Researchers have found 95 hynobius arisanensis, a rare species of salamander endemic to Taiwan, in high-altitude habitats in Yushan National Park this year, park officials said.
The discovery of the group of amphibians, which have survived on Taiwan since the last Ice Age, was one of the largest in the country in recent years, officials said.
The research group led by Lu Kuang-yang (呂光洋), a life sciences professor from National Taiwan Normal University, discovered the species at an altitude of more than 3,600m above sea level in the first half of this year.
The number of hynobius arisanensis the researchers recorded at Yushan was almost twice the number found at the mid-altitude Tataka area, located between the Yushan and Alishan mountain ranges.
Alishan, with its highest peak reaching 2,663m, was where hynobius arisanensis — also known locally as Alishan salamander — were first discovered.
Officials said they have carried out long-term monitoring and research on the rare salamander to understand the effects of climate change on its environment in Yushan.
Taiwan is the most southerly habitat of the salamander in the world and now global warming threatens their survival at lower altitudes.
Su Chih-feng (蘇志峰), director of the park’s preservation office, said that a longer monitoring period was needed to determine if the salamander species did indeed move to higher altitudes because of global warming.
He said the number of salamanders had not decreased in the Alishan or Tataka regions.
Although researchers have so far only found the Alishan salamander species in Yushan Park, they have not ruled out the possibility of finding other salamander species there, as habitats in the park are diverse and well preserved, park officials said.
The Alishan salamander is restricted to Alishan, Yushan and Peitawushan in Taiwan and lives mostly in mountain streams, cold springs and water seepage areas in coniferous or broadleaf forests at 2,000m or higher.
Hynobius arisanensis is classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ red list of threatened species.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS