Distribution, group size and activity rhythm of wolves (Canis lupus) in the Gongga Mountains, Sichuan Province

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.150542

Abstract

Abstract:

The wolf (Canis lupus) is one of the largest and most widely distributed carnivores in the world. Historically, it occurred throughout mainland China, but its range has shrunk dramatically due to habitat loss and human persecution. We conducted wildlife camera trapping in 1 km grid cells, with 195 cells and 286 sites in total, in Mt. Gongga from 2011 to 2020. Wolves were detected in 46 cells and at 56 sites, with 278 independent detections. The detection percentage was 23.6% and 19.6% for grid cells and sites, respectively. Wolves were found at altitudes ranging from 3 097 m to 4 563 m. The group size of wolves averaged (1.2 ± 0.5) ind., with no significant variance among vegetation types or between seasons (t = -1.119, P = 0.266; t = -0.251, P = 0.801). Wolves were active at 03: 00 - 07: 00 and 15: 00 - 17: 00 in the dry season (November - April), and were active at 03: 00 - 07: 00 and 13: 00 - 15: 00 in the rainy season (May - October). The temporal activity pattern significantly overlapped between wolves and sympatric herbivores. The highest degree of overlap was with the Chinese serow Capricornis milneedwardsii (Δ4 = 0.908) in the dry season and with the sambar deer Rusa unicolor (Δ4 = 0.895) in the rainy season. This study determined the distribution, population size and activity rhythm of wolves in Mt. Gongga for the first time, providing reliable information for further studies and large carnivore management in the nature reserve.

Key words: Canis lupus, Camera traps, Gongga Mountains, Distribution, Group size, Activity rhythm

摘要：

狼 (Canis lupus) 是世界上分布最广的大型食肉动物之一，曾广布于中国大陆，但由于栖息地丧失和人类迫害，分布范围锐减。2011—2020年在四川贡嘎山195个1 km × 1 km网格 (286个位点) 放置红外相机，结果仅在46个网格、56个位点拍摄到狼，累计278次独立探测，网格与位点的占有率分别为23.6%和19.6%。狼分布海拔为3 097 ~ 4 563 m，3 000 m以下区域未拍摄到狼。狼偏好单独活动，群体大小仅为 (1.2 ± 0.5) 头，不同生境和季节的群体大小没有差异 (t = -1.119, P = 0.266; t = -0.251, P = 0.801)。活动节律显示狼是日夜兼行性动物，旱季 (11月至翌年4月) 活动高峰在03: 00—07: 00及15: 00—17: 00，雨季 (5—10月) 活动高峰在03: 00—07: 00及13: 00—15: 00。狼与6种野生有蹄类的时间生态位重叠度均较高，旱季与中华鬣羚 (Capricornis milneedwardsii) 的重叠度最高 (Δ4 = 0.908)，雨季与水鹿 (Rusa unicolor) 的重叠度最高 (Δ4 = 0.895)。本研究初步探明狼在贡嘎山的分布、群体大小和活动节律，为深入研究打下基础，也为这一大型食肉动物种群的精细管理与保护提供支撑。

关键词: 狼, 红外相机, 贡嘎山, 分布, 群体大小, 活动节律

CLC Number:

Q958.12

Jiang QIAO, Xiaoli GONG, Wei JIA, Guoqing JIA, Yong JIANG, Huaming ZHOU, Jiaqi LI, Anxiang WEN, Jie WANG. Distribution, group size and activity rhythm of wolves (Canis lupus) in the Gongga Mountains, Sichuan Province[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2023, 43(3): 248-257.

乔江, 龚小丽, 贾伟, 贾国清, 蒋勇, 周华明, 李佳琦, 温安祥, 王杰. 四川贡嘎山狼的分布、群体大小和活动节律[J]. 兽类学报, 2023, 43(3): 248-257.

Figures/Tables 6

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植被类型 Type of vegetation	网格数 No. of grid cells	相机位点数 No. of camera sites
落叶阔叶林 Deciduous broadleaf forest	6	7
针阔混交林 Coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest	33	42
亚高山针叶林 Subalpine coniferous forest	112	173
高山灌丛草甸 Alpine shrub meadow	39	57
高山流石滩 Alpine scree	5	7

植被类型 Type of vegetation	网格数 No. of grid cells	相机位点数 No. of camera sites
落叶阔叶林 Deciduous broadleaf forest	6	7
针阔混交林 Coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest	33	42
亚高山针叶林 Subalpine coniferous forest	112	173
高山灌丛草甸 Alpine shrub meadow	39	57
高山流石滩 Alpine scree	5	7

食草动物 Ungulate species	雨季（5—10月） Rainy season （May - October）	旱季（11—4月） Dry season （November - April）
毛冠鹿 Elaphodus cephalophus	0.890	0.862
水鹿 Rusa unicolor	0.895	0.833
野猪 Sus scrofa	0.878	0.856
岩羊 Pseudois nayaur	0.855	0.860
中华鬣羚 Capricornis milneedwardsii	0.862	0.908
中华斑羚 Naemorhedus griseus	0.870	0.822

食草动物 Ungulate species	雨季（5—10月） Rainy season （May - October）	旱季（11—4月） Dry season （November - April）
毛冠鹿 Elaphodus cephalophus	0.890	0.862
水鹿 Rusa unicolor	0.895	0.833
野猪 Sus scrofa	0.878	0.856
岩羊 Pseudois nayaur	0.855	0.860
中华鬣羚 Capricornis milneedwardsii	0.862	0.908
中华斑羚 Naemorhedus griseus	0.870	0.822

食草动物 Ungulate species	雨季（5—10月） Rainy season （May - October）	旱季（11—4月） Dry season （November - April）
毛冠鹿 Elaphodus cep-halophus	P = 0.003；W = 4.745	P = 0.029；W = 4.762
水鹿 Rusa unicolor	P = 0.201；W = 1.634	P = 0.193；W = 2.187
野猪 Sus scrofa	P = 0.228；W = 1.452	P = 0.228；W = 1.452
岩羊 Pseudois nayaur	P = 0.997；W = 0.001	P = 0.128；W = 2.313
中华鬣羚 Capricornis milneedwardsii	P = 0.433；W = 0.615	P = 0.414；W = 0.667
中华斑羚 Naemorhedus griseus	P = 0.879；W = 0.023	P = 0.978；W = 0.001