Conservation status assessment and a new method for establishing conservation priorities for freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionida) in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River drainage

The genus Homatula belongs to the order Cypriniformes and family Nemacheilidae. Nichols (1925) set up the genus as a subgenus of Barbatula by the type species of Nemacheilus potanini. Currently, it is recognised as a valid genus. Nineteen valid species have been already reported in the drainage of the Yellow, Yangtze, Pearl, Lancang, Red and Nujiang Rivers. H. variegata, H. longidorsalis, H. berezowskii and H. potanini are distributed in the Yangtze River drainage in China. H. laxiclathra is mainly distributed in the Weihe River, a tributary of the Yellow River. The remaining species are mainly distributed in the rivers of Yunnan Province. Homatula guanheensis sp. nov., a new species, is described from the Guanhe River of the HanJiang River drainage (a tributary of the Yangtze River), Xixia County, Henan Province, China. It can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: the vertical brown bars on the body are wider than their interspaces, numbering 19–22; predorsal body partially scaled; the lateral line complete; adipose crest on caudal peduncle not reaching forward; the position of the anal-fin origin and the intestinal form. The new species displays distinct molecular divergence in the Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and Cytochrome b (Cyt b) genes.

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A 600-year flood history in the Yangtze River drainage: Comparison between a subaqueous delta and historical records

Chinese Science Bulletin ◽

10.1007/s11434-010-4212-2 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

pp. 188-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

MinJie Wang ◽

HongBo Zheng ◽

Xin Xie ◽

DaiDu Fan ◽

ShouYe Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Yangtze River ◽

Historical Records ◽

The Yangtze River ◽

River Drainage

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Migration routes, population status and important sites used by the globally threatened Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor): a synthesis of surveys and tracking studies

Avian Research ◽

10.1186/s40657-021-00307-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yiwen Chen ◽

Yat-tung Yu ◽

Fanjuan Meng ◽

Xueqin Deng ◽

Lei Cao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Yangtze River ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Far East ◽

Satellite Tracking ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

Liaoning Province ◽

Population Abundance ◽

The Yangtze River ◽

Term Survival ◽

River Floodplain

Abstract Background The Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) is a globally threatened species, nesting mainly in western Korea with smaller numbers breeding in Liaoning Province, China, and Far East Russia. Recent winter field surveys to estimate the species’ population size were almost totally conducted in coastal areas, but tracking studies showed that some individuals now winter inland. To ensure its long-term survival, we need a more comprehensive assessment of the current distribution and abundance of the species. Methods We combined the most recent count data and satellite tracking information to update existing information about the population abundance and distribution of the Black-faced Spoonbill at all stages of its annual life cycle, and how these have changed during 2004–2020. Results Black-faced Spoonbills mainly breed on the west coast of the Korean peninsula, while immature birds show a wider summer distribution throughout Yellow Sea coastal areas, when a few remain on wintering sites in the south. Combined tracking results and mid-winter counts confirmed known wintering sites on the east and south coasts of China, but showed that the species also winters on wetlands in the Yangtze River floodplain and in Southeast Asia. During 2004–2020, counts of wintering birds in coastal habitats increased from 1198 to 4864, with numbers wintering on the island of Taiwan contributing most to the overall increase. Latest counts found 5222 in 2021. We also identify key wintering and stopover sites as well as their current conservation status. Conclusions This study revised the known summering and wintering ranges of the Black-faced Spoonbill and assessed the conservation status of key sites based on a combination of field survey and satellite tracking data. We recommend prioritisation of further field research to identify and survey inland wintering areas in the Yangtze River floodplain and summering areas of immature birds. More tracking of adult individuals and birds during spring migration is necessary to fill these information gaps. We also suggest establishing a Black-faced Spoonbill monitoring platform to store, share and show real-time distribution range and population abundance data.

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