保護區(qu)于1997年(nian)經(jing)(jing)江西省(sheng)(sheng)人民政府批建為省(sheng)(sheng)級(ji)(ji)(ji)自然保護區(qu),歸屬南昌市(shi)管理,后經(jing)(jing)過5年(nian)科考(kao)和3年(nian)申報,于2008年(nian)1月由國(guo)務院批準為國(guo)家級(ji)(ji)(ji)自然保護區(qu),并(bing)更名為“鄱陽湖南磯濕地(di)國(guo)家級(ji)(ji)(ji)自然保護區(qu)”。
行政(zheng)上隸屬南(nan)(nan)(nan)昌市(shi)(shi)新建縣(xian)(xian)南(nan)(nan)(nan)磯鄉,距(ju)南(nan)(nan)(nan)昌市(shi)(shi)城(cheng)區約60公里。保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區東至太(tai)子河入東湖口、西至贛江中支(zhi)下游(you),北(bei)至三(san)山(shan)腳,南(nan)(nan)(nan)至磯山(shan)以南(nan)(nan)(nan)鳳(feng)尾湖,東西寬21.6公里,南(nan)(nan)(nan)北(bei)寬27.7公里,范(fan)圍基本與南(nan)(nan)(nan)磯鄉行政(zheng)邊界(jie)(jie)一致。保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區是江西省(sheng)面積(ji)較大的(de)河口類型國家級保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區,緊鄰省(sheng)會南(nan)(nan)(nan)昌。地理坐(zuo)標在東經116°10′~116°25′,北(bei)緯28°51′~29°08′之間。東界(jie)(jie)以10個(ge)拐點(dian)(dian)的(de)連(lian)線為(wei)(wei)界(jie)(jie),拐點(dian)(dian)的(de)坐(zuo)標分別(bie)為(wei)(wei)(116°18′57″E,29°06′52″N);南(nan)(nan)(nan)界(jie)(jie)沿(yan)余干縣(xian)(xian)縣(xian)(xian)界(jie)(jie)向西南(nan)(nan)(nan)至拐點(dian)(dian)(116°17′50″E,28°51′59″N);西界(jie)(jie)以(116°17′50″E,28°51′59″N)為(wei)(wei)起點(dian)(dian),沿(yan)南(nan)(nan)(nan)昌縣(xian)(xian)縣(xian)(xian)界(jie)(jie)向北(bei)至大車(che)荒,再經16個(ge)拐點(dian)(dian)至北(bei)界(jie)(jie)起點(dian)(dian)(116°09′51″E,29°06′11″N),拐點(dian)(dian)的(de)坐(zuo)標分別(bie)為(wei)(wei)(116°16′10″E,28°56′16″N);北(bei)界(jie)(jie)以9個(ge)拐點(dian)(dian)的(de)連(lian)線為(wei)(wei)界(jie)(jie),拐點(dian)(dian)的(de)坐(zuo)標分別(bie)為(wei)(wei)(116°10′22″E,29°07′8″N)。
南(nan)磯自(zi)然保(bao)護區在第四紀以來(lai)的(de)地質構(gou)造運動(新構(gou)造運動)中(zhong)處于中(zhong)心沉(chen)降區,因此它(ta)也(ye)是(shi)不(bu)斷發育的(de)各古河(he)流水系(xi)的(de)匯聚中(zhong)心。南(nan)磯自(zi)然保(bao)護區具有“二元結構(gou)”的(de)沖積(ji)(ji)—沖洪(hong)積(ji)(ji)相網紋(wen)紅土、砂(sha)礫(li)石(shi)堆積(ji)(ji),構(gou)成了厚達30~75m的(de)沉(chen)積(ji)(ji)地層(ceng)。在更新世沉(chen)積(ji)(ji)地層(ceng)或白堊系(xi)紫紅色(se)粉(fen)砂(sha)巖基(ji)巖上,全新世沉(chen)積(ji)(ji)由下而上,顆粒(li)變細(xi),下部為礫(li)卵(luan)石(shi)、砂(sha)礫(li)石(shi)、砂(sha)(含礫(li))組(zu)成的(de)粗(cu)碎屑(xie),層(ceng)面清晰,磨圓度和分選性較好,上部則主(zhu)要由亞(ya)粘土、亞(ya)砂(sha)土等夾不(bu)穩定淤泥質薄層(ceng)組(zu)成的(de)細(xi)碎屑(xie)。
南磯自然保護(hu)區內河(he)道(dao)數目眾多,大小河(he)道(dao)有50條左右,河(he)道(dao)長(chang)短不(bu)一(yi),形(xing)態(tai)(tai)各異,而且由于沖淤作用還使得河(he)道(dao)形(xing)態(tai)(tai)處(chu)于進一(yi)步的發育和變化之中(zhong)。最長(chang)河(he)道(dao)達22.57km,最短也有1.08km,河(he)道(dao)總(zong)長(chang)度為123.53km。
鄱(po)陽(yang)湖區(qu)屬(shu)亞熱(re)(re)帶(dai)暖濕季風區(qu),一(yi)年(nian)內冬季和東南季風進(jin)退交換和西太平(ping)洋(yang)副熱(re)(re)帶(dai)高(gao)壓南北振動(dong),對(dui)鄱(po)陽(yang)湖流(liu)域(yu)的(de)天(tian)氣變(bian)(bian)化(hua)和氣候(hou)形成產生重大影響(xiang),決定了氣候(hou)的(de)周(zhou)期性變(bian)(bian)化(hua)。一(yi)般冬季極地大陸冷(leng)氣團向南流(liu)動(dong),由于(yu)南移的(de)路徑不(bu)同(tong),或(huo)(huo)西北路,或(huo)(huo)西路南下影響(xiang)鄱(po)陽(yang)湖區(qu),形成每年(nian)3~4次的(de)寒(han)(han)潮天(tian)氣,使(shi)湖區(qu)寒(han)(han)冷(leng)少(shao)雨,或(huo)(huo)出現雨雪(xue)天(tian)氣。
該保護(hu)區(qu)總(zong)面(mian)積33300公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),其中(zhong)核心區(qu)面(mian)積17500公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),緩沖區(qu)面(mian)積5500公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),實驗區(qu)面(mian)積10300公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)。
鄱陽湖南磯自然保護區(qu)(qu)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)豐富,區(qu)(qu)系成分(fen)復雜,類(lei)型(xing)(xing)多樣,顯(xian)示具(ju)有(you)明(ming)(ming)顯(xian)的(de)南北植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)匯合的(de)過渡(du)性(xing)(xing)質(zhi)。濕(shi)地(di)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)雖具(ju)有(you)地(di)帶性(xing)(xing)“烙印”,但隱域(yu)性(xing)(xing)特(te)征明(ming)(ming)顯(xian)。據統計,保護區(qu)(qu)共有(you)維(wei)管束植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)115科(ke)(ke)(ke)304屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)443種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)(zhong)蕨類(lei)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)11科(ke)(ke)(ke)11屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)12種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),裸子(zi)(zi)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)5科(ke)(ke)(ke)10屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)11種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),被(bei)子(zi)(zi)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)99科(ke)(ke)(ke)283屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)420種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。蓼科(ke)(ke)(ke)(Polygonaceae 16種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong))、薔薇(wei)科(ke)(ke)(ke)(Rosaceae 17種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong))、豆科(ke)(ke)(ke)(Leghminosae 23種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong))、菊科(ke)(ke)(ke)(Composifae 31種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong))、禾(he)本(ben)(ben)科(ke)(ke)(ke)(Graminae 24種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong))、莎(sha)草(cao)科(ke)(ke)(ke)(Cyperaceae 22種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong))等6科(ke)(ke)(ke)在本(ben)(ben)區(qu)(qu)具(ju)有(you)明(ming)(ming)顯(xian)優勢,占有(you)主(zhu)導地(di)位,對本(ben)(ben)區(qu)(qu)植(zhi)(zhi)被(bei)的(de)構成、動態和區(qu)(qu)系組成具(ju)有(you)重要(yao)作用。研究區(qu)(qu)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)苔草(cao)群落(luo)(luo)Cares spp. Comm.、蘆(lu)葦群落(luo)(luo)Phragmites australis Comm.、眼子(zi)(zi)菜群落(luo)(luo)Potamogeton spp. Comm.、蓼群落(luo)(luo)Polygonum spp. Comm.、針藺群落(luo)(luo)Eleocharis spp. Comm.等世界廣布(bu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)是該區(qu)(qu)域(yu)的(de)主(zhu)要(yao)建群種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)特(te)有(you)屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)在本(ben)(ben)區(qu)(qu)內僅有(you)3個栽培植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu),即(ji):水(shui)杉屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)Metasequoia、枳屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)Poncirus、南天竹屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)Nandina。自然分(fen)布(bu)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)中(zhong)(zhong)無(wu)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)特(te)有(you)植(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)屬(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu),此與濕(shi)地(di)植(zhi)(zhi)被(bei)的(de)典型(xing)(xing)隱域(yu)性(xing)(xing)質(zhi)有(you)關。
2003-2004年保護區綜合科學考(kao)察統計(ji)到(dao)浮(fu)游動物(wu)62屬(shu)111種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),底(di)棲(qi)動物(wu)8科62種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),水生(sheng)昆蟲11目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)40科168種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),魚類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)6目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)14科43屬(shu)58種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)江(jiang)湖洄(hui)游型魚類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)占(zhan)40%,兩棲(qi)動物(wu)1目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)5科11種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),爬行動物(wu)3目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)10科23種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),哺乳(ru)動物(wu)7目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)12科22種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。特別地(di),南(nan)磯(ji)保護區是具(ju)有科研(yan)、保護與觀賞價(jia)值的(de)濕(shi)地(di)生(sheng)態系統和濕(shi)地(di)鳥(niao)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)保護區,區內鳥(niao)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)多,數量大,目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)前記(ji)錄到(dao)15目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)45科205種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),有鸊鷉目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鵜形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)1種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鸛形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)17種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),雁形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)25種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),隼(sun)形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)10種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),雞形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鶴形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)12種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鸻(heng)形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)25種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鷗形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)7種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鴿形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)3種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鵑形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)6種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鸮形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)5種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),佛(fo)法僧目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)6種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鴷形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),雀形(xing)目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)82種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。其中(zhong),濕(shi)地(di)水鳥(niao)共7目(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)89種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),占(zhan)中(zhong)國水鳥(niao)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)的(de)35.6%。保護區內不同季(ji)節(jie)里鳥(niao)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)組成(cheng)差異顯著(zhu),冬(dong)季(ji)鳥(niao)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)142種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),春季(ji)鳥(niao)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)120種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),夏季(ji)鳥(niao)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)58種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),秋季(ji)鳥(niao)類(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)(lei)64種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
由(you)于地(di)處贛(gan)江(jiang)(jiang)、鄱陽湖(hu)和(he)(he)長江(jiang)(jiang)的關鍵節點(dian),保護(hu)區具有良(liang)好的通(tong)江(jiang)(jiang)性,不僅(jin)是(shi)鯉(li)、鯽等(deng)經(jing)濟魚類的重要產卵和(he)(he)育(yu)肥場所(suo),也是(shi)長江(jiang)(jiang)中下游(you)(you)地(di)區青、草、鰱(lian)、鳙、鰻鱺、刀鱭(ji)、鳳尾魚等(deng)洄(hui)游(you)(you)型(xing)魚類的主要洄(hui)游(you)(you)通(tong)道甚至是(shi)避難所(suo),對于鄱陽湖(hu)、贛(gan)江(jiang)(jiang)和(he)(he)長江(jiang)(jiang)漁業(ye)資源保護(hu)與可持(chi)續利(li)用具有重要意義(yi)。保護(hu)區典型(xing)的入湖(hu)口濕地(di)生(sheng)態系(xi)統(tong),是(shi)河口自然地(di)理、水文和(he)(he)生(sheng)態環(huan)境監(jian)測等(deng)學科的天然研究(jiu)基地(di),是(shi)研究(jiu)內陸(lu)河口濕地(di)生(sheng)態系(xi)統(tong)的場所(suo)。