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Conservation on diversity and distribution patterns of endemic birds in China

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Abstract

The diversity and distribution patterns of endemic species of birds inChina have been studied on the basis of the distribution database of specimencollections and published references. One hundred and two endemic species ofbirds in China, belonging to 53 genera, 16 families and 8 orders are recognized.They account for 8.1% of the total species of China. The distribution patternswere studied and three centers of endemism were found, includingHengduanshan Mountains, mountain areas of western Qinling, north Sichuan Province andSouth Gansu Province, as well as Taiwan Island, which are suggested as conservationpriorities based on endemism. Twenty-four endemics are rare and endangered, listedin the China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals. Among them, 15 species are in rankI and 9 species are in rank II. The study results are to be beneficial tofurther study on both the processing mechanism of the distribution patterns andon the priority of the diversity and endemism conservation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, 100080, Beijing, China

    Fu-Min Lei, Yan-Hua Qu, Jian-Li Lu & Zuo-Hua Yin

  2. Academy of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, China

    Yao Liu

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Lei, FM., Qu, YH., Lu, JL. et al. Conservation on diversity and distribution patterns of endemic birds in China. Biodiversity and Conservation 12, 239–254 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021928801558

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