Analyses on Spatial-temporal Distribution Patterns of the Amphibian Diversity in Xunwu Sample Zones, Jiangxi Province

Xunwu County is located in southeastern Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, and at the junction of Fujian, Jiangxi, and Guangdong Provinces. Due to the unique geographical location, warm and humid subtropical monsoon climate, and developed river networks, Xunwu County has been listed as the observation region by the National Amphibian Diversity Observation Network. According to the topography, landform and habitat, 12 survey lines were set up for rivers, ponds and artificial canals, and observations were conducted in Late April, Mid-June and Late July, 2018. A total of 755 amphibian individuals were found and they belong to one order, 5 families, 10 genera and 10 species. The dominance index (P_i) of Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Boulengerana guentheri, Fejervarya multistriata was greater than 0.1, and they were the dominant species during the surveys. Fifteen individuals of Hoplobatrachus chinensis, listed as endangered species (EN) by IUCN, were found and its dominance index (P_i>0.01) was higher than that of Rana longicrus, Rhacophorus dennysi and Microhyla fissipes (P_i < 0.01). The fauna composition of amphibians in Xunwu belong to Southern China fauna, and only Pelophylax nigromaculatus is widely distributed. Most species were terrestrial aquatic and still water types, whereas only one flow type and one arboreal type species were found. The richness and relative abundance reached the highest in April, and the temporal pattern of the species diversity was affected by the breeding season and the length of the breeding period. Most of the observed species reproduced in spring, whereas Nidirana adenopleura and Odorrana huangangensis reproduced mainly in summer which were only observed in July. The spatial patterns show that the river habitat has more sample lines, higher environmental heterogeneity, and the highest species richness. The pond habitat was relatively stable and the relative abundance reached to 51.4% of the total in this survey, although the number of survey lines accounts for only 25% of the total numbers of this survey. The richness and relative abundance of artificial canals were the lowest. Due to only one year data of 2018 was obtained, there is a lack of long-term observations, and the cover of the season and habitats in this survey is incomplete, and the species diversity revealed is lower than that recorded in Jiangxi province. Long-term data accumulation and comprehensive observations should be conducted to address the issues of diversity, population size and threatened factors of amphibians and to provide scientific basis for the ecological protection and restoration of mountains, lakes, forests and grasses.