Biodiversity Of Terrestrial Mollusca In Mt.Mangshan Nature Reserve Of Hunan And In Mt.Babaoshan Of Guangdong

The Mt. Mangshan and Babaoshan are located at south side and north side of the Nanling mountain middle range(between 112 43' 19 " -113 4' 18" E and24 30' 28"-25 3' 12" N) respectively. There are rich in biodiversity here, being considered representative of sub-tropical forests. However, there are no investigation and research on terrestrial mollusca in two areas so far. This paper discussed the species composition, faunal characteristics and the correlation of ecological distribution and the habitat of terrestrial mollusca in various physiognomy, landforrns,altitudes and habitats in both Mangshan and Babaoshan. It could provide a theoretical basis for effective conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity in Mangshan and Babaoshan. The investigation of terrestrial mollusca in Mangshan and Babaoshan was carried out for six times from May 2001 to November 2002. Based on various vegetation type , altitudes and habitats of the sampling areas, 34 sampling sites (22 in Mangshan and 12 in Babaoshan) were selected respectively. Qualitative and quantitative investigation (Visual Encounter Surveys) of terrestrial mollusca were carried out in each sampling site of Mangshan Nature Reserve and Babaoshan of Guangdong. All terrestrial mollusca in each sampling site were collected and identified. A list of the name of the species of terrestrial mollusca, Margalef species richness index (d_MA) , Shannon-Wiener index (H') and Pielou evenness index (Jsw ) were used to analyze their biodiversity.The results show that there are 31 known species, 1 new species and7 unnamed species which were collected from the sampling sites, belong to 10 families and 19 genera in Mangshan Nature reserve. There are 36 known species, 1 new species and 2 unnamed species which were collected from the sampling sites, belong to 10 families and 27 genera in Babaoshan. The composition of terrestrial mollusca is different except for 10 species 14 genera and 9 families are the same between two areas.The result of fauna analysis show that the central China and south China of oriental region are absolute superior in Mangshan Nature reserve and Babaoshan. However a few Palaearctic region species have 'filtered into. The central China species are the chief portion in Mangshan Nature reserve and the south china species are the chief portion in Babaoshan. From Mangshan Nature reserve to BaBaoshan, the central China species are clearly constantly reducing, but the central China species are clearly constantly increasing. This trend shows that the terrestrial mollusca fauna exists many differences in two areas.The vegetation type have a definite effect on their growing and breeding. The species are the furthest abundant in mixed forest of evergreen broad leaf and deciduous broad leaf in middle altitude region(from 500m to 1,200m) in two areas, followed by the mixed forest of coniferous leaf and broad leaf in middle altitude region(from 1,200m to 1,600m) of Mangshan and the evergreen broad leaf forest in low altitude region(under 500m) of Babaoshan. The biomass of the mollusca community is much bigger than any other areas and the superior species are quite apparent in low altitude region. The terrestrial mollusca are not discovered in high altitude region(from 1,600 to 1,900) so far.The individual number of terrestrial mollusca is continuously reducing with the rise of altitudes in Mangshan nature reserve, but it sems no apparent change in Babaoshan area.There were more abundant species of terrestrial mollusca community in the limestone areas where was abundant in calcium.These diversity indexes indicate a trend-the more abundant and even the components and more complicated the habitats of the community, the higher value of these diversity indexes whether Margalefspecies richness index (d_MA) , Shannon-Wiener index (H') , or Pielou evenness index (Jsw) were used to analyze the biodiversity of terrestrial mollusca. The change of Shannon-Wiener (H') is accordant with species and Margalef species richness index (d_MA)...