China has a vast territory and broad sea area. Natural conditions are complex and varied .In addition, China is also characterized by a long geological history and most of her lands had been formed as early as the end of the Mesozoic. Thus, within her domain, occur many plant, animal and micro-organism species, and diverse ecological complexes. China is one of twelve “ megadiversity countries”. She is one of the main centers of origin for seed plants on earth, and inherited elements of the Northern Tertiary, Tethys Sea and the ancient south continent of Gondwanaland floras. Her animals are of Palaearctic and Oriental origins. There are more than 30,000 species of seed plants in China, next only to Brazil and Colombia and, thus, ranking third in the world. Among them, 250 species of gymnosperm have been recorded from China and is, thus, the country with the most abundant gymnosperms. China has over 6,300 species of vertebrates, including 1,244 species of birds (accounting for 13.7% of the world total), and occupies the premier position in the world. More than 3,862 species of fishes have been found in China (constituting 20.0% of the world total) and, again, standing at the forefront. A high level of endemism is characteristic of China’s biota. China has 667 endemic species of vertebrates (10.5% of the total number of native species), and 5 endemic families, 247 endemic genera, and more than 17,300 endemic species of seed plants. Large numbers of rare and valuable animals and plants, some of them being called “living fossils”, occur in China. The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), Lipotes vexillifer, Branchiostoma belcheri, Nautilus pompilius, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Ginkgo biloba, Cathaya argyrophylla, and Cycas panzhihuaensis are well known examples.

Diversity of Plants: Algae  Lichens  Bryophytes  Pteridophytes

                             Gymnosperms  Angiosperms 

Diversity of Animals: Invertebrates  Insects  Vertebrata

Diversity of Microorganisms: Prokaryotic Microorganisms

                                            Microorganisms in Extreme Environments

                                           Viruses      Eucaryotic Microorganisms

                                            Endemism and Megadiversity Regions for Fungi in China

                                      The threatened Status of Microorganisms

                                      Conservation of fungal Diversity