Characteristics of Asian elephant group in Nangunhe National Nature Reserve based on spatio-temporal analysis

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.150901

Abstract

Abstract:

Animal grouping is widespread in natural populations, but detecting individual group membership is still in the stage of empirical identification based on photos and videos, without refined technical details. In this study, we examine grouping characteristics of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) using infrared-triggered camera trapping techniques in Nangunhe National Nature Reserve from November 2022 to May 2023. We deployed 64 camera traps totaling 7 635 effective camera working days. Through meticulous analysis, we identified 255 individually valid photos of Asian elephants and a total of 17 Asian elephants. The capture rates of group and solitary were 18.63% and 16.83% respectively. Through spatial analyses such as distance grouping and correlation, combined with the results of spatial niche overlap, we found that 11 Asian elephants had a high degree of similarity and correlation in their spatial utilization, and formed a group. The spatial activity of two solitaries was highly consistent and formed a small group, while the other solitaries were differentiated. In addition, the activity rhythm data showed that the daily activity rhythm of 11 Asian elephants was highly consistent, and the overall distribution was unimodal. Similarly, the daily activity rhythm of the solitaries highlighted the differences between the small group and the other solitaries. Consequently, the grouping characteristics of the Asian elephants are characterized by a family group of 11 Asian elephants and a small group composed of 2 solitaries, with 4 remaining solitaries. This study fills the research gap in understanding the characteristics of Asian elephant groups in Nangunhe and provides important support for the population management and protection of this species and sympatric species in protected areas.

Key words: Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), NangunheNational Nature Reserve, Infrared camera, Group characteristics, Spatio-temporal analysis

摘要：

动物集群现象广泛存在于自然种群中，而群归属问题目前更多地处在基于照片和视频的经验判别阶段，没有更多的技术细节描述。2022年11月至2023年5月，于南滚河国家级自然保护区利用红外相机技术研究了亚洲象（Elephas maximus）的集群特点。共布设红外相机64台，总有效相机工作日累计7 635 d。逐一鉴别获取255张亚洲象独立有效照片，共识别出17头亚洲象，象群和独象的拍摄率分别为18.63%和16.83%。通过距离聚类和相关性等空间分析，结合空间生态位重叠度结果，得出有11头亚洲象在空间利用上的相似性和相关性高并形成集群，独象中有2头亚洲象个体的空间活动一致性高并形成小群，而其余个体间存在分化。同时，活动节律的数据显示11头亚洲象个体日活动节律高度一致，整体呈单峰型分布；小群的日活动节律与其余独象间亦有差异。亚洲象的集群特点表现为由11头亚洲象组成的家庭群以及由2头独象组成的小群，剩余4头独象。本研究基于时空分析填补了南滚河国家级自然保护区亚洲象集群特点的研究空缺，为保护区对该物种和同域物种的种群管理和保护提供重要支撑。

关键词: 亚洲象, 南滚河国家级自然保护区, 红外相机, 集群特点, 时空分析

CLC Number:

Q958.1

Jingshan WANG, Qiang GUO, Wenguang DUAN, Xu LI, Weibin WANG, Zhisheng WANG, Shaobing YANG. Characteristics of Asian elephant group in Nangunhe National Nature Reserve based on spatio-temporal analysis[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2026, 46(2): 240-250.

汪靖山, 郭强, 段文光, 李旭, 王卫斌, 王志胜, 杨绍兵. 基于时空分析南滚河国家级自然保护区亚洲象的集群特点[J]. 兽类学报, 2026, 46(2): 240-250.

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布设海拔 Attitude of infrared cameras/m	相机数量 Number of infrared cameras	有效工作日 Effective working day/d		独立有效照片 Number of independent effective photos		亚洲象个体数量 Number of Asian elephants		拍摄率 Capture rate/%
布设海拔 Attitude of infrared cameras/m	相机数量 Number of infrared cameras	象群 Group	独象 Solitary	象群 Group	独象 Solitary	象群 Group	独象 Solitary	象群 Group	独象 Solitary
500 ~ 600	8	755	940	26	37	136	41	3.44	3.94
600 ~ 700	16	1 080	1 545	26	46	111	57	2.41	2.98
700 ~ 800	12	740	980	19	37	71	42	2.57	3.78
800 ~ 900	9	470	600	29	23	167	27	6.17	3.83
900 ~ 1 000	4	200	260	5	6	20	7	2.50	2.31
1 000 ~ 1 012	1	65	0	1	0	11	0	1.54	0.00
合计 Total	50	3 310	4 325	106	149	516	174	18.63	16.83

布设海拔 Attitude of infrared cameras/m	相机数量 Number of infrared cameras	有效工作日 Effective working day/d		独立有效照片 Number of independent effective photos		亚洲象个体数量 Number of Asian elephants		拍摄率 Capture rate/%
布设海拔 Attitude of infrared cameras/m	相机数量 Number of infrared cameras	象群 Group	独象 Solitary	象群 Group	独象 Solitary	象群 Group	独象 Solitary	象群 Group	独象 Solitary
500 ~ 600	8	755	940	26	37	136	41	3.44	3.94
600 ~ 700	16	1 080	1 545	26	46	111	57	2.41	2.98
700 ~ 800	12	740	980	19	37	71	42	2.57	3.78
800 ~ 900	9	470	600	29	23	167	27	6.17	3.83
900 ~ 1 000	4	200	260	5	6	20	7	2.50	2.31
1 000 ~ 1 012	1	65	0	1	0	11	0	1.54	0.00
合计 Total	50	3 310	4 325	106	149	516	174	18.63	16.83

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