Braving the ongoing rainstorms of summer in Yunnan, Chen Xiaoyong of the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ), Chinese Academy Sciences, and Kong Deping Senior Engineer of the Yunnan Instittute of Environmental Science conducted a joint investigation focused on examining the aquatic biodiversity and water environment in two Northwest Yunnan plateau lakes, Lugu Lake and Bita Lake.  

To enrich the regional aquatic biodiversity data, research teams used hydroacoustic monitoring, fish biomass data, and deep-water benthic animal specimens alongside gathering more than 30 batches of fish, plankton, and benthic animal specimens, in addition to some 20 water samples. This investigation is the first ecological survey for two projects undertaken by KIZ: (1) Survey on 4 species of endemic fish in Lugu Lake and Bita Lake, a part of a special issue on biodiversity protection of Yunnan province; (2) A baseline survey of Lugu Lake and ecological survey of three lakes with high water quality.