Q. What unique method did Chinese scientists recently use to study the historical distribution of the Yangtze finless porpoise?
Answer: Classical Chinese poetry
Notes: Chinese scientists recently used classical Chinese poems to trace the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise from the Tang Dynasty to the People's Republic of China. This is the only known freshwater porpoise species in the world and is found only in the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia. The study showcases how ancient literature can help track biodiversity changes across more than 1,000 years. The Yangtze finless porpoise is small, slow-moving, and shows intelligence like gorillas. It is a key indicator species of freshwater health and is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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