Biodiversity conservation in a fast-growing metropolitan area in China: a case study of plant diversity in Beijing |
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Authors: | Guangmei Wang Gaoming Jiang Yunlong Zhou Quanru Liu Yanshou Ji Shixiong Wang Shengbin Chen Hui Liu |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Quantitative Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, 100093 Beijing, P.R. China;(2) Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquanlu, Shijingshan, 100049 Beijing, P.R. China;(3) College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, P.R. China;(4) Chinese Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Beijing, 100077, P.R. China |
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Abstract: | As the capital of China, Beijing has experienced extensive urbanization in the past two decades. To explore the effect of
urbanization on plant diversity, we investigated the vascular plant diversity of the whole Beijing Municipality in three different
functional (urban, suburban and exurban) regions. For its geo-diversity, Beijing has a rather abundant vascular plant diversity
(2,276 species), including 207 species of conservation concern such as endemic, threatened and protected species. The exurban
region had not only the highest species diversity (1,998 species), but also the most species of conservation concern (194
species). Urban region possessed the maximum alien species in terms of both absolute number and proportional representation,
while the suburban region had the least species diversity (1,026 species). Some problems, such as wetland shrink and biological
invasions, were common in the whole Beijing Municipality. However, primary threats to biodiversity differed in the three functional
regions. The urban and suburban regions mainly suffered from habitat loss and fragmentation due to urban sprawl, while the
exurban region faced serious ecosystem degradation from increasing disturbance from both local and urban people. Based on
our investigation, we put forward conservation strategies for the three regions: improving the structure and ecological function
of green spaces in urban region, preserving as much remnant natural habitats in the suburban region, and restricting the rural
tourism and establishing a biosphere reserve in the exurban region. In addition, improving public education and orientating
that more to social aspects of conservation practice is strongly recommended. |
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Keywords: | Beijing Biodiversity conservation Distribution Native and alien species Plant diversity Urbanization |
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