ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA >

2024 , Vol. 44 >Issue 6: 729 - 737

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.150933

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Activity patterns and spatial distribution of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in eastern Altun Mountains

  • WANG Tianhui ,
  • MA Yongsheng ,
  • WU Hao ,
  • HEZIERHAN Sataer ,
  • HUATI Habiyaxi ,
  • GAO Shuaishuai ,
  • ZHANG Yu ,
  • LI Jia
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  • 1 Gansu An'nanba Wild Camel National Nature Reserve, Akesai 736400, China;
    2 Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China;
    3 Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China

Received date: 2024-04-01

  Revised date: 2024-07-25

  Online published: 2024-07-25

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Abstract

As the apex predator of plateau ecosystems in Central Asia and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) plays an essential role in maintaining ecosystem stability. However, the secretive nature of this rare species, and the inaccessibility and harshness of the areas have limited the availability of research data, and thus resulted in scattered and slow progress in the ecology and conservation research on this species. Understanding snow leopard activity patterns and spatial distribution is vital for the development of effective conservation. In this study, we used camera trapping to survey activity patterns of snow leopard during dry and rainy season in eastern Altun Mountains, China, and used occupancy models to document the spatial distribution and influence factors, from May 2021 to January 2023. We obtained 545 independent detections of snow leopard during a total camera trapping effort of 37 760 effective camera trap days at 59 sites. The number of independent detections of snow leopard activity captured by infrared cameras in the dry season were significantly higher than in the rainy season, and detections were highest in November. During the dry season, snow leopards showed mainly crepuscular activity patterns, and the activity peaks were around 09: 00 and 19: 00, with activity intensity higher in dusk than dawn. The species showed nocturnal to crepuscular activity pat‐terns during the rainy season; the activity peaks were around 08: 00 and 22: 00. The average occupancy rate (ψ) estimated was 0. 699 ±0. 07 and average detection probability (Pr) was 0. 083 ±0. 005. Occupancy models reveal that snow leopard is positively (β = 2. 272 ±2. 779) associated with elevation and negatively (β = -0. 331 ±0. 779) associated with precipitation. Our study filled the gaps in field ecological research of snow leopard in Altun Mountains, provided basic information for further in-depth ecology research of species, and supported scientific conservation planning.

Key words： Snow leopard(Panthera uncia); Camera trapping; Occupancy model; Activity intensity

Cite this article

WANG Tianhui , MA Yongsheng , WU Hao , HEZIERHAN Sataer , HUATI Habiyaxi , GAO Shuaishuai , ZHANG Yu , LI Jia . Activity patterns and spatial distribution of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in eastern Altun Mountains[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2024 , 44(6) : 729 -737 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150933

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