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Distribution pattern and zoogeographical division of mammals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

HUANG Wei,XIA Lin,YANG Qisen,FENG Zuojian   

  1. Institute of Zoology,the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China
  • Online:2008-12-20 Published:2008-07-07

青藏高原兽类分布格局及动物地理区划

黄薇, 夏霖, 杨奇森, 冯祚建   

  1. 中国科学院动物研究所,北京 100101

Abstract: The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is located in southwestern China. 250 species of mammals belonging to 10 orders and
30 families have been recorded by the authors on the plateau. On the basis of comprehensive physical factors,the whole plateau was divided into 24 basic units identified as Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU) for clustering. The information on mammals in each was used to compute composition similarity for the 24 OTU using Ward’s methods. Our study indicated that Palaearctic species were mainly distributed in Qiangtang and the northern plateau while the Oriental species were mainly distributed in southern Tibet and the Hengduan Mountains. The Palaearctic species in Qiangtang and the northern plateau comprised 88.6% of those on the whole plateau while the Oriental species in southern Tibet and the Hengduan Mountains comprised 97.7% . Based on clustering analysis and the landform on the plateau etc. , the zoogeographic distributions can be classified into fourth-level divisions. First,the zoogeographic distribution of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau can be divided into two first-level divisions with the linkage distance between 0.6219 and 1.0738. Second,the zoogeographic distribution of the whole plateau can be divided into four second-level divisions with the linkage distances between 0.5034 and 0.6219.
Third, the zoogeographic distribution of the whole plateau can be divided into seven third-level divisions with the linkage distances between 0.2236 and 0.2684. Fourth,the zoogeographic distribution of the whole plateau can be divided into sixteen fourth-level divisions with the linkage distances between 0.0930 and 0.1245. Finally,according to the mammalian distribution and the evolution of the plateau,we discussed how the distribution pattern of the mammals in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau formed. It is suggested that the formation of the distribution pattern is closely related to the uplift of the plateau.

Key words: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Mammals, Clustering analysis, Distribution pattern, Zoogeographic division

摘要: 通过文献资料检索,依据Wilson 和Reeder (2005) 主编的兽类分类系统,共收集青藏高原兽类250 种, 分别隶属10 目30 科。将青藏高原各自然地理单元作为基本单元,根据兽类分布特点,采用Ward’s 方法对各基本单元进行聚类,结合自然地理条件,对青藏高原兽类动物地理分布格局进行了研究。结果为: (1)青藏高原的兽类中,古北界物种主要分布在羌塘及高原北部地区,该地区的古北界物种占高原全部古北界物种的88. 6% ; 东洋界物种主要分布在藏南及横断山地区,该地区东洋界物种占高原全部东洋界物种的97.7% 。(2)根据聚类分析结果,当连接距离为0.6219 ~1. 0738 时,将青藏高原划分为2 个动物地理Ⅰ级区,当连接距离为0. 5034 ~0. 6219 时, 划分为4 个动物地理Ⅱ级区,当连接距离为0.2236 ~ 0.2684 时, 划分为7 个动物地理Ⅲ级区,当连接距离为0.0930 ~0.1245 时, 划分为16 个动物地理Ⅳ级区。(3)依据青藏高原兽类地理分布格局特点, 结合青藏高原隆升对物种分布和自然生态环境的影响,探讨了高原兽类分布格局成因。研究表明,青藏高原兽类分布格局的形成与高原的自身演化密切相关。