Wildlife of
Chongqing Shi

Dominant natural biome across hills and mountains: subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests mixed with deciduous broadleaf components, plus secondary forests/shrub mosaics from long land-use history; strong altitudinal zonation in species composition.

Widespread across most non-urban uplands; largest share of remaining natural/semi-natural land cover.

Cool, high-elevation montane conditions on the highest ridges with stunted forests, wind-exposed shrub/grass patches, and localized near-treeline communities (true alpine is limited due to elevations mostly below extensive treeline environments).

Very limited; confined to highest peaks/ridges in the Daba-Wuling highlands.

Major riverine network of the upper Yangtze River and tributaries (e.g., Jialing, Wu), including the Three Gorges reservoir reach, supporting lotic-to-lentic gradients, riparian zones, and aquatic biodiversity.

Linear but extensive; present throughout the municipality along main stems and tributaries, with large area influence from the Yangtze reservoir reach.

Floodplain and reservoir-margin wetlands, backwaters, oxbow-like embayments, small valley-bottom marshes, and rice-paddy wetland analogs that provide habitat for waterbirds and amphibians.

Patchy and localized; most common along major rivers, reservoir margins, and low-lying valley floors.

Subtropical evergreen broadleaf and mixed forests on slopes and ridgelines; substantial areas are secondary/regenerating after historical logging and conversion.

Deciduous broadleaf components increase with elevation and in cooler aspects; often mixed within broader evergreen-dominated forest matrices.

Montane conifers on higher, cooler slopes and ridges (often in patches or plantations), contributing to altitudinal habitat diversity.

Open-canopy slopes and degraded/managed hillsides transitioning between forest and shrub/grass, common around settlements and along roads.

Early-successional shrub communities on disturbed slopes, landslides, and abandoned terraces; important for edge fauna and erosion-prone terrain.

Small, discontinuous grass-dominated openings on ridges, steep sunny slopes, and managed grazing areas; not extensive due to humid climate and forest potential.

Complex topography of the Daba and Wuling mountains and the Three Gorges dissected landscape, producing sharp microclimates and high beta-diversity.

Gorge walls and limestone cliffs along deeply incised valleys (notably in the Three Gorges region), providing nesting/roosting sites and specialized flora.

Karst caves and subterranean streams in limestone areas (especially in the southeast), supporting bats and cave-adapted invertebrates.

The Yangtze main stem and major tributaries with rapids-to-reservoir transitions, riparian belts, gravel bars, and backwaters.

Reservoir-like lacustrine habitats (notably the Three Gorges reservoir reach) and scattered small impoundments used for water supply and fisheries.

Farm ponds and small impoundments in agricultural landscapes; important for amphibians and local water storage.

Riverine backwaters, floodplain remnants, reservoir drawdown-zone wetlands, and paddy-associated wet habitats.

Shallow, vegetated margins of backwaters and reservoir embayments; seasonally exposed zones fluctuate with river/reservoir levels.

Intensive valley and terrace farming (rice, maize, rapeseed, vegetables) interwoven with riparian corridors; major driver of habitat fragmentation.

Managed tree/crop plantations such as citrus orchards, bamboo stands, and timber plantings on hillsides and terraces.

Dense metropolitan core and expanding built-up areas along river corridors, with heat-island effects and heavily engineered banks.

Peri-urban mosaics of settlements, small farms, secondary vegetation, and infrastructure spreading along valleys and transport routes.