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13 August 2016, Volume 36 Issue 3

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Research progress in conservation biology of endangered mammals in China

Wei Fuwen

2016, 36(3):  255.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201603001

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Research progress achieved by Chinese scientists in conservation biology of endangered mammals (e.g. Carnivores, primates, ungulates and cetaceans) from 2010-2015 was reviewed. These researches are mainly related to different branches of the conservation biology, such as evolutionary biology, ecology, behavior, physiology, genetics, genomics and meta-genomics, as well as policy and practices. The remarkable research achievements have been made in Conservation Biology of endangered mammals in China, especially for giant pandas and golden monkeys. Evidence from multidisciplinary researches indicated that the giant panda is not an evolutionary cul-de-sac, remaining evolutionary potential. Although the panda is facing environmental problems such as habitat fragmentations, its population is growing and available habitat is expanding. It turned out that its Red List Category could be downlisted from

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Infrared Camera Traps for Monitoring Mammal and Bird diversity and Activity Pattern in Limestone habitats

Li Shengqiang, Wang Guohai, Shi Zepan, Li Xiankun, Xiao Zhishu, Zhou, Qihai

2016, 36(3):  272.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201603003

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In this study, we deployed 35 infrared cameras in 15-ha Nonggang Forest Dynamics Plot to monitor the large and medium-sized mammals and forest birds from August 2012 to November 2013. We used a camera-trapping grid system in the main study area, with an approximate density of one camera per 2 hm2. We identified 20 mammal species and 26 bird species from the camera traps. Two species were category I state key protected wild animals and eight species were category II state key protected wild animals. Based on the relative abundance index, Edward’s long-tailed rat (Leopoldamys edwardsi), Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus), Pallas'ssquirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus), north tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) and red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) were ranked as the top five most abundant mammal species. Silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), orange-headed thrush (Zoothera citrina) and blue-rumped pitta (Pitta soror) were ranked as the three most common bird species. There was no significant seasonal variation in monthly species number, Shannon-Wiener index, and Evenness index, but there was a difference in mammal and bird species present between the dry season and the rainy season. François’s langur (Trachypithecus francoisi), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Asian barred owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides), long-tailed broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae), red-flanked bush robin (Tarsiger cyanurus) were only photographed in the dry season, and fairy pitta (Pitta nympha) and crested goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus) were only photographed in the rainy season. Red muntjac, north tree shrew, Pallas'ssquirrel and silver pheasant were diurnal animals, while Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine and edward’s long-tailed rat were nocturnal animals. Our results provide valuable data for monitoring the population status of the large and medium-sized mammals and forest birds in limestone habitats, and can provide guidelines for future research and protection management.

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Camera-trapping survey on the mammal diversity in the Laohegou Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province

LI Sheng, WANG Dajun, BU Hongliang, LIU Xiaogeng, JIN Tong

2016, 36(3):  282.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201603004

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The biological inventory within the established protected areas is the fundamental of biodiversity research and monitoring at both regional and national levels, and camera-trapping has been considered one of the most efficient tools for inventory of mammal community. Laohegou Nature Reserve is located in northern Minshan Mountains, Sichuan Province, and within the core area across the distribution of the iconic conservation species, giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca. Prior to its establishment in 2012, little is known about the mammal fauna in this area. From 2011 to 2014, we conducted a camera-trapping survey to census the mammals of Laohegou by dividing the reserve into 1 km x 1 km survey blocks. With an extensive survey effort of 9,188 camera-days, we detected and identified 24 wild mammal species and 1 domestic mammal species belonging to 7 orders and 18 families. Other unidentified animals were primarily small-bodied mammals of Chiroptera, Insectivora and Rodentia. Carnivora (9 species) was the most diversity taxon, followed by Artiodactyla (7 species) and Rodentia (6 species). Artiodactyla was the order with the highest detections (43.97%), followed by Rodentia (25.61%) and Carnivora (22.44%), all three taxa summed up to 92.02% of all detections. Three mammal species are evaluated as Endangered by IUCN Red List, 3 species as Vulnerable and 3 species as Near Threatened. Four species are listed as Class I state key protected wild animals in China and 5 species as Class II. This study was the first systematic inventory on the large mammals of Laohegou Nature Reserve. The results provide us valuable information of the community structure, spatial distribution and relative abundance, which will serve as a baseline and foundation for future research and conservation management.

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Camera-trapping survey on the diversity of mammal and pheasant species in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, Zhejiang Province

CHEN Shengwen, YU Jianping, CHEN Xiaonan, SHEN Xiaoli, LI Sheng, MA Keping

2016, 36(3):  292.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.2016010023005

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We used infrared camera-trapping to systematically survey the large terrestrial animals in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, from May 2014 to April 2015. A total of 244 locations were surveyed and 67,086 pictures and videos of mammal and pheasant species were taken, resulting in 16,129 independent detections. We identified 21 wild mammal species belonging to 6 orders and 16 families, 5 pheasant species, and 4 domestic animal species. Another 52 bird species other than pheasants were recorded, belonging to 6 orders and 15 families. We recorded two class-I national protected animals (Muntiacus crinifrons and Syrmaticus ellioti) and seven class-II national protected animals, accounting for 35 % of the total recorded species. There were two species listed by IUCN global red list as Vulnerable and five as Near Threatened, accounting for 27 % of the total recorded species. One species was listed as Endangered, seven as Vulnerable and five as Near Threatened by the Redlist of China’s Biodiversity, accounting for 50 % of the total recorded species. Muntiacus reevesi was the most common mammal species and Lophurany cthemera was the most common pheasant species. The results show that a relative high proportion of large mammal and pheasant species were threatened in Gutianshan reserve. The camera-trapping data collected throughout the reserve during a one-year period provided comprehensive information on species composition and their relative abundance of the large terrestrial animals in Gutianshan, which served as important baseline for subsequent research and management of the reserve.

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Preliminary survey for the biodiversity of mammal and bird using camera traps in the west slope of mid-section Mt. Gaoligong

Chen Yixin1,Xiao Zhishu2, Li Ming, Wang Xinwen, He Chenxiang, He Guiping, Li Haishu, Shi Shunjin, Xiang Zuofu

2016, 36(3):  302.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201603006

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Mt. Gaoligong, situated along the China-Myanmar borderis, is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. However, we have limited knowledge about the fauna diversity in this area due to complex terrain, and dense vegetation. During November 2013 to September 2015, we had investigated the biodiversity of mammals and birds by deploying 30 infrared camera traps in the west slope of mid-section of Mt. Gaoligong at Pianma, Yunnan, China. We established 41 different camera sites with 9,503 camera-trapping days and obtained 808 independent images. We identified 21 mammals and 24 birds, belonging to 10 orders, 21 families and 38 genera. We also identified Rhinopithecus strykeri, a recently discovered non-human primate species in the mid-section of Mt. Gaoligong. Primates, Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Passeriformes, Galliformes and Rodentia were the most abundant orders and widely distributed in the study area. Based on the detailed time records from seven most abundant species, the results were shown that: (1) Macaca assamensis, R. strykeriand Ithaginis cruentus had similar daily activity pattern with one peak in the morning and another in the afternoon;(2) the activity pattern of Dremomys lokriahand Myophonus caeruleus peaked at noon, but D. lokriah had another peak at dusk; and (3)Martes flavigula and Sus scrofa exhibited nocturnality, but S. scrofa were more active at night. This survey provide basic and valuable information for current status of mammal and bird diversity at Mt. Gaoligong, which are essential for wildlife monitoring and biodiversity conservation for this area.

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Wildlife survey of Taihangshan Macaques National Nature Reserve using camera-trapping in the Jiyuan City of Henan Province, Central China

Xue Maosheng, Jiang Bingkun, Li Weibo, Liu Xiaoliang, Hou Weifeng, Wang Pengcheng, Wang Shuai, Nie Huaixin, Zheng He, Bao Huizhi, Wang Shuxian, Huang Xiaoqun, Xiao Zhishu

2016, 36(3):  313.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.2016010023007

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Although National Macaque Nature Reserve in Jiyuan, Henan is rich in wild animals, wildlife resource surveys have not been conducted in the area for many years. We used passive infrared-triggered cameras to investigate wild mammals and understory birds in this natural reserve. We set up 51 grids (2 km*2 km for each grid) in the reserve with 1-3 cameras in each grid, and collected camera-trapping data from January 2015 to July 2015. With 6,014 camera-days, we identified 17 mammal species belonging to 5 orders and 13 families, and 28 bird species belonging to 6 orders and 12 families, including the following 10 species, amur hedgehog（Erinaceus amurensis), golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus), tawny owl (Strix aluco), eastern song thrush（Turdus mupinensis), scaly thrush（Zoothera dauma), blue whistling-thrush（Myophonus caeruleus), wood nuthatch（Sitta europaea), yellow-bellied tit（Parus venustulus), spot-breated scimitar babbler（Pomatorhinus gravivox), Chinese hwamei（Garrulax canorus), that were first recorded in the natural reserve. We recorded leopards (Panthera pardus) and forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), two important species belonging to Class I state key protected wild animals in China. We also recorded five Class Ⅱ state key protected wild animals including macaque (Macaca mulatta tcheliensis), koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha), golden pheasant, yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula), and tawny owl (Strix aluco). Hog badger (Arctonyx collaris) had the highest relative abundance index (4.57) among the mammal species, and golden pheasant had the highest among the bird species (2.03). Results showed that there were no changes in the species list of the medium- to large-sized mammal community of the reserve, but since fewer apex predators such as leopards were found, the government must take the initiative in doing more to protect their prey as well as their habitats. We also found evidence of intensive human activities in the reserve, including domestic goat breeds, which may have potential impacts on diurnal animals. Therefore, regulation control should be performed against intensive grazing in the reserve. Our study provides basic information for wildlife dynamics and management in the Taihangshan Macaques National Nature Reserve, and would be helpful for long-term camera-trapping monitoring of wildlife resources in this reserve.

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Infra-red Camera Technology Application in the Investigation of Mammals in Beijing Wulingshan National Nature Reserve

LAN Hui, JIN Kun

2016, 36(3):  322.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201603008

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From July, 2013 to May, 2014, infra-red cameras were set at 32 sites to monitor the mammals in Beijing Wulingshan National Nature Reserve. These cameras cumulatively worked 3630 days and a total of 494 available photos of mammals were obtained.. Ten species of animals belonging to 4 orders 7 families were identified, including roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), common goral (Nemorhaedus goral), hog badger (Arctonyx collaris), rock squirrel (Sciurotamias davidianus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Eurasian badger (Meles meles), leopard cat (Felis bengalensis), Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus), cape hare (Lepus capensis) and Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica). These mammals were mainly palaearctic species (70%) based on their distribution patterns. The most common species recorded by cameras included roe deer , rock squirrel, common goral and hog badger. Wild boar, Eurasian badger, leopard cat, Siberian chipmunk and cape hare were also frequently captured, while Siberian weasel was rarely recorded. The relative abundance of animal species at different altitudes and habitats, cumulative number of species recorded and camera working days were discussed, as well as the G-F index of mammals .

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Preliminary survey for mammal and bird diversity using camera traps in the Longxi-Hongkou National Nature Reserve of Sichuan Province, Southwest China

HU Li, XIE Wenhua, SHANG Tao, JIANG Binkun, XIAO Zhishu

2016, 36(3):  330.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201603009

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Wildlife resources are essential for biodiversity monitoring and conversation management in protected areas. From September 2013 to November 2014, we conducted a camera-trapping survey to investigate ground-dwelling mammals and birds in the Longxi-Hongkou National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province. During the 11,846 camera-days, we recorded 21 mammal species and 40 bird species with Falco cherrug, Zoothera mollissima, Zoothera dixoni, Turdus boulboul, Pomatorhinus erythrogenys, Conostoma aemodium and Paradoxornis unicolor as new bird records in the nature reserve. Four mammal species were listed as Class I state-key protected wild animals and five as Class II. Three mammal species were evaluated as Endangered by IUCN Red List, three as Vulnerable and four as Near Threatened. Five bird species were listed as Class II state-key protected wild animals and one bird specie evaluated as Endangered by IUCN Red List. This study replenishes and renews animal lists on ground-dwelling birds of Longxi-Hongkou National Nature Reserve. This study provides basic information for establishing camera-trapping routine survey and conservation management for large and medium-sized mammal and bird species in the natural reserve.

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Preliminary survey of mammal and bird diversity of Guangxi Maoershan National Nature Reserve - Based on Infrared Camera Monitoring

Wang Guohai, Li Shengqiang, Shi Zepan, Wang Shaoneng, Ye Jianping, Zhou Qihai

2016, 36(3):  338.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.2016010023010

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Camera trapping is an important tool for monitoring terrestrial mammals and birds, and has been widely used in wildlife survey, population evaluation and behavioral ecology. We set up 51 infrared camera monitoring sites in the Maoershan National Nature Reserve to monitor large and medium-sized mammals and forest birds between July 2014 and January 2015. These monitoring sites were distributed among four habitat types and seven altitude zones. Our objective is to explore the factors influencing the diversity of mammals and birds in different habitats and at different altitudes. We identified 17 mammal species and 30 bird species，with two species as category I state key protected wild animals and seven as category II state key protected wild animals. Based on the relative abundance index, Edward’s long-tailed rat (Leopoldamys edwardsi), red legged yellow bellied squirrel (Dremomys pyrrhomerus), swinhoe’s striped squirrel (Tamiops swinhoei), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and Pallas's squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus) were ranked as the five most abundant mammal species. Silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), blue whistling thrush (Myophonus caeruleus) and red billed leiothrix bird (Leiothrix lutea) were ranked as the top three bird species. There were significant variations in species number, diversity and evenness indexes of mammals and birds in different habitats and at different altitudes. The species number, diversity and evenness indices of mammals and birds in mixed forests were higher than those in other forests. The species number of birds was higher in 1400-1600 m than in other altitudes. Our results provide preliminary data for species composition of large and medium-sized mammals and forest birds, their relative abundances and spatial distributions in Maoershan, which are important for the future research and protection management.

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Baseline survey of bird and mammal diversity using camera-trapping in the Changqing National Nature Reserve of ShaanXi Province

HE Baisuo, SUN Ruiqian, CHEN Peng, DONG Wei, WANG Jun, WANG Dajun, LI Sheng

2016, 36(3):  348.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201603011

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Valid conservation and management of wildlife requires a well-developed monitoring network infrastructure. During the past decades, camera-trapping has become a strong tool for Chinese nature reserves to survey their large mammals and birds, and provides substantial data for us to learn the wildlife distribution and status at both regional and state level. Changqing National Nature Reserve is located on the southern slope of the Qinling Mountains and plays an essential role within the reserve network of Qinling. From 2008 to 2011, we conducted an inventory survey of large mammals and birds of Changqing using camera-trapping. With an intensive survey effort of 15,767 camera-days from 435 locations, we obtained 3,282 detections of mammals, including 21 wild and 1 domestic species belonging to 12 families and 5 orders. Among the detected mammal species, 5 are listed as Class I state key protected wild animals in China and 5 as Class II. Two mammal species were evaluated as Endangered by IUCN RedList, 3 as Vulnerable, and 4 as Near Threatened. Carnivora (9 species) and Artiodactyla (7 species) were the most abundant taxa of this mammal community and accounted for 13.46% and 84.00%, respectively, of total number of detections. The most detected species of each taxon, respectively, was giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, 12.30) and takin (Budorcas taxicolor, 114.04). The species richness of large mammals (i.e., carnivores and ungulates) represented a unimodal pattern along an elevational gradient, with a mid-elevation peak at 1600-2200 m. We also recorded 191 detections of birds, including 17 species belonging to 8 families and 4 orders, among which 8 are listed as Class II state key protected wild animals in China. Phasianidae was the most detected avian taxon and accounted for 79.79% of total bird detections. Mesechinus hughi and Spizaetus nipalensis were new species records to Changqing. Our results provided a comprehensive baseline of the large mammal and bird community within Changqing, which will support and guide future management and long-term monitoring of the reserve.

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Camera trap survey for mammals and birds in the Houhe National Nature Reserve, Hubei Province

WANG Bingxin, CUI Jifa, XIANG Minggui, WANG Yongchao, LUO Xianzheng, ZHU Xiaoqin, NIE Caiai, XIANG Mingxi, LIAO Zhonghua, ZHOU Youbing

2016, 36(3):  357.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201603012

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The Houhe National Nature Reserve (HNNR), located in central China, is part of the eastern Wuling Mountains and is rich in biodiversity. Aside from a natural resource survey conducted in 1997, however, no comprehensive survey has thus far been conducted for the diversity of mammal and bird species. To address this deficiency, we set up 53 camera traps in HNNR from July 29th, 2012 to January 8th, 2013. A total of 1963 independent valid photos were taken of the target species, representing 4 orders, 12 families and 19 species of mammal, and 4 orders, 7 families and 29 species of birds. According to the relative abundance indices, the wild boar (Sus scrofa), tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) and Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) predominated among mammals. Among birds, the highest relative abundance indices were for the golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) and Chinese tragopan (Tragopan temminckii). The survey detected several rare animals under second-class state protection, i.e. the Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus), rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), Chinese serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii), Chinese goral, golden pheasant, Chinese tragopan and besra (Accipiter virgatus). The survey also detected several Chinese endemic animals, i.e. the red-hipped squirrel (Dremomys pyrrhomerus), Père David's rock squirrel (Sciurotamias davidianus), Reeves' muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), Chinese thrush (Turdus mupinensis), rusty laughingthrush (Garrulax poecilorhynchus) and Elliot's laughingthrush (Garrulax elliotii). Our findings provide the foundation for future research on ecological community composition, population dynamics, niche diversification, activity rhythms and habitat use, which will under-score subsequent long-term conservation monitoring in HNNR.

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Using camera traps to investigate mammal and bird diversity in the Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi Province

Yuan Changxi, Zhang Changyou, Xie Wenhua, Huang Xiaoqun, Xiao Zhishu

2016, 36(3):  367.  DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.201603013

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The Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve in Jiangxi Province is one transitional belt between middle and south subtropical evergreen forests in China. In order to further reveal the wildlife resources in this nature reserve, we established 31 trapping stations to investigate mammals and ground-dwelling birds using infrared cameras from November 2014 to July 2015. Based on a survey effort of 4,692 camera-trap days, we recorded 12 mammal species and 21 bird species with spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor), silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera) and grey-faced buzzard (Butastur indicus) as Class II state key protected wild animals. Based on the relative abundance index, Pallas's squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus), Niviventer rats, Edwards's long-tailed giant rats (Leopoldamys edwardsi) and maritime striped squirrels (Tamiops maritimus) were ranked as the four most abundant mammal species, while silver pheasant, violet whistling thrush (Myophonus caeruleus) and greater necklaced laughingthrush (Garrulax pectoralis) were ranked as the three most abundant bird species. Grey grey-faced woodpecker (Picus canus), Japanese thrush (Turdus cardis), eyebrowed thrush (Turdus obscurus), emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica) and white-crowned forktail (Enicurus leschenaulti) were new bird records in Jiulianshan. Our research updated the mammal and bird species list as a baseline for future long-term monitoring of these terrestrial vertebrates in the nature reserve.