23 plant species found at reserve
Source: Xinhua |
October 21, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TWENTY-THREE new plant species have been found over the past five years in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve in central China's Hubei Province, a researcher announced yesterday.
"We are pretty much sure that the new species, which have not been discovered anywhere else in the world, are new members of the plant kingdom," said Yang Jingyuan, head of the reserve's research institute.
The English or Latin names of the new plant species were not available yet, Yang said.
Before the latest discoveries, the 705-square-kilometer reserve was already home to more than 100 unique plant species not found anywhere else on Earth.
With abundant rain and water resources, and a mid-latitude location, Shennongjia is home to more than 3,700 species of plants and at least 1,060 types of animals. At least 39 plant species and 70 animal species, including golden monkeys, are under state protection.
The new discoveries showed the "gene pool" of plants and animals was still expanding, said Yang.
Researchers have identified 143 previously undocumented plant species in Shennongjia since 2006, excluding the 23 new varieties that are unique to the area, he added.
Scientists have also discovered 16 kinds of snakes and 270 kinds of insects that were new to Hubei Province.
Lying between regions of mountains and low hills in central China, the reserve is situated in the zone between the sub-tropical and temperate climates.
The region is crisscrossed with mountains and rivers and has 31 peaks with altitudes of more than 2,500 meters above sea level. About 96 percent of the reserve is covered by °?primeval forest.
The unique and complicated geographical environment provided protection for animals and plants from the activities of glaciers during the Quaternary Period 2.5 million years ago and the region is widely known as a home of living plant fossils.
The area is also believed to be home to a legendary Bigfoot-like ape man.
The Hubei Wild Man Research Association said earlier this month that it was considering launching a high-profile search for the elusive creature, almost 30 years after the last organized expedition.
"We are pretty much sure that the new species, which have not been discovered anywhere else in the world, are new members of the plant kingdom," said Yang Jingyuan, head of the reserve's research institute.
The English or Latin names of the new plant species were not available yet, Yang said.
Before the latest discoveries, the 705-square-kilometer reserve was already home to more than 100 unique plant species not found anywhere else on Earth.
With abundant rain and water resources, and a mid-latitude location, Shennongjia is home to more than 3,700 species of plants and at least 1,060 types of animals. At least 39 plant species and 70 animal species, including golden monkeys, are under state protection.
The new discoveries showed the "gene pool" of plants and animals was still expanding, said Yang.
Researchers have identified 143 previously undocumented plant species in Shennongjia since 2006, excluding the 23 new varieties that are unique to the area, he added.
Scientists have also discovered 16 kinds of snakes and 270 kinds of insects that were new to Hubei Province.
Lying between regions of mountains and low hills in central China, the reserve is situated in the zone between the sub-tropical and temperate climates.
The region is crisscrossed with mountains and rivers and has 31 peaks with altitudes of more than 2,500 meters above sea level. About 96 percent of the reserve is covered by °?primeval forest.
The unique and complicated geographical environment provided protection for animals and plants from the activities of glaciers during the Quaternary Period 2.5 million years ago and the region is widely known as a home of living plant fossils.
The area is also believed to be home to a legendary Bigfoot-like ape man.
The Hubei Wild Man Research Association said earlier this month that it was considering launching a high-profile search for the elusive creature, almost 30 years after the last organized expedition.
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