Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute

Tengzhi Research Center
Background
    Endemic Species Research Institute was founded and assigned to conduct research and conservation for endemic and rare species in Taiwan. In order to provide proper research facilities for this purpose, the Medium Altitude Experimental Station was thus proposed on 5 August 1991. After transferring a land of state-owned forest, ca. 219 hectares, entrusted by the Forestry Bureau to Endemic Species Research Institute’s administration on 30 December 1993, Medium Altitude Experimental Station was formally established on 26 April 1995. Endemic Species Research Institute have been reorganized into Biodiversity Research Institute since Council of Agriculture was reorganized into Ministry of Agriculture on 1 August 2023. Also, Medium Altitude Experimental Station was reorganized into Tengzhi Research Center at the same time.
Missions
(1) Investigation and research on unique ecosystems in the medium altitude area of Taiwan.
(2) Conservation and research of endemic and rare fauna in the medium altitude area.
(3) Conservation and research of endemic and rare flora in the medium altitude area.
(4) Long-term (permanent) monitoring of biodiversity in the medium altitude area, including subjects of organisms, ecosystems, environments, climates, and global changes.
Area
    The research center is located at the Tengzhi area in Baoshan Village, Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung City (N 23°05', E 120°47'). It borders to the east by the Shishan Mountain of the Central Mountain Range and to the south by the Chuyunshan Nature Reserve, covering an area of 219 hectares approximately. The elevation ranges from 1,100 to 2,635 meters, with an average annual temperature of about 15℃ and an average annual precipitation of about 2,200 millimeters. The majority of vegetation is natural forest which harbors intact natural environments and abundant fauna and flora resources. The vegetation comprises forest zones of Hemlock and Spruce, Fagaceae, and Machilus-Castanopsis zone. It has excellent conditions for long-term investigation and research in the indigenous evergreen conifer-broadleaf forest ecosystems mentioned above.
Biodiversity

1. Fauna:

1. Mammal: 17 families, 43 species, with 16 endemic species and 21 endemic subspecies. Endemic species include Formosan Macaque and Formosan Brown-toothed Shrew, while the others comprise Formosan Black Bear, Formosan Yellow-throated Marten, Formosan Serow, Formosan Sambar Deer, Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac, Formosan Wild Boar, Formosan Striped Squirrel, Whited-faced Flying Squirrel, Formosan Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel, and Formosan Blind Mole.
2. Bird: 41 families, 116 species, with 26 endemic species and 38 endemic subspecies. Endemic species include Mikado Pheasant, Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Collared Bush Robin, Formosan Whistling Thrush, White-eared Sibia, Steere’s Liocichla, Taiwan Yuhina, White-browed Laughing thrush, and Formosan Yellow Tit. There are still Bamboo Partridge, Formosan Green Pigeon, Oriental Turtle Dove, Taiwan Barbet, White-tailed Blue Robin, Rufous-crowned Laughing thrush, Formosan White-eyed Nun Babbler, Rusty Laughing thrush, and Green- backed Tit.
3. Reptile: 5 families, 21 species, including 3 endemic species. Endemic species are Taiwan Slug Snake, Short-legged Japalura, and Taiwan Mountain Pitviper, together with other species such as Chinese Moccasin, Taiwan Bamboo Viper, Red Bamboo Rat Snake, Big-eyed Rat Snake, Mountain Keelback, Striped-tailed Rat Snake, Formosan Burrowing Snake, Taiwan Coral Snake, and Hart’s Glass Lizard.
4. Amphibian: 3 families, 6 species, including 2 endemic species. Endemic species include Central Formosan Toad and Moltrechtis’ Green Treefrog, whereas others are Eiffinger’s Treefrog, Swinhoe’s Frog, and Heymonsis Narrow-mouthed Toad.
5. Insect:

1. Butterfly: 10 families, 109 species, with 9 endemic species. Endemic species include Aurora Swallowtail, Pink-spotted Windmill, Formosan swallowtail, brush-footed butterflies, and five-rings, etc.
2. Moth: 24 families, 722 species, with 140 endemic species and 51 endemic subspecies, comprising Golden Moon Moth, Giant Silkworm Moth, Grey Double-bristled Hawkmoth, Holy Butterfly, prominent moths, and geometrid moths, etc.
3. Coleopteran: 29 families, 477 species, including Rainbow Sheath Click Beetle, Long-fanged Stag Beetle, and Formosan Long-armed Scarab.

2. Flora

A total of 103 families and 256 genera of vascular plants species were recorded in this area, comprising 129 endemic species and 30 rare ones. The predominant vegetation type is primary broad-leaved forest, followed by understory conifer-broadleaf mixed plantations of and pure coniferous stands. Primary broad-leaved forests are composed of the species of Machilus, Castanopsis and Formosan Michelia, whereas the same three species together with Taiwan Red Cypress, Taiwan Incense Cedar, and Jelly Fig dominate understory conifer-broadleaf mixed plantations. Tree species in pure coniferous stands are primarily Taiwan Red Cypress and Taiwania.
Researches and Programs
  1995           Establishments of infrastructure, and preliminary inventories of local biodiversity.
  1996-1997  Plot/area settings for long-term experiments, and systematical investigations programmed by ESRI divisions.
  1998-1999  Station managements schemed to 5 subjects: Research, Inventory, Monitoring, Restoration, and Public education.
  2000-2001  Long-term monitoring programs in permanent vegetation plots, pedology, environments, and precipitation quality.
  2002       Adoptions of auto-trigger cameras in forest ecosystems researches.
  2015       In collaboration with the Division of Habitats and Ecosystems, ESRI, on the “Breeding Bird Survey” and “New Year Bird Count” programs.
  2016       In collaboration with the Division of Zoology, ESRI, on the “Roadkill Observation Network” program.
In collaboration with National Cheng Kung University on the “Establishment of Observation Stations of Orchid Genomics” program.
2018       In collaboration with the Academia Sinica on the “Asian Soundscape Monitoring” program.
2021       Addition to 3 camera monitoring stations at the 1,600 m-elevational gradient, 20 point-count plot for bird censuses, and 4 transects for reptile and amphibian inventories.
2022       In collaboration with the Division of Habitats and Ecosystems, ESRI, on the “Long-term Monitoring of Soundscape in Taiwan” program.

 
Wushikeng Research Center(by Ho Tung-Chi)

 
Tengzhi Research Center(by Huang Jyun-Yuan)

 
Hehuan Mountain Research Center(by Ho Yuan-san)