Wild boar populations have expanded globally due to factors such as habitat restoration, climate change, and adjustments in hunting policies. This expansion has led to agricultural losses, threats to public safety, disease transmission, and ecological damage, thereby exacerbating human-animal conflicts. Current strategies for mitigating conflicts between wild boars and humans face challenges, including insufficient assessment of long-term control effects and limitations in population dynamics monitoring technologies. This paper reviews mitigation strategies for global wild boar conflicts from ecological, economic, and social perspectives and provides a comprehensive evaluation for their effectiveness. Existing mitigation strategies include population control (hunting management and reproductive regulation), habitat management (landscape barriers and food resource regulation), physical protection (electric fences and multimodal deterrence devices), and community engagement mechanisms (ecological compensation and participatory management). The effectiveness of these strategies varies significantly across regions. Global case studies on human-wild boar conflicts demonstrate that multidimensional collaborative governance has achieved notable success in mitigating these conflicts. For example, dynamic management systems based on intelligent monitoring and community participation can effectively reduce the incidence of wild boar conflicts. Given the limitations of the current single-indicator evaluations, this paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation framework encompassing "strategy effectiveness, cost, and sustainability". The application of synergistic multi-strategy approaches produces significant synergistic effects, exhibiting nonlinear superposition characteristics. Therefore, future efforts should integrate intelligent early warning systems and policy reforms to develop an adaptive social-ecological coupling framework.

Ungulate browsing affects plant communities directly and indirectly, altering ecological community structure and composition. Within the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, intensive browsing by wapiti (Cervus elaphus) on Taxus cuspidata has severely impacted their growth and regeneration. Both species are flagship species for biodiversity conservation, and constitute primary conservation targets of the national park. It is therefore critical to evaluate whether wapiti browsing facilitates or constrains Taxus cuspidata population recovery. We conducted field investigations from 2020 to 2025 using quadrat surveys, plot monitoring, sapling assessments, and fence establishment. Data were analyzed with resource selection functions (RSF), generalized additive models (GAM), and piecewise regression to assess how wapiti browsing affects the growth and regeneration of Taxus cuspidata populations. Our findings indicate that: (1) Browsing probability decreases with increasing distance from mature trees (>15.7 m) and further declines beyond 29.3 m, promoting population distribution range and self-thinning. (2) At the individual level, Wapiti browsing may hinder growth. Browsed saplings exhibited adaptive shifts in resource allocation, prioritizing lateral branch regeneration and basal diameter recovery over apical dominance; (3) Low-intensity browsing (1-30 %) enhances Taxus cuspidata regeneration. (4) To balance conservation, fence saplings within 15.7-29.3 m of mature trees based on the browsing threshold. These results challenge conventional paradigms of browsing impacts by demonstrating context-dependent facilitation effects. We propose a spatially explicit conservation framework integrating browse-tolerant regeneration zones with targeted sapling protection, advancing sustainable co-management of ungulates and endangered flora in boreal ecosystems. This addresses management challenges in national park and contributes to research on herbivore-plant interactions and co-evolution.

As a flagship species in tropical forest ecosystems, the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) plays an indispensable role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Yunnan Province, serving as the sole distribution range of Asian elephants in China, is currently confronting increasingly severe human-elephant conflicts (HEC). Extensive foraging and damage to crops, as well as human casualties, constitute the primary manifestations of elephant depredation. The primary objective of study is to precisely identify the characteristics of HEC, uncover the spatial drivers of elephant depredation, and provide a theoretical basis for mitigating HEC risks in the future. Based on Asian elephant-triggered incident data collected between 2019 and 2023, this study quantitatively defines human-elephant conflict intensity using conflict frequency; employing generalized additive models (GAMs) evaluated the impacts of environmental covariates and anthropogenic disturbances on human-elephant conflict dynamics, while identifying the principal drivers propelling Asian elephants to encroach into human-dominated landscapes. The study results indicate that during the dry season (November-April), the risk of Asian elephant depredation was higher in areas near secondary roads, crops, forest edges, and at lower elevations. In the rainy season (May-October), the risk increased in regions close to crops, settlements, secondary roads, and areas with higher crop coverage. Across both seasons' patterns, food resources served as the primary driver of elephant depredation. This study furnishes critical empirical datasets and theoretical foundations essential for advancing the scientific management of Asian elephant populations, mitigating human-elephant conflicts through risk-reduction strategies, and ultimately operationalizing the paradigm of harmonious human-elephant coexistence.

ABSTRACTRealizing coexistence between humans and tigers is an important initiative of tiger recovery in the world. To define the priority management areas (PMAs) to mitigate the human–tiger conflict (HTC) in Laoyeling, where 90% of China's Amur tiger population is living, we analyzed the distribution of tiger habitat and HTC risk, and delineated PMAs for HTC mitigation. The results indicated that 26.77% (1851 km2) of Laoyeling is the most suitable habitat for the Amur tiger. The high‐risk area for HTC covers an area of 1173 km2, of which 413 km2 is the most suitable habitat for tiger. Among the six PMAs, 374 km2 of 1398 km2 are located outside protected areas and need to strengthen conservation and management. Our research can contribute to improving the management effectiveness of HTC in Laoyeling and promoting the recovery of the Amur tiger in China.

Livestock grazing is one of the most intense human activities worldwide, even within protected areas. Understanding the survival characteristics of wildlife and livestock is fundamental to species conservation. Long-term studies of wildlife-livestock interactions are needed to better explore the roots of wildlife-livestock conflict and provide effective protection suggestions. Here, we deployed infrared camera traps in snow leopard habitat in Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China from 2015 to 2022 and analyzed the interactions among snow leopards, blue sheep, and domestic yaks over time with respect to three aspects: spatial distribution, daily activity patterns, and habitat use patterns. We found a high spatial overlap among all three species (average 65.4 %). Snow leopards were crepuscular, while blue sheep and domestic yaks were diurnal. Domestic yaks showed evidence of an overall lower adaptive capacity than blue sheep, with more pronounced shifts in activity patterns over time than the wild species, as well as a more divergent habitat use pattern in choosing areas at lower elevation and with gentler slopes. Changes in daily activity patterns, habitat use and occupancy probability over time were cyclical and suggest complex shifts in niche over time among species. To mitigate wildlife-livestock conflicts in the future, we recommend 1) controlling the number of livestock, 2) improving the carrying capacity of the environment, and 3) optimizing policies to allow for niche differentiation between livestock and wildlife. Our study is helpful for guiding future research directions and formulating effective livestock management policies worldwide.

The interactions between animals and plants are the most critical processes in terrestrial ecosystems. Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park is one of China's first five national parks, where the recovery of the amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and its prey populations is vital for biodiversity conservation. Wapiti (Cervus elaphus) is the class II national protected animal in China and one of the main prey of amur tiger. Taxus cuspidata is a Tertiary relict tree and the class I national protected plant and wapiti browsing its saplings is likely to increase its endangered status. Given that both species serve as key conservation priorities in the national park, there is an urgent need to address the ecological balance between them. From 2020 to 2024, we conducted camera traps, field investigation, and high performance liquid chromatography to study the interaction between them. We found that wapiti mainly browsed the saplings in 20-100 cm. When the height reaches 250 cm, it can avoid being browsed. After being browsed, saplings tend to abandon the growth of the main branches and focus on the recovery of lateral branches and ground diameters. The concentration of tannins doubles, while the concentration of terpenoids nearly triples and that of flavonoids almost doubles after browsed by wapiti. Wapiti did not browse the same saplings twice. In summary, although wapiti browsing inhibits the growth of saplings, the chemical defense also ensures that it is not browsed twice. The results not only provide a scientific basis for solving the cooperative conservation of wapiti and T. cuspidata but also promote the study of interaction and co-evolution between large herbivores and rare plants.

Genetic diversity is key for species’ resistance (enabling them to endure disturbances with little alteration) and resilience (recovering swiftly to their original state or a similar condition). The prevailing view in population genetics is that species attempt to avoid the harms of inbreeding. We speculate that sometimes individuals do not reject mating requests from relatives when choosing mates. Moose (Alces alces cameloides) in the Greater Khingan Mountains (GKM) of China is a first-class key protected species. It represents the southernmost distribution of moose globally and serves as a thermosensitive species of global significance. Based on the state of moose in China, we used a non-invasive sampling method to conduct a series of studies on genetic diversity and inbreeding. The mitochondrial and nuclear genetic diversity of moose in this area are at a moderately high level worldwide, with good individual genetic quality, a high level of overall genotype heterozygosity. The Bayesian gene flow level indicates gene exchange between local populations. Molecular pedigrees revealed instances where individuals mated with their offspring or even grandchildren. The relatedness coefficient (r) between moose mating pairs were significantly higher than those of random mating. Therefore, there is no evidence that individuals in the GKM avoid inbreeding, and under these circumstances, there has not been a negative impact on genetic diversity of the moose population, as well as the genetic quality and genotype heterozygosity of offspring. In the context of future climate change and human activities, we need to closely monitor the long-term impact of this mating choice on the survival of the GKM moose population and promptly develop corresponding conservation and management strategies.

This study focuses on the Siberian roe deer population in the Greater Khingan Mountains, Northeast China. The cold temperate forest ecosystem in this area is distinctive. The Siberian roe deer is a crucial ecological indicator species, and its living conditions hold significant importance for ecological balance. From the winter of 2019 to 2022, 269 fecal samples of Siberian roe deer were collected from four protected areas in the northern part of the Greater Khingan Mountains, Heilongjiang Province. These samples were comprehensively analyzed using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers, combined with conservation genetics evaluation methods. The results revealed that 244 individuals were identified in the fecal samples. The results of a Cyt b genetic analysis of the samples indicated that the haplotype and nucleotide diversity were 88.1% and 20.3%, respectively. The evaluation of 14 pairs of microsatellite loci showed that the average number of alleles was 11.2, and the average expected and observed heterozygosity were 0.672 and 0.506, respectively. Therefore, the overall genetic diversity level is high, but some populations of Siberian roe deer are at risk. AMOVA analysis and STRUCTURE Bayesian clustering confirmed the existence of obvious genetic differentiation among the populations. Historical studies have shown that the HZ and SH populations underwent the earliest diffusion events, and the BJC and SL populations also exhibited related signs (HZ: Huzhong Nature Reserve in the Greater Khingan Mountains; SH: Shuanghe National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang Province; BJC: Heilongjiang Beijicun National Nature Reserve; SL: Songling District in Heilongjiang Province). Mismatch distribution and neutral tests indicated no expansion events or bottleneck effects in the population, and the inbreeding coefficient was positive, suggesting the possibility of inbreeding. The development potential of the population in the future varies among the various local populations. This study supports the biodiversity of Siberian roe deer at the genetic level to save the population and provides important scientific basis and reference for the protection and management of Siberian roe deer.

Tibetan red deer (Cervus canadensis wallichi) in the high-altitude environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau could face seasonal challenges from food shortages and nutritional deficiencies but the nutritional requirements are complex. Analyzing diet composition pattern(s) is the first step to disentangle this complexity. From a systematic perspective, we hypothesize that: (A) diet composition pattern or patterns exist within the population and (B) a portion of the diet beyond characterized diet combinations will consist of random combinations. In this study, we investigated diet composition patterns of a Tibetan red deer population distributed in the Sangri Red Deer Reserve, Tibet Autonomous Region, during the harsh lean season. In March 2021 and 2022, we searched for Tibetan red deer in the reserve and collected freshly defecated samples. Diet composition at the individual level was determined using micro-histological analysis, followed by k-means clustering and co-occurrence network analysis to reveal population level diet composition patterns. Diet composition of Tibetan red deer included 14 and 19 plant species (or genera) in 2021 and 2022, respectively. K-means clustering indicated two distinct diet patterns within the population across both sampling periods. In 2021, diet composition of both clusters was dominated by Salix spp. (58.49% and 33.67%). In 2022, R. macrophylla had the highest ranking and occupied 34.83% of diet composition in the first cluster while Salix spp. (39.39%) was the most consumed food in the second cluster. Results of co-occurrence networks showed positively associated food combinations of less dominant food items, with a staple food occurring in all food item pairs in both years. However, randomness accounted for 95.83% and 93% of all food item pairs in 2021 and 2022, respectively, which implies a stable dietary complex system. The 2022 co-occurrence network displayed complex associations, while the 2021 network exhibited limited and simple associations. Our results suggest that Tibetan red deer fulfill their nutritional requirements by consuming high quantities of several food items or a balanced combination of foods with complex co-occurrence associations to overcome potential food shortages, but multilayer networks containing nutritional values and food availabilities are necessary to entangle the complexity of the dietary system.

The increased pressures generated by human activities in form of climate change and habitat fragmentation have caused serious threats for Sindh ibex (Capra aegagrus blythii). Balochistan, recognized as one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change in Pakistan, has limited data on the distribution and population status of this species. To address this gap, our study aims to assess the spatial and temporal distribution and population trend of Sindh ibex in the Khuzdar and Lasbela districts of Balochistan. The study covered an area of approximately 45,123.97 km2. It involved a double-observer survey at ten sites from 2019 to 2022, using the BBRecapture package in the R programming language to estimate ibex population trend and dispersion. We provided a comprehensive update of the species geographic range, along with estimates of its current abundance and population trends. Over the course of four years, the ibex population fluctuated. The ibexes detected dropped from 720 (male to female ratio 1:1.21) and 710 (male to female ratio 1:1.08) in 2019 and 2020, respectively, to 550 (male to female ratio 1:1.35) and 548 (male to female ratio 1:1.09). Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the population trends, gender ratios, habitat preferences, and density of Sindh ibex in Balochistan over the four-year period. These findings contribute significantly to the baseline data on the species ecology and will further help in the conservation of these species at local scale.

Aims:Species diversity constitutes a fundamental component of biodiversity in both structural and functional aspects that plays a unique and irreplaceable role in the protection of rare and endangered species.This study undertook an initial assessment of avian and mammal diversity in the Beijicun National Nature Reserve,filling the gap of biodiversity in the reserve,and providing a basic reference for the in-depth study and conservation management of wildlife in the reserve. Methods:Between January 2022 and June 2023,127 camera traps were deployed in the Beijicun National Nature Reserve,Heilongjiang,China.Collectively,these cameras were functionally operational for a total of 19,881 days and obtained a total of 1,704 independent images.Additionally,30 sample lines spanning 4 km each were estabished to carry out a fixed transect surveys throughout both the cold season of 2022 and the warm season of 2023.The integration of these methodologies facilitated a preliminary exploration into the avian and mammal diversity in the reserve. Results:The survey recorded a total of 94 species of avian and mammal in the study area,including 19 mammal species(distributed across 4 orders,10 families and 18 genera)and 75 avian species(12 orders,24 families and 49 genera).Notably,seven species were identified as first-class National Protected Wildlife in China,including Amur tiger,which was previously extirpated in the area since the 1960s and is the first time it has been detected in half a century.The top three species of mammals captured by camera traps were Lynx lynx,Capreolus pygargus,and Sus scrofa.The top three species of avian captured by camera traps were Corvus corone,C.corax,and Garrulus glandarius.In the transect survey results,the most abundant mammal species was Martes zibeuina,followed by Capreolus pygargus,Cervus elaphus,Alces alces,and Lepus timidus. Conclusion:This study showed that the combination of camera traps and transect surveys was effective in monitoring the diversity of birds and mammals within the reserve.Ungulates were abundant and widely distributed in the study area,while top predators such as wolves were scarce.The emergence of Amur tigers was of great significance for the basic ecological research of mammals in the area.

The global focus on fostering harmonious interactions and promoting rational coexistence among wildlife species to uphold or reinstate biodiversity remains a prominent area of interest. We conducted a study on the sable and yellow-throated marten in Taipinggou National Nature Reserve, Heilongjiang, China, using the line transect method and infrared camera traps from 2022 to 2023. We then analyzed the overlap of their suitable habitats and niches with the aim of gaining insight into the interspecific competition between these two species. We found that the suitable habitat areas for the sable and yellow-throated marten were 55.20 km2 and 23.28 km2, accounting for 24.86% and 10.48% of the total area of this study, respectively. The overlap between the suitable habitats for the sable and yellow-throated marten was 15.73 km2, accounting for 28.5% and 67.6% of their suitable habitat, supporting our Hypothesis 1. The first principal component (Dim1) of the niche explained 35.4% of the overall variability, which is mainly related to the environmental variables “Distance from Settlements” and “Distance from Roads”. Overall, 25.5% of the total variability was explained by the second principal component (Dim2), associated with “Slope” and “Distance from Coniferous and Broadleaved Mixed Forest”. The niches occupied by the sable and yellow-throated marten were both off-center of the environmental background space, with the niches of the sable being larger than those of the yellow-throated marten. Schoener’s D index was 0.56, indicating a high degree of niche overlap between the sable and yellow-throated marten, supporting our Hypothesis 2. Our study is helpful in terms of formulating conservation and management policies for the sable and yellow-throated marten.

The foraging strategies of sympatric ungulates with similar ecological niches are important for understanding ecological niche differentiation, resource utilization, competition, and coexistence and for understanding the ecological impacts on plant communities in the ecosystem. The behavior of the wapiti (Cervus elaphus) and Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) foraging on Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) has affected its succession and renewal in the northeastern forests of China, which has become an urgent problem for the relevant departments. This study analyzed the foraging strategies of the wapiti and Siberian roe deer on Japanese yew from July 2021 to January 2024 using field investigations and infrared camera monitoring in the Muling National Nature Reserve, Heilongjiang Province, China. It was found that the wapiti and Siberian roe deer have different foraging strategies in terms of time, space, and behavior. Temporally, they both preferred to forage for the saplings of the Japanese yew during the winter season, the degree of overlap in foraging rhythms was medium (Dhat1 = 0.67), and the diurnal foraging activity index (D-RAI) of the wapiti was larger than that of the Siberian roe deer. Spatially, the suitable foraging habitat of the Siberian roe deer was twice that of the wapiti, and their overlap was low in the location and direction of saplings and the distance of the seed tree. Behaviorally, the foraging intensity of the wapiti was high, and that of Siberian roe deer was low. Foraging reduced the average primary branch height, number of new branches, and length of lateral branches of saplings, and the influence of the wapiti was significantly greater than that of the Siberian roe deer. This study provides a scientific basis for solving the conservation and management problems of the deer animals foraging on Japanese yew and contributes to further understanding of the competition-coexistence mechanism of sympatric species.

Insufficient density of red deer has affected the stability of forest ecosystems and the recovery of large carnivores (represented by Amur tiger). Conservation translocations from captivity to the wild has become an important way to restore the red deer populations. However, the difference in gut microbes between pre-release and wild red deer may affect the feeding adaptability of red deer after release. In this study, we clarified the differences in gut microbes between pre-released and wild red deer and screened the key gut microbes of the red deer involved in feeding by using metagenomic sequencing and feeding analysis. The results showed that the microbial difference between pre-released and wild red deer was mainly related to Firmicutes represented by Eubacteriales and Clostridia, and Firmicutes abundance in pre-released red deer (68.23%) was significantly lower than that of wild red deer (74.91%, p < 0.05). The expression of microbial metabolic pathways in pre-released red deer were significantly lower than those in wild red deer (p < 0.05), including carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, etc. The combinations of Firmicutes were significantly positively correlated with the intake of plant fiber and carbohydrate (p < 0.05), and were key microbes to help red deer deal with wild plant resources. Additionally, the combinations of Firmicutes represented by Eubacteriales and Clostridia lacking in pre-released red deer contributed the most to expression of microbial metabolic pathways (importance > 1), showing a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05). This study indicates that high abundance of Firmicutes is an important guarantee for red deer to adapt to the wild feeding environment, which provides critical implications for the recovery of red deer populations and the protection of endangered ungulates.

Livestock herding is a vital practice in Balochistan, contributing to the economy and culture. The livestock sector is significant in Balochistan, providing 20% of the national stock. Large predators and their prey species, including livestock, have coexisted in these mountainous landscapes for centuries. The aim of the present research is to investigate the impacts of livestock depredation by large predators on livelihoods and predator conservation in two districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. A human–carnivore conflict survey was conducted from July to September 2019, collecting data from 311 residents in a selected study area. Large predators in the study area preyed on a total of 876 livestock during a one-year period, including 560 goats, 292 sheep, 19 cows, and 5 donkeys. The gray wolf is the leading predator, responsible for 66.3% of livestock depredation, followed by the caracal (24.3%), Asiatic jackal (8.9%), and striped hyena (0.6%). The total economic loss was USD 78,694. Overall, 80% of respondents had a negative perception of wolves compared to 24.4% for caracals. Only 20.6% of respondents knew about the importance of conserving carnivores. Livestock depredation by carnivores in the study area created a negative perception of these animals among people. There is a lack of awareness about the importance of conserving carnivore species and their role in the ecosystem. This lack of understanding has ultimately led to detrimental effects on predator populations. It is imperative to raise awareness among people about the ecological significance of carnivores through community meetings, seminars in educational institutions, and providing basic education to herders about effective livestock guarding practices.

Unravelling abrupt alterations in the gut microbiota of wild species associated with nutritional stress is imperative but challenging for wildlife conservation. This study assessed the nutritional status of wild red deer during winter on the basis of changes in faecal nitrogen (FN) and urea nitrogen/creatinine (UN: C) levels and identified gut microbes associated with nutritional status via nutritional control experiments and metagenomic sequencing. The FN of wild red deer in winter 2022 was significantly lower than that in winter 2021 (p < 0.05, winter 2021: 1.37 +/- 0.16% and winter 2022: 1.26 +/- 0.22%), and the UN: C ratio increased (winter 2021: 2.19 +/- 1.65 and winter 2022: 3.05 +/- 3.50). Similar trends were found in late winter, which indicated greater nutritional pressure in winter (2022) and late winter. Compared with winter 2021, abundances of Ructibacterium and Butyrivibrio significantly increased, and Acetatifactor and Cuneatibacter significantly decreased during winter 2022 (p < 0.05). Compared with early winter, the cell growth and death pathways increased and lipid metabolism and its subpathway of secondary bile acid synthesis (ko00121) significantly decreased during late winter (p < 0.05), which was similar to the changes in malnourished experimental red deer. Abrupt alterations in the gut microbiota should receive increased attention when monitoring the nutritional health of wild ungulates. This study provides new insights and critical implications for the conservation of wild ungulate populations.

Although wild boar invasion is a common human–wildlife conflict worldwide, it is difficult to solve. Understanding the characteristics of wild boar invasion into farmland, accurately predicting the areas where wild boar invasions will occur, and implementing effective prevention and control measures are key to effectively alleviating conflicts between humans and wild boars. From 2021 to 2023, we conducted field surveys and experimentally determined the effectiveness of prevention and control measures in the Huanan and Tonghe Counties in order to explore the landscape and farmland factors affecting wild boar invasion, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of different combinations of prevention and control measures. The results indicate that the mean patch area, patch area coefficient of variation, and forest type edge density show positive linear correlations with the invaded area, which is positively associated with the presence of ditches and negatively correlated with the existence of electronic fences. Meanwhile, there are non-linear relationships between invasion and the edge density of farmland type, the proportion of forests, the Shannon uniformity index, the proportion of residential areas, the distance from the village, the distance from the forest, and the population density. In particular, the risk of wild boar invasion is higher in the border area between forest and farmland. The loss rate of farmland under the different control measures (compound) was significantly lower than that in the electronic fence group (single) (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, we put forward the following suggestions for the prevention and control of wild boar: (1) widen and deepen the narrow landscape elements around farmland; (2) focus on the border area between forest and farmland; and (3) use compound prevention and control measures. This study provides a comprehensive foundation for future wild boar prevention and control research, and it contributes to the formulation of effective wild boar prevention and control policies worldwide.

The Chinkara gazelle (Gazella bennettii), an endangered species, faces a serious threat from anthropogenic activities and climate change. In Balochistan, climate change and drought have created extremely challenging circumstances for its survival. The population status of many species cannot be determined due to a lack of data. If the current situation persists, there is a high risk of extinction for this species in its natural habitat. The purpose of this study was to examine the population dynamics and distribution patterns of Chinkara gazelle in the Khuzdar and Lasbela districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. The study covered an area of approximately 45,123.97 km2 and involved a double-observer survey at six sites from 2019 to 2022, using the BBRecapture package in the R programming language. The study detected a decreasing population trend in the Chinkara population over a four-year period. A population of 700, 683, 613 and 583 individuals were observed in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Rocky shrub land consistently recorded the highest number of chinkara sightings among various habitats. This study provides valuable information about the Chinkara gazelle significantly to our understanding of the species and will be used to develop local-level conservation initiatives.

Habitat isolation and fragmentation are serious to Amur tiger in the eastern Wandashan Mountains in China. Habitat patches are isolated from each other or from the core area by connected boundaries.These will hinder dispersal migration and gene exchange among Amur tiger populations.The unreasonable spatial layout greatly restricts the recovery and survival of them.Therefore, assessing the quality of habitat, improving landscape connectivity, and promoting the construction of ecological corridors are crucial to the conservation of the Amur tiger.We analyze the connectivity between habitat patches by modeling the habitat suitability of the Amur tiger in the eastern Wandashan Mountains seven resolutions (200-12800 m) based on MaxEnt.We determine landscape resistance by the suitability map. Then least-cost corridor and circuit theory analyseswere used to identify corridors. Finally we evaluatecorridors quality and their relative importance toconnectivity in the landscape, and determine ecological pinch points.We found that prey is the most important predictor of the appearance of the Amur tiger.We identified 47 corridors. The Dongfanghong National Nature Reserve and Zhenbao Island National Forest Park in the central region are key core habitats. The fragmentary patches in the east have lower resistance to diffusion. There are high-quality ecological corridors between the Zhenbao Island National Forest Park and the Zhenbao Island Wetland National Nature Reserve, as well as the forest covered areas of Raohe Farm and Raohe County. The eastern fragmented patches have extensive ecological pinch points. Relevant departments should strengthen the protection of the core habitat patches and ecological corridors of the Amurtiger in the eastern of Wandashan, in order to maintain the connectivity of the entire landscape. The long-term protection of the Amur tiger can also be achieved by expanding the current habitat size and planning construction of the protected area, and adding new protected areas in areas where they may exist

Climate change is becoming an important driver of biodiversity loss by altering the habitat, distribution and interspecific relationships of species. Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) is a first class protected plant in China, which has important ecological significance and occupies a certain position in the feeding habit of wapiti (Cervus elaphus) and Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus). Due to human and animal damage, the number of Japanese yew has gradually decreased. Therefore, understanding the potential distribution of Japanese yew and the suitable areas for deer to browse on it under climate change will help to further protect these three species in Northeast China, especially migrate to more suitable areas in different scenarios in the future. From July 2021 to July 2024, we collected the information of species distribution and the variables associated with the species’ ecological limits in Muling National Nature Reserve to cross-reflect the current and future distribution and feeding area of the two species to assess each other’s impacts with Maximum entropy model (MaxEnt). The results showed that under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, feeding pressure, driest quarter precipitation (BIO17) and seasonal temperature variation coefficient (BIO4) were the main variables affecting the distribution of Japanese yew, and the driest quarter precipitation (BIO17) and annual precipitation (BIO12) were the main variables affecting wapiti and Siberian roe deer foraging them. Under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, the suitable area of Japanese yew and the feeding area of the two species of deer gradually decreased from 2041 to 2100. Compared with wapiti, Siberian roe deer has a greater impact on the distribution range of Japanese yew, and the suitable feeding area is wider. It is expected that the potential centroid of Japanese yew, wapiti and Siberian roe deer will migrate to higher latitudes in the future. These findings provide a scientific basis for the reserve to develop relevant measures and plans and effectively protect the three species.