Abstract:

Field investigations of macrozoobenthos were conducted in August 2009 to the source region of the Yellow River,and in July 2010 to the source region of the Yangtze River.In these two source regions,altogether 66 taxa of macrozoobenthos belonging to 28 families and 57 genera were identified.Among them were 8 annelids,5 mollusks,52 arthropods and 1 other animal.In the source region of the Yangtze River,taxa number, density and biomass of macrozoobenthos were 29,59 ind./m2,00 307 g dry mass/m2,respectively.In the source region of the Yellow River,taxa number,density and biomass of macrozoobenthos were 48,369 ind./m2,04 520 g dry mass/m2,respectively.Lower animal resources in the source region of the Yangtze River were ascribed to high sediment concentration and wetland degradation. From the view of sustainable development of ecological environment,construction of the ecological protective screen for the river source region is significantly important.It is suggested that implementation of conservation project for natural forest and construction of arborshrubgrass vegetation can prevent grassland degradation and desertification,reduce soil erosion rate and river sediment discharge,thus,maintain river ecological health