New paper on amphibian habitat connectivity in collaboration with Mr Peng and Prof Li from Yanbian University! This research project started when wondering about habitat suitability and connectivity for the least studied amphibian of northeast Asia: the Clawed Salamanders! 与延边大学的彭玉玺和李颖老师的合作，在两栖动物栖息地连通性方面的新论文！这个研究项目始于对东北亚少有研究的两栖动物——爪鲵的栖息地适宜性和连通性的好奇！
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423003293
Human activities and climate change have caused damage to the natural world, leading to increased attention on habitat protection. However, most conservation efforts focus on flagship species, while many other species lack protection and are gradually becoming extinct due to the lack of conservation efforts and public attention. 人类活动和气候变化对自然界造成了破坏，引发了对栖息地保护的日益关注。然而，大多数保护努力都集中在代表性物种上，而许多其他物种缺乏保护，由于缺乏保护措施和公众关注而逐渐灭绝。
The Liaoning clawed salamander (Onychodactylus zhaoermii) and the Jilin clawed salamander (Onychodactylus zhangyapingi) are two amphibians endemic to Northeast Asia, but they have not received enough conservation attention, and little is known about their distribution. In this study, we collected field survey and literature data for both species to obtain data on occurrence, and constructed ecological niche models to understand their suitable habitat and potential distribution. 辽宁爪鲵（Onychodactylus zhaoermii）和吉林爪鲵（Onychodactylus zhangyapingi）是东北亚特有的两种两栖动物，但它们并没有受到足够的保护关注，对它们的分布了解甚少。在本研究中，我们收集了两种物种的野外调查和文献数据，获取了出现数据，并构建了生态位模型，以了解其适宜的栖息地和潜在分布情况。
The ecological niche models revealed that the suitable habitat of the Jilin Clawed Salamander was primarily located within the Yalu River basin, as well as the western and eastern mountains of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea). On the other hand, the suitable habitat for the Liaoning Clawed Salamander was mainly distributed in the Xiuyan area of Liaoning in China, the Changbai Mountains, and north of the Tumen River basin. Although there is currently no direct evidence of the species’ presence in DPR Korea, the ENM results support their putative presence in the nation, as there are large patches of suitable habitat. 生态位模型显示，吉林爪鲵的适宜栖息地主要位于鸭绿江流域，以及朝鲜的西部和东部山区。另一方面，辽宁爪鲵的适宜栖息地主要分布在中国辽宁的岫岩地区、长白山地区和图们江流域北部。尽管目前没有直接证据表明这两个物种在朝鲜存在，但生态位模型结果支持它们可能存在于该国，因为存在大片适宜栖息地。
In addition, the connectivity model showed the presence of transboundary corridors between patches of suitable habitat, with some nodes (here defined as continuous patches of habitat enabling connection between suitable habitats) located in multiple provinces or within different countries. In our evaluation of the transboundary corridors in the eastern and western parts of the study area, we found that the surfaces located downstream along the Tumen River showed a better quality for a corridor. However, the gradual fragmentation and disappearance of the landscape may lead the two species to extinction. 此外，连通性模型显示了适宜栖息地之间存在的跨界走廊，其中一些节点（定义为能够连接适宜栖息地的连续栖息地片）位于多个省份或不同国家内。在对研究区域东部和西部的跨界走廊进行评估时，我们发现沿图们江下游的表面更适合作为走廊。然而，陆地逐渐破碎和消失可能导致这两个物种灭绝
Therefore, we recommend establishing a transboundary amphibian protection network in the China-DPR Korea river basin and encouraging collaborations for amphibian surveys and applied conservation projects in the Tumen River basin. 因此，我们建议在中朝流域地区建立跨国境两栖动物保护网络，并鼓励在图们江流域进行两栖动物调查和应用保护项目的合作。
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423003293
Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation 