Professor Li Wenjun's research team members conduct soil sampling work in Danxia Mountain in Shaoguan, Guangdong province. [Photo/chinanews.com]

A Chinese scientific research team has recently discovered a new bacterium in forest soil on Danxia Mountain in Shaoguan, Guangdong province.

It is the first new genus-level species of bacteria and the 41st new species that has been discovered on the mountain, which is located in northern Guangdong, according to a statement released by the Danxia Mountain administrative committee.

The scientific research team was led by microbiology professor Li Wenjun of Sun Yat-sen University. Their discovery was published on the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology on Oct 4.

Members of the team said the discovery will expand people's understanding of the "tree of life", and will lead to an increase in resources for genetic research. It also has important strategic significance for the protection and development of microbial resources on Danxia Mountain.

The microbial diversity section of the biodiversity survey included a diversity assessment, collection and preservation of characteristic microbial samples in the region and the establishment of a shared library and information database.

The new bacterium is from the Danxiaibacter flavus genus.

This is the first time a Chinese team has conducted a systematic survey of microbial diversity in national parks, which will bring new ideas to the protection of species diversity in the parks and nature reserves and generally expand the field of biological resource protection.

Danxia Mountain lends its name to the Danxia landform. Covering an area of approximately 300 square kilometers, the Danxia Basin is densely dotted with majestic Danxia landscapes. The unique landform is an "ecological island" with "ecological heat island effects, the team said, endowing this subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest with rich tropical elements and creating a unique habitat for wildlife and plants.

Link to the report: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202310/13/WS6528bae5a31090682a5e8613.html