Chinese scientists are intensifying efforts to protect a unique carp species at the Dangqu River, one of the Yangtze River's three main sources in northwest China's Qinghai Province, as a crucial part of the nation's strategy to restore the ecosystem of its longest river.
Schizopygopsis microcephalus thrives as one of the highest living species in the carp family. It survives at altitudes over 5,200 meters at the Dangqu River in the harsh yet majestic environment of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.
Distinguished by its significant water volume compared with the Yangtze's other sources, the northern Chumar and the main Tuotuo rivers, the Dangqu River hosts six fish species native to the river's source region.
Given the area's high altitude of over 4,500 meters and extreme conditions, temperatures can plummet to as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius, and the Dangqu River's ice would stay from late November to May.
Li Wei, a senior engineer at the Yangtze River Scientific Institute, along with his team the critical task of identifying the wintering ground of these resilient fish, as they were seeking to understand how the fish survive the brutal winter conditions.
Braving the plateau's unpredictable weather, Li's team ventured towards the Dangqu River's origin.
The team's underwater camera captured a thriving shoal of Schizopygopsis microcephalus in waters with a temperature of 8.9 degrees Celsius, at depths exceeding one meter.
Further exploration revealed a riverbed bustling with benthic organisms, such as stoneflies, crucial for the diet of the Schizopygopsis microcephalus. This discovery underlines the resilience of life in one of the planet's most extreme environments.
"In this wintering ground, we have identified 32,000 mature Schizopygopsis microcephalus. Including other species, the total fish population exceeds 800,000. These numbers offer critical baseline data for predicting the future evolution of this aquatic ecosystem," said Li.
Li's team is optimistic about the habitat conditions for the Schizopygopsis microcephalus at the source of the Yangtze River. They plan to continue their upstream journey, exploring the benthic and aquatic life in Dangqu's upper reaches to uncover further mysteries about the species' winter survival strategies.
"Should the source of the Yangtze River suffer damage, the downstream conditions will deteriorate. It's imperative that we enhance the protection of vital fish habitats, such as wintering and spawning grounds, along with migratory routes and foraging areas. By doing so, we significantly improve our ability to safeguard fish populations and the overall health of aquatic ecosystems," said Li.
China initiated a 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River's critical areas on January 1, 2020. The ban was extended in 2021 to all natural waters of the Yangtze and its major tributaries, covering 332 conservation zones, which marks a significant effort in the river's ecological conservation.
(Cover is a screenshot)