申请人等发现目前存在于西南喀斯特地域的滇、黔、桂、川和重庆集中分布了中国大陆77.77%的淡水蟹属和43.67%的物种，其丰度很可能与该地貌所特有的适宜淡水蟹类孳生繁衍的局部微小生态环境有关。基于申请人等在上述5省市采获241个样点标本和已完成NSFC的工作基础，拟采用分子系统地理学并融合甲壳动物学和寄生虫学等多学科技术与方法，在建立形态学标本数据库基础上对该地域淡水蟹类进行16SrRNA等基因序列测定与构建系统发育树和种群基因数据库。本项目的理论价值与科学意义，系在分子水平上追溯和揭示西南喀斯特淡水蟹类的种群分化进程、多样性及分布格局和作为分类上属的分化中心地位，籍以丰富和繁荣我国喀斯特生态系统与生物区系的研究内容，探究中国西南喀斯特这一世界特殊生态地理区域淡水蟹类的动物地理模式在亚洲乃至世界淡水蟹类总分布格局中所处的地位与影响，并为其生物多样性的形成、演变和保护提供第一手基础数据资料。

We have found that 77.77% freshwater crab genus and 43.67% species of China Mainland inhabit Yunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan Province and Chongqing municipality in Southwest Karst Landform, which might be related to the unique local microenvironment that is suitable for freshwater crabs breeding. Based on our 241 samples collected from the above five provinces/municipality and previous work founded by NSFC, we will use molecular geographical, carcinological, and parasitological measurements to setup morphological database for freshwater crabs in these regions, followed by building the phylogenetic tree and genetic database by gene sequencing including 16S rRNA. This project will reveal differentiation, biodiversity and distribution of freshwater crabs inhabited in Southwest Karst region and its significance in taxonomy, thereby flourishing regional ecosystem and enriching the research of local biota. By studying the zoogeographical pattern of freshwater crabs in Southwest Karst Landform, an unique ecoregion in the world, and its significance in global distribution of freshwater crabs, this project will provide firsthand data for formation of biodiversity, evolution and protection of freshwater crabs.