[Explanation] Recently, a guest on a local TV variety show in China was accused of "picking jellyfish snow rabbits" on the plateau, which caused concern. The forestry department of the Tibet Autonomous Region has intervened to investigate the situation.
After the incident, Wang Xilong, an associate researcher at the Institute of Plateau Biology of the Tibet Autonomous Region, focused on related topics and explained to reporters related issues such as the endangered plant jellyfish snow rabbit and plateau ecosystem protection.
[Concurrent] Wang Xilong, Associate Researcher, Institute of Plateau Biology, Tibet Autonomous Region
The snow bunny you say is actually very easy to identify from the morphological aspect. As long as you see a lot of this fluff on the outer quilt, it is generally a snow bunny.
Of course, this specific species needs to be identified by plant taxonomists.
[Explanation] It is reported that the typical species of the subgenus Snow rabbits include the snow rabbits, snow rabbits, and jellyfish snow rabbits. They can take root in alpine and rocky beach environments with almost no soil. Among them, the snow rabbits belong to the "snow rabbit family". "The most prestigious category.
Regarding the difference between snow rabbit and snow lotus, Wang Xilong also introduced to reporters the basic differences in the growth environment and appearance of the two.
[Concurrent] Wang Xilong, Associate Researcher, Institute of Plateau Biology, Tibet Autonomous Region
The snow rabbit is generally at a higher altitude. The altitude at which it grows can reach an altitude of 4500 (meters) to 5000 (meters). For the snow lotus, it is generally distributed from 3000 (meters) to 4000 (more than meters). .
In the case of the snow lotus, it is obvious from the appearance that it has membranous bracts, but in the case of the snow rabbit, the outside is covered with fluff, so it can be distinguished from the appearance.
[Explanation] Wang Xilong introduced that since both the jellyfish snow rabbit and the snow lotus belong to the Saussurea genus and have similarities in morphology, the jellyfish snow rabbit was mistaken for the snow lotus and was excavated by some people, resulting in the jellyfish snow rabbit. The population declines.
[Concurrent] Wang Xilong, Associate Researcher, Institute of Plateau Biology, Tibet Autonomous Region
When we talk about protecting plants, we do not mean that I must protect this plant or which kind of plant it is.
In fact, the best way to protect it is to protect its entire ecosystem, and then to maintain the integrity of the ecosystem, the entire ecosystem needs to be protected.
[Explanation] It is also understood that in the "List of National Key Protected Wild Plants (Draft for Comment)" issued by the State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on July 9, 2020, the jellyfish snow rabbit and snow lotus have been added It is a national secondary protected plant.
Recently, the Tibet Autonomous Region officially issued a notice on strengthening the protection and management of native plants.
[Concurrent] Wang Xilong, Associate Researcher, Institute of Plateau Biology, Tibet Autonomous Region
Because native plants are in Tibet, they are basically distributed in high-altitude areas. Once its habitat is destroyed, it is difficult to recover. For some plants, it is a perennial one-time flowering plant, such as the snow rabbit mentioned earlier. If it is damaged, its population will drop sharply, and it may be difficult to recover in the future, so (ecosystem protection) should be paid attention to.
Reporter Gongsanglam reports from Lhasa, Tibet
Editor in charge: [Yu Xiao]