【PEP Edition】Junior Biology Grade 8, Vol. 1: Natural Treasures in Data

Imagine standing on a vast expanse of land stretching from temperate to tropical zones, home to the world's most majestic mountain ranges and deepest basins. This is China — one of the most influential"megadiverse countries"in terms of global biodiversity. The first dimension of biodiversity is the intuitively visiblespecies diversity.

Quantifying "Richness"

The Home of Gymnosperms: China ranks first in the world for known gymnosperm species. Out of approximately 1,000 species worldwide, China has about 250 — roughly one-quarter of the global total — including rare "living fossils" such as the ginkgo and dawn redwood.
A Treasure Trove of Vertebrates: China's bird (14%) and fish (12.1%) species counts also rank among the highest in the world, far exceeding the country's proportion of global land area.
The Tip of the Unknown Iceberg: The available data only represents "known species." Countless species across vast groups like invertebrates, fungi, and microorganisms still await discovery.

Summary

China is one of the most species-rich countries in the world. This richness stems from its complex topography and climatic conditions, which provide diverse "homes" (habitats) for different organisms.

QUESTION 1

In the table above, which group of organisms in China has the highest percentage of the world's species, and which group has a relatively lower percentage?

Gymnosperms: highest; Reptiles: relatively lower

Birds: highest; Mammals: relatively lower

Angiosperms: highest; Fish: relatively lower

Ferns: highest; Amphibians: relatively lower

QUESTION 2

Besides the groups listed in the table above, what other groups exist within animals and plants? Besides animals and plants, what other biological groups do you know of?

Invertebrates, algae, bryophytes, and microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc.)

Only vertebrates and seed plants

Only insects and lichens

Only mammals and angiosperms

QUESTION 3

The main data basis for China being called the "home of gymnosperms" is:

China has the highest total number of individual gymnosperm plants in the world

China ranks first in the world for known gymnosperm species

China's gymnosperms have the fastest growth rate

China has the largest geographic distribution area of gymnosperms

QUESTION 4

Regarding the current state of China's species diversity, which of the following statements is incorrect?

China is one of the most species-rich countries in the world

China ranks third in the world for the number of bryophyte, fern, and seed plant species

Current statistical data has already covered all species on Earth

China's fish and bird species counts rank among the highest in the world

QUESTION 5

The main natural reason for China's exceptionally high species diversity is:

Large population and widespread cultivation

Complex and diverse climate, high topographical and environmental heterogeneity

Rapid urbanization

Advanced artificial breeding technology