Members
Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research
Chongxi Wetland Research Centre
Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Reserach Center
Howard T. Odum Center for Wetlands
Max-Planck Institute für Limnologie
Pantanal Ecology Research Group
Chongxi Wetland Research Center, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Description:
The Chongxi Wetland Research Center, affiliated with East China Normal University, is located at the western end of Chongming Island, the largest island at the Yangtze Estuary in eastern China. It is a good location to learn the dynamics of the estuary because of its location in the upper freshwater reaches of the delta. The largest freshwater reservoir in Shanghai is being built at the downstream end of the Southern Branch of the river, about 50 km southeast to the research center, so it is a good site to monitor water quality influenced by runoff and saltwater spilling over from the Northern Branch.
Site features include: a 0.67-ha created pond for wetland experiments; a 300-ha restored tidal freshwater marsh/swamp within a 10 minute drive; boardwalks for researchers; a greenhouse for seedling and other plant physiological experiments; interpretation signs for the public; a canteen; a parking lot, and two buildings with offices, computer room, plant physiological experiment lab, primary experimental room, chemical lab, storage, specimen room and conference room. Besides frequent researchers (including graduate students and lab assistants) visiting daily, 2 dormitory buildings are able to house 8 more visitors overnight. Wireless internet access is open to all researchers on the site.
There is a small organic garden on the site which supplies most of the daily fresh vegetables in the canteen.Funding:
The Chongxi Wetland Research Center has been funded by the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM) since 2005. It also has significant support from Shanghai University. East China Normal University administers contracts and provides some instruments.Research:
Research at the Chongxi Wetland began at the end of 2003. The site and its importance were not well-known by the public because of the difficult transportation and the slow development of the district. Research started with basic investigations on wetland components and functions, esp. on the restoration process of tidal swamps and habitats for the water birds. STCSM promises to funding the projects until 2009.
Website: http://www.eco-w.org
(An update of the English version on Chongxi Wetland will be done by the late July 2007)Contacts:
Director: Jianjian LU jjlu@sklec.ecnu.edu.cn
Assistant Director: Wenshan HE wshe@sklec.ecnu.edu.cn
State Key Lab. Of Estuarine and Coastal Research
East China Normal University
Shanghai, 200062, P. R. China
Phone: 86-21-62233680 (Office on campus)
86-21-59351087 (The Chongxi Wetland Research Center)
FAX: 86-21-62601674
