Rare and endangered species of animals and plants such as red-bellied heterogeneous dragonfly and water lily were found for the first time in Haikou Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park

New Hainan Client, Nanhai Net, Nanguo Metropolis Daily February 2 news (reporter Dang Chaofeng) February 2, is the "World Wetlands Day". The reporter learned from the Haikou Wetland Protection and Management Center that the "Haikou Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park Ecological Monitoring Announcement (2018-2020)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Announcement") was announced: In terms of rare and endangered plants, in early 2020, it was found that there was a distribution of water lilies in the upper reaches of the Wuyuan River; the number of birds recorded increased from 115 to 133 species, accounting for 44.3% of the total number of bird species in Haikou City; the phenomenon of foreign invasion of fish is still severe; amphibians and reptiles have been monitored to the national second-level protected animal tiger frog. In addition, the red-bellied dragonfly was found for the first time in Haikou Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park, which became a new record in Hainan.

Red-bellied heterogeneous dragonfly. Photo by Yuan Langxing

plant

The total number of species has reached 449 species, and there are 2 kinds of national second-level protected plants such as common wild rice and water fern

The cumulative number of plant species has reached 449, belonging to 335 genera and 112 families. Among them, there are 79 species of trees, 92 species of shrubs, 45 species of vines, and 233 species of herbs. Among the new plants, there are monkey earrings with high forest composition, Lingnan mountain bamboo, goosefoot wood and so on.

In terms of rare and endangered plants, Haikou Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park has two kinds of national second-level protected plants, ordinary wild rice and water fern, and 5 provincial-level protected plants such as blood-sealed throat, halogen fern, autumn maple, flame orchid, and column orchid. In the ecological pond, there are artificially introduced cauliflowers and water horns.

At the beginning of 2020, it was found that there was a distribution of water lilies in the upper reaches of the Wuyuan River. The medicinal water lily, also known as the blue water lily, is a tropical water lily species native to China and has high scientific research and ornamental value. It is found in southern Yunnan, Hainan and Hubei, but due to habitat destruction, the natural distribution range has been repeatedly reduced and has disappeared in many places. In recent years, Hainan Sanya, Haikou Yangshan Wetland and other places have been found in the extended medicine water lily, but these extended drug water lily in the distribution area of the population is small, many are only sporadic distribution, the living conditions are worrying, has been endangered.

In terms of invasive alien plants, the 2018-2019 annual survey report recorded a total of 27 species in 12 families and 25 genera. In 2019-2020, a total of 70 invasive alien plant species were recorded, belonging to 28 families and 61 genera. Asteraceae is the main invasive species, with as many as 14 species. Among them, there are 15 species of plants that have been rated as "malignant invasive species", namely Vitex mustard, hollow lotus grass, mimosa grass, herb thistle, ghost needle grass, aircraft grass, revolutionary vegetable, annual pony, vermicelli, silver gum chrysanthemum, false stink grass, five-clawed golden dragon, lantana, hyacinth blue, and large grass.

birds

From 115 species to 133 species, resident birds and winter migratory birds dominate

The number of birds recorded in Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park increased from 115 to 133, accounting for 44.3% of the total number of bird species in Haikou.

The new bird species are: Little Swan, Grey-headed Wheat Chicken, Red-necked Sandpiper, White-winged Floating Gull, Black Reed Ibis, Night Heron, Dark Grey Crane, Little Grey Mountain PepperBird, Grey Mountain PepperBird, Oriental Reed Warbler, Giant-billed Willow Warbler, Crowned Willow Warbler, Far Eastern Tree Warbler, Grey-backed Plover, Red-tailed Singing Plover, Red-throated Singing Plover, Red-throated Singing Grebe, White-bellied Bluebird.

The residency type of birds: 55 species of resident birds, 55 species of winter migratory birds, 6 species of summer migratory birds, 4 species of traveling birds, and 1 species of lost birds among the 121 species of birds. The survey results show that resident birds and winter migratory birds occupy the main position of Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park.

This year, 11 species of national level II key protected bird species were recorded: red original chicken, cygnet, brown-winged crow, small crow, osprey, black-winged kite, brown-eared eagle, common eagle, collared owl, kestrel, peregrine falcon.

46 species of birds under key protection in Hainan Province: Chinese partridge, chestnut duck, fire-spotted dove, bead-necked dove, green-billed ground dove, grey-breasted buzzard, white-breasted bitter bird, black water chicken, gray-headed wheat chicken, golden plover, golden plover, ring-necked plover, Mongolian sand plover, iron-billed sandpiper, colored sandpiper, water pheasant, fan-tailed sand cone, Zelu Sandpiper, Blue-footed Sandpiper, White-waisted Sandpiper, Forest Sandpiper, Sandpiper, Red-necked Sandpiper, Common Swallow Sandpiper, White-fronted Tern, Grey-winged Floating Gull, White-winged Floating Gull, Yellow Spotted Reed Seabird, Chestnut Reed Seabird, Black Reed Fritter, Night Heron, Green Heron, Pond Heron, Cowback Heron, Heron, Grass Heron, Great Egret, Medium Egret, Egret, Bald Eagle, Black-throated Grebe, Myna, House Myna, Merceric Starling, Grey-backed Grebe, Blue-tailed Grebe.

Flower eel

Fish

Two new species of leopard-printed catfish and large-spined loach are introduced, and two species of invasive exotic fish are the leather-bearded catfish

From 2018 to 2020, the total number of fish species in Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park reached 32 species, and 2 new species were added this year, namely leopard striped catfish and large spiny loach.

In the 2020 annual monitoring, in the monitoring area of the entire basin of the Wuyuan River, the most common is the Nile tilapia. The phenomenon of foreign invasion remains acute. Among the invasive fish species, the leather-bearded catfish is the most widespread, and they can be found in every section of the river.

In terms of rare and endangered fish, in the fish ecological monitoring on July 21, 2019 and July 24, 2020, the Wuyuan River found China's national level II protected aquatic animals - commonly known as the flower eel. At present, due to environmental pollution, river engineering, and artificial fishing, its natural large adult fish are almost extinct.

The flower eel is an "indicator species" that directly reflects the health of the river water environment by traveling and inhabiting the estuary during its life cycle. In the two years of monitoring, flower eels were found, which means that Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park has achieved stable results in the treatment and maintenance of the ecological environment of the river.

Amphibians and reptiles

Amphibians recorded a total of 12 species in 6 families And reptiles recorded a total of 12 species in 5 families

A total of 12 species of amphibians have been recorded in 6 families, accounting for 27% of the number of amphibian species in Hainan Province, all of which are tailless. A total of 12 species of reptiles were recorded in 5 families, accounting for 10.5% of the total number of reptile species on Hainan Island. The most common amphibians are the swamp water frog and the Zelu frog; The most common reptile is the warty-tailed lizard tiger.

One species of national second-level protected animal: tiger striped frog, was monitored, which is widely distributed within the monitoring range. Due to the large size of the tiger frog and its high edible value, hunting pressure has been greater in recent years.

The Deli Little Ji frog is a new Hainan record discovered in 2005 at the main peak of Parrot Ridge. Prior to this, the Deli little ji frog was only found in the relatively primitive central mountainous areas of Hainan. Although Wuyuanhe Wetland Park has a relatively native habitat, it is adjacent to Haikou City, and this record is still surprising. The discovery of the Deli Xiaoji frog proves from the side that the habitat of Wuyuanhe Wetland Park is relatively suitable for amphibians and has certain conservation value.

dragonfly

Dragonfly insects have 5 families and 21 species found red-bellied heterodonyllus to set a new record

Wuyuanhe Wetland Park recorded a total of 21 species of dragonfly insects in 5 families in the sample line monitoring, accounting for 12% of the number of dragonfly species in Hainan Province. Among the dragonflies in Wuyuanhe, there are five species of cup-spotted small cockroaches, yellow-winged dragonflies, red dragonflies, narrow-bellied gray dragonflies, and yellow dragonflies.

The upper reaches are the most abundant, followed by the middle reaches, and the least downstream, which is consistent with the health of the wetlands in the upper, middle and lower reaches and the richness of vegetation, indicating that the diversity of dragonfly species can be used as an important indicator for the evaluation of wetland health status.

There are 10 species that are widely distributed (upper, middle and lower) (upper, middle and lower), including cup spotted small cockroach, green-breasted yellow cockroach, brown spotted mole, tyrannosaurus leaf spring dragonfly, yellow-winged dragonfly, red dragonfly, narrow-bellied gray dragonfly, yellow dragonfly, red cochineal, cloud-spotted dragonfly, etc.; Species with a narrow distribution range and a small number of species are hairy narrow-spotted cricket, blue-fronted sparse-veined dragonfly, truncated veined dragonfly, and red-spotted curved-hooked dragonfly, of which the hairy narrow-spotted hornworm is only found in a small section of the upstream with a good ecological environment and clear streams, which is a good ecological index species.

On the evening of July 29, 2020, during a two-climb survey in Haikou Wuyuanhe National Wetland Park, a red dragonfly that had never been seen before was accidentally found in the upstream area, and the next day it was identified by experts as Aethriamanta brevipennis, which is a new record for The Hainan Dragonfly. I thought it was just a small surprise in Hainan' local scope, but in the next few days, this humble red dragonfly quickly jumped to the top of the "net red" and climbed to the forefront of Baidu hot lists and Weibo hot searches.