山地生物物种丰富。南岭是中国南部最大的山脉和重要自然地理界线，南岭山脉东西走向、对我国动物区系有着重要影响；然而，相对于横断山脉、喜马拉雅山脉，南岭山脉的鸟类多样性研究非常少；但如果不研究南岭地区的鸟类多样性及形成机制，就无法完整了解我国东洋界鸟类分布格局和形成机制。本项目通过比较南岭山脉南北两侧六个地点的鸟类群落组成与结构，研究温度、降雨量、植被等因素对鸟类多样性格局的影响；通过研究五种鸟在南岭山脉南北两侧不同地理种群遗传结构和谱系地理格局，从历史地理、地质事件的深度揭示南岭山脉对该区域鸟类多样性格局的影响；通过结合鸟类群落、鸟类种群遗传、环境变量等数据，综合分析南岭山脉对该地区鸟类多样性形成的影响，揭示该影响的分子机制。同时，比较南岭山脉与其它中国南部山脉，尤其是横断山脉对鸟类多样性影响的差异，完善中国南方山脉影响东洋界鸟类多样性形成机制的理论。

Mountains harbor large numbers of species, and usually are biodiversity hotspots due to a combination of evolutionary and ecological forces. The Nanling mountians are the largest mountains in South China, and forming a natural geographical boundary, but are relatively poorly known in terms of avian diversity compared to the Hengduan and Himalayan mountains. It is impossible to fully understand the distribution pattern and formation mechanism of Oriental birds in absence of a study of avian diversity and molecular mechanism in the Nanling mountains. Firstly, our project will compare compositions and constructs of forest bird communities at totally six sites in the Nanling mountains, three on the southern side (Guangdong Chebaling National Nature Reserve, Guangdong Nanling National Nature Reserve, Guangxi Xilingshan Provincial Nature Reserve), and three on the northern side of the mountains (Jiangxi Qiyunshan National Nature Reserve, Hunan Shunhuangshan National Nature Reserve, and Guangxi Mao’ershan National Nature Reserve). We will study the impact of climatic factors (such as temperature and precipitation etc.) and plant production on bird species richness patterns in the Nanling mountains by collecting climatic data and vegetation samplings. Second, we will study the impact of geographical event on molecular phylogeny patterns by comparing population genetic constructs between the northern and southern side of the mountains for 5 bird species, namely Mountain Bulbul (Hypsipetes mcclelllandii), Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush (Garrulax pectoralis), Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea), Grey-cheeked Fulvetta (Alcippe morrisonia) and Striated Yuhina (Yuhina castaniceps). Finally, we will make a conclusion on the impact of the Nanling mountains on avian diversity by combining knowledge of bird community and population genetic. We will be able to draw a theoretical framework on avian diversity formation mechanism of the Oriental realm in South China by comparing data of the Nanling, Hengduan, and Himalayan mountains. The study also will benefit avian diversity conservation in the Nanling mountains.