A Treasure Trove of New Species Discovered in Wuyishan National Park
34 new species, including plants, insects, and fungi.
The park, located in the subtropical region spanning Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, boasts a diverse range of environments that provide a haven for wildlife and plants. The baseline survey, launched in April 2021, covered over 100,000 hectares of the park's Fujian section.
The survey, involving over 100 experts and scholars from more than 20 universities and research institutes, focused on various ecosystems and biological groups. This meticulous effort resulted in the identification of 34 new species, including 10 species newly recorded in China.
One of the most exciting discoveries was the Wuyi forest frog, found by Wu Yanqing, a deputy researcher from the College of Life and Environmental Science at Wenzhou University. This new amphibian species was identified through DNA molecular analysis after Wu noticed subtle differences in its appearance compared to other forest frogs.
Another significant finding was the discovery of 14 new species of flies, including nine new species of Empididae, also known as dance flies. These flies, discovered by Li Meilin, a doctoral candidate from the College of Plant Protection at China Agricultural University, are harmless to humans and play a crucial role in pest control and pollination.
The discovery of these new species highlights the importance of Wuyishan National Park's well-preserved environment. These species, some of which may have existed for millions of years, serve as a reminder of the park's rich biodiversity and the need for its continued protection.
The baseline survey not only deepens our understanding of the park's wildlife but also enhances its conservation and management capabilities. The park plans to install an integrated monitoring system to further safeguard its natural resources, ensuring that these newly discovered species and the park's rich biodiversity are protected for generations to come.
14 Comments
Manolo Noriega
Why should we care about some random insects nobody’s ever heard of? Priorities seem misplaced.
Fuerza
Great achievement! Kudos to the scientists and researchers who made these exciting discoveries.
Manolo Noriega
Truly inspiring discoveries! Let’s ensure these species stay protected, thriving for generations.
Ongania
Proud of scientists like Wu Yanqing and Li Meilin. It’s vital we continue to recognize and protect our wildlife.
Manolo Noriega
Nature will always change and evolve with or without our intervention. Do we really need to allocate this time and money?
Loubianka
The park was fine without naming and categorizing every small bug in it. Perhaps too much effort involved here.
Eugene Alta
Thrilled to read this positive news about nature. It should inspire us all to value conservation.
Katchuka
Who actually benefits from discovering obscure species? Better spend the budget on reducing pollution or waste.
BuggaBoom
So much taxpayer money spent on finding frogs? Seriously, there are bigger issues we should address first.
Rotfront
More species? Are they important enough to justify spending all these resources?
KittyKat
News about new forest frogs isn’t important compared to other pressing environmental problems faced by our planet.
Noir Black
This just proves why preserving habitats like Wuyishan is absolutely essential.
Rotfront
Would prefer these resources be spent on practical projects that directly help people, instead of seeking obscure creatures.
Leonardo
Just another case trying to hype up standard species discovery. Not impressed.