Relative abundance, cluster type, and daily activity rhythm of Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus in Western Liaoning Province

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.150907

Abstract

Abstract:

Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus is an herbivorous species widely distributed in the northeastern and northern regions of China. It is one of the dominant species in the western Liaoning region. From January 2022 to June 2023, we selected 4 survey sites in western Liaoning and conducted a study on Siberian roe deer based on infrared camera monitoring. A total of 116 camera points were set up using a 2 km × 2 km grid method, resulting in 57 995 camera days of infrared monitoring data. Among these, 97 camera points captured images of Siberian roe deer, yielding 5 254 independent and valid photos of Siberian roe deer, with 5 058 of these allowing for sex identification. We assessed the relative abundance of the local Siberian roe deer population and analyzed the seasonal variations in their clustering patterns using the Relative Abundance Index (RAI). Additionally, we examined the daily activity rhythm of roe deer using Kernel-density estimation. Our study revealed that forest type, altitude, and human interference intensity significantly affected the RAI of Siberian roe deer. Siberian roe deer had 5 cluster types: solitary individuals constituted 92.84% of all independent detections, followed by female clusters at 4.05%, and the seasonal variation in cluster types was regular and coincide with changes in reproductive states such as embryonic diapause.There were significant differences in the crepuscular activity patterns of Siberian roe deer, as evidenced by the more pronounced bimodal pattern observed in females, the peak activity time in the cold season being delayed compared to the warm season, and the greater impact of seasonal variations on female Siberian roe deer. In summary, this study explored the spatio-temporal activity patterns of Siberian roe deer in western Liaoning, the impacts of forest type, elevation, and human disturbance intensity on their relative abundance, as well as the variations in clustering patterns and daily activity rhythm in different sex and season, and prompted targeted conservation recommendations. The research findings contribute to the existing ecological data on Siberian roe deer, providing support for studying its population structure, developmental mechanisms, and other related aspects. Furthermore, the study provides valuable insights for the conservation and management of Siberian roe deer and its habitats in western Liaoning.

Key words: Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), Infrared camera monitoring, Relative abundance, Cluster type, Daily activity rhythm

摘要：

狍 (Capreolus pygargus) 是广泛分布于我国东北华北地区的食草动物，是辽西地区的优势兽类之一。2022年1月至2023年6月在辽宁西部选择4个调查样地，采用红外相机法对狍进行调查和研究。以2 km × 2 km样方法共设置116个相机位点，获得57 995个相机工作日的红外相机监测数据，拍摄记录到狍的相机位点97个，获得狍的独立有效照片5 254张，个体性别可以被识别的有5 058张。利用相对多度指数 (Relative abundance index, RAI) 衡量当地狍种群的相对多度及其集群模式的季节变化，用核密度估计法分析狍的日活动节律。结果表明：(1) 林型、海拔和人为干扰强度显著影响了狍的RAI；(2) 研究地区的狍存在5种集群模式，以独居个体为主，占全部独立探测的92.84%，其次是雌性群，占比为4.05%，各集群模式存在规律的季节变化并与胚胎滞育等繁殖状态的变化吻合；(3) 不同性别或季节狍的晨昏活动习性存在显著差异，雌狍的晨昏活动双峰较雄狍更凸显，冷季的活动高峰时间较暖季延后，且季节对雌性的影响更大。总之，本文探讨了辽西地区狍的时空活动规律以及林型、海拔和人为干扰强度对其相对多度的影响，集群模式和日活动节律在不同性别或季节上的差异，并提出了针对性保护建议。研究结果进一步丰富了狍的基础生态学数据，为研究狍的种群结构、发育机理等提供支撑，为辽西地区狍及其栖息地的保护和管理提供更多参考。

关键词: 狍, 红外相机监测, 相对多度, 集群模式, 日活动节律

CLC Number:

Q958.1

Minghui LI, Xinjun HUANG, Jin CHANG, Zhimin MO, Dongmei WAN, Yiting JIANG. Relative abundance, cluster type, and daily activity rhythm of Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus in Western Liaoning Province[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2025, 45(3): 356-367.

李明慧, 黄莘钧, 常劲, 莫志民, 万冬梅, 蒋一婷. 辽西地区狍的相对多度、集群模式及日活动节律[J]. 兽类学报, 2025, 45(3): 356-367.

Figures/Tables 8

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调查样地 Sampling places	面积 Area /km²	海拔跨度 Elevation range/m	样方数 No. of quadrat	位点发生率^* Site occurrence rate/%	调查时段 Survey period	相机工作日 Trap day	狍的有效照片数 No. of valid photos of Siberian roe deer	狍探测百分比^† Detection percentage of Siberian roe deer/%
楼子山 Louzishan	111.50	562 ~ 853	15	100	2022.2—2023.2	8 929	842	28.29
白狼山 Bailangshan	174.40	401 ~ 1 054	15	100	2022.5—2023.5	8 478	3 356	31.96
青龙河 Qinglonghe	120.45	346 ~ 955	49	85.71	2022.1—2023.6^‡	27 957	737	9.31
五花顶 Wuhuading	134.94	134 ~ 653	37	67.57	2022.5—2023.5	12 631	319	3.43
总计Total	541.29	134 ~ 1 054	116	83.62	2022.1—2023.6	57 995	5 254	18.04

调查样地 Sampling places	面积 Area /km²	海拔跨度 Elevation range/m	样方数 No. of quadrat	位点发生率^* Site occurrence rate/%	调查时段 Survey period	相机工作日 Trap day	狍的有效照片数 No. of valid photos of Siberian roe deer	狍探测百分比^† Detection percentage of Siberian roe deer/%
楼子山 Louzishan	111.50	562 ~ 853	15	100	2022.2—2023.2	8 929	842	28.29
白狼山 Bailangshan	174.40	401 ~ 1 054	15	100	2022.5—2023.5	8 478	3 356	31.96
青龙河 Qinglonghe	120.45	346 ~ 955	49	85.71	2022.1—2023.6^‡	27 957	737	9.31
五花顶 Wuhuading	134.94	134 ~ 653	37	67.57	2022.5—2023.5	12 631	319	3.43
总计Total	541.29	134 ~ 1 054	116	83.62	2022.1—2023.6	57 995	5 254	18.04

变量 Variable		位点数 No.of cameras sites	位点发生率^* Sites capture rate/%	有效照片数 No. of valid photos	相机工作日 Trap day	相对多度指数 Relative abundance index
林型 Forest type	灌丛 Shurb	15	80.00	150	5 390	2.78
	阔叶林Broadleaf forest	58	72.41	1 095	22 263	4.92
	针阔混交林 Mixed forest	21	95.24	1 839	8 356	22.01
	针叶林 Coniferous forest	9	100.00	778	3 841	20.26
海拔 Elevation/m	134 ~ 300	28	67.86	236	8 955	2.64
	301 ~ 500	25	64.00	264	9 446	2.79
	501 ~ 700	47	87.23	1 694	18 726	9.05
	701 ~ 900	16	75.00	1 488	7 147	20.82
	901 ~ 1 054	7	100.00	959	2 751	34.86
人为干扰强度 Human interference intensity	0 ~ 6	23	60.87	166	8 810	1.88
	7 ~ 12	22	81.82	1 307	8 532	15.32
	13 ~ 25	32	90.63	1 207	12 345	9.78
	26 ~ 50	20	90.00	1 371	7 713	17.78
	51 ~ 100	11	100.00	245	4 510	5.43
	101 ~ 500	13	76.92	345	4 410	7.82

变量 Variable		位点数 No.of cameras sites	位点发生率^* Sites capture rate/%	有效照片数 No. of valid photos	相机工作日 Trap day	相对多度指数 Relative abundance index
林型 Forest type	灌丛 Shurb	15	80.00	150	5 390	2.78
	阔叶林Broadleaf forest	58	72.41	1 095	22 263	4.92
	针阔混交林 Mixed forest	21	95.24	1 839	8 356	22.01
	针叶林 Coniferous forest	9	100.00	778	3 841	20.26
海拔 Elevation/m	134 ~ 300	28	67.86	236	8 955	2.64
	301 ~ 500	25	64.00	264	9 446	2.79
	501 ~ 700	47	87.23	1 694	18 726	9.05
	701 ~ 900	16	75.00	1 488	7 147	20.82
	901 ~ 1 054	7	100.00	959	2 751	34.86
人为干扰强度 Human interference intensity	0 ~ 6	23	60.87	166	8 810	1.88
	7 ~ 12	22	81.82	1 307	8 532	15.32
	13 ~ 25	32	90.63	1 207	12 345	9.78
	26 ~ 50	20	90.00	1 371	7 713	17.78
	51 ~ 100	11	100.00	245	4 510	5.43
	101 ~ 500	13	76.92	345	4 410	7.82

集群模式 Cluster type	集群行为 Group behavior	独立有效照片 Individual valid photo	占比 Percentage/%
独居（单只）个体 Solitary individual	雌性 One adult female	2 496	47.51	92.84
	雄性 One adult male	2 186	41.61
	未知 Unknown	196	3.73
雌雄群 Cluster of female and male	雌雄对 Female-male pair	36	0.69	0.89
	单雌双雄 One female-two male group	1	0.02
	单雄双雌 One male-two female group	8	0.15
	单雄三雌 One male-three female group	1	0.02
	单雌单雄单未知 Female-male pair and an unknown	1	0.02
雌性群 Female cluster	双雌 Two female group	177	3.37	4.05
	三雌 Three female group	35	0.67
	四雌 Four female group	1	0.02
雄性群 Male cluster	双雄 Two male group	47	0.89	0.95
雄性群 Male cluster	三雄 Three male group	3	0.06	0.95
成幼群 Cluster of adult and juvenile	单雌单幼 Doe-fawn group	34	0.65	0.93
	单雌双幼 Doe-two fawns group	9	0.17
	单幼 Fawn	3	0.06
	双幼 Two fawns group	3	0.06
不确定群 Uncertain cluster	单雌单未知 One female-one unknown	2	0.04	0.32
	单雄单未知 One male-one unknown	13	0.25
	双未知 Two unknown	2	0.04
总计Total		5 254	100