomic groups, including plants, in-
observed positive BEF relationships, rather than in- sects, soil microbes and nematodes. This relation-
traspecific genetic diversity [121–123]. For exam- ship was much clearer when the analysis correctly
ple, plant diversity had non-random dilution effects accounted for the different components of diversity
on root pathogenic infection [121], while phyloge- and the different functions [122].
netic diversity of herbivore communities decreased At a national scale, carbon storage increased with
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carbon per year. Over half of this carbon was from protected area category that includes integrated con-
implementing these projects [133]. Notably, the sideration of biodiversity, ecosystem services and
value of ecosystem services provided by the giant human activities. National level redline programmes
panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and its reserves is have also been developed to maintain ecosystem ser-
about 10–27 times higher than the cost of support- vices and biodiversity. Such approaches provided an
ing these reserves [134]. Ecosystem services pro- additional mechanism to maximize ecological secu-
vided by other taxa are likely understudied. Exam- rity. They also illustrate how environmental policy
ples include pollination services provided by birds, within China has a solid scientific basis.
bats and insects.
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half of their ancestral genetic diversity [147]. These more effective management strategies to mitigate
examples highlight the urgency of protecting their the future impacts of climate change on species
genetic diversity while simultaneously reducing the diversity.
impacts of habitat degradation and human activ-
ities. In contrast, the threatened giant panda, Ti- Survival and adaptation strategies
betan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) and Chinese Species that survived through historical environ-
red panda (Ailurus styani) still harbour high lev- mental change often evolved adaptive strategies
els of genetic variation [71,143,148,149]. Thus, the to cope with the associated challenges. Recently,
assessment of genetic diversity can guide targeted genome-wide studies have provided insights into
conservation decisions. the mechanisms of adaptive strategies in threat-
ened species. For example, comparative genomics
between the giant panda and the two red panda
Endangerment history and causes
80% of which derive from a significant expansion benefits in weedy relatives following transgene in-
over the past 1 million years [157]. The evolution- trogression [169]. However, little work has focused
ary study of another highly invasive plant, Ageratina on the direct or indirect biodiversity effects of trans-
adenophora, suggests that it may have evolved to al- genic crops in China. Further work should develop
locate more nitrogen to photosynthesis and reduce better safeguards and better understand the impacts
allocation to cell walls, resulting in stronger growth and trade-offs.
ability [159]. Notably, the nematode ascarosides’
pheromones play an important role in spreading
Biodiversity responses to global change
pine-wilt disease [160]. The symbiotic microbes not
only promote insect invasions but also coevolved Populations and species respond in various ways to
with the invasive insects [158]. In addition, a global global change, including shifts in abundances and ge-
study of alien reptile and amphibian species sug- ographic ranges, changes in phenology, behaviour
and physiological plasticity, as well as evolutionary
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In contrast, a study of meadow and steppe vege- should also focus on fundamental scientific aspects
tation on the Plateau suggests that, although warm to promote a deeper understanding of the problems.
springs cause an advance in the start of the growing To achieve breakthroughs, we must identify prior-
season, warm winters can also delay spring phases ity topics and develop enabling conditions to meet
due to later fulfilment of chilling requirements. This these challenges. Such an approach should promote
results in delayed spring phenology [183]. Similarly, more China-led international collaborations to ex-
using observations on seven European tree species, it trapolate results to the continental and global scale,
was demonstrated that the response of leaf unfolding and broader generalization and theory develop-
to climate warming has significantly decreased in the ment. Below, we offer some general suggestions af-
past three decades, possibly linked to reduced chill- ter considering practical guidance for scientists and
ing [184]. Notably, climate change effects on global policy-makers.
vegetation phenology along elevational gradients are
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biodiversity research [9]. Nonetheless, there is still versity. It includes the development and implemen-
a large disparity in marine biodiversity studies’ ad- tation of the ecological redline policy [195], the con-
vancement compared to terrestrial biodiversity stud- struction of a national-park-centred protected-area
ies. Further studies in marine biodiversity should system, and the recent enforcement of the perma-
strengthen marine specimens’ collections, monitor nent ban on wildlife trade and consumption. The
marine biodiversity in various habitats, and conduct ecological conservation redline policy aims to in-
research on biodiversity changes in Chinese seas clude a quarter of China’s land to protect most
and nearshore ecosystems. There should be stan- species and their habitats in China [195]. China’s
dard monitoring practices to assess change over time updated national park system was proposed in 2013.
[9]. The recent advances in terrestrial biodiversity It builds the system’s basic framework through 10 pi-
studies also provide excellent examples to develop lot national parks of over 220 000 km2 [196]. Re-
marine biodiversity monitoring networks. Coastal cent advances in identifying biodiversity hotspots,
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including leading the One Thousand Plants and teractions with global networks have enabled global
Animals Genome Project (2010), the One Thou- standards for field census data, but such standards
sand Insects Transcriptome Project (1KITE, 2011) are less frequent for other biodiversity data. Thus,
and the Ten Thousand Birds Genome Project further collaborative actions, shared sites and coor-
(B10K, 2014). Recently, research teams from the dination must ensure that the huge effort going into
Chinese Academy of Sciences also led the Ten biodiversity research within China can be entirely
Thousand Fishes Genome Project (2019) and the complementary.
Ten Thousand Protists Genome Project (2019).
These massive genome projects have provided
unprecedented insights into genomic diversity and Strengthening and expanding
enabled a more in-depth understanding of biodi- international collaborations
versity evolution. In addition, the rapid application Solving many questions in biodiversity requires
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