Priorities for the conservation of avian biodiversity in China based on the distribution patterns of endemic bird genera

Ten endemic Chinese bird genera are currently recognized: Nipponia, Tetraophasis, Chrysolophus, Crossoptilon, Ithaginis, Pseudopodoces, Rhopophilus, Kozlowia, Urocynchramus and Latoucheornis. Of these genera, Nipponia, Ithaginis, Pseudopodoces, Rhopophilus, Kozlowia, Urocynchramus and Latoucheornis are monotypic, while Tetraophasis, Chrysolophus and Crossoptilon are polytypic. In this paper, we first set up a database of the geographic distribution and suitable habitat requirements for each species of these endemic genera. Secondly we produced a modified habitat-based prediction of their distribution using GIS (ArcView 3.1) software overlap analysis. We then explored the spatial-temporal distribution patterns of different genera. By comparing the richness of the endemic genera in distributed areas, we identified centers of endemic avian biodiversity. These are: the northern and eastern Hengduanshan Mountains, and the Qinling, Dabashan and Minshan Mountain regions. Finally, we identified conservation 'hotspots' with a higher priority based on these centers. These results may provide a valuable tool for identifying and conserving areas with high endemic biodiversity and methods for researching the biogeography of endemic genera, the evolutionary history of fauna and species differentiation.