Long recognized as a threat to wildlife, particularly for large carnivores, livestock grazing in protected areas can potentially undermine conservation objectives. The interspecific interactions among livestock, snow leopards (Panthera uncia), and their wild prey in fragile Asian highland ecosystems have been a subject of debate. We strategically deployed 164 camera traps in the Wolong National Nature Reserve to systematically investigate the activities of snow leopards, their primary wild ungulate prey species, and free-ranging livestock. We found that snow leopard habitat use was influenced by both wild prey and livestock. Blue sheep served as the main wild prey that spatially attracted snow leopards and coexisted with yaks while free-ranging yaks significantly restricted snow leopard habitat use both temporally and spatially. This study challenges the conventional understanding that livestock indirectly impacts large carnivores by competing with and displacing wild prey. Our findings highlight that free-ranging yaks within the alpine canyon terrain could directly limit snow leopard habitat use, suggesting a potential risk of grazing in reducing apex predator distribution and jeopardizing their populations. Consequently, managing their coexistence in shared habitats requires a more nuanced approach. Furthermore, our research underscores the importance of further research efforts aimed at enhancing our comprehension of the complex interplay within animal communities and ecosystems. This knowledge will contribute to the development of informed, evidence-based conservation strategies and policies.

鸡形目鸟类是全球受胁程度最高的动物类群之一.中国横断山脉地区的高山生态系统条件恶劣且气候严苛,分布着多样性极高的鸡形目鸟类,了解其群落结构时空动态对于群落保护至关重要.以横断山脉东缘的四川卧龙国家级自然保护区为研究区域,于2019年5月至2021年1月在海拔3500～4800 m的高山生态系统建立109个红外相机位点对鸡形目鸟类进行监测,共覆盖72个网格(1 km×1 km),累计监测33759个相机日.结果表明,(1)保护区高山生态系统鸡形目鸟类群落由9个物种组成,特有种和国家重点保护物种比例高,具有重要保护价值.绿尾虹雉(Lophophorus lhuysii)、雪鹑(Lerwa lerwa)和血雉(Ithaginis cruentus)相对多度较高,是群落中的数量优势种.(2)鸡形目鸟类群落结构时空动态明显.物种丰富度和总相对多度在灌丛生境和3500～4000 m海拔段最高,繁殖季(4—7月)相对多度远高于非繁殖季(8月—翌年3月).(3)不同物种有不同生境选择偏好,雪鹑显著选择上位坡;血雉显著选择低海拔和灌丛生境,回避流石滩生境;藏雪鸡(Tetraogallus tibetanus)显著选择高海拔和流石滩生境,拒绝灌丛生境;绿尾虹雉未表现出显著选择性,可利用各类生境资源.(4)保护区梯子沟和银厂沟是鸡形目鸟类重要分布区.位于梯子沟和银厂沟的网格监测到较高的物种丰富度和相对多度.基于研究结果,建议将绿尾虹雉设为重要保护对象,并重点关注对3500～4000 m海拔段灌丛生境的保护和管理;将梯子沟和银厂沟作为鸡形目鸟类优先保护区域,促进区域高山生态系统鸡形目鸟类群落的整体保护.

Aims:The habitat selection of animals is a scale-dependent ecological process, affected by environmental factors across spatial scales.Studying key factors which influence habitat selection across both spatial and temporal scales is tantamount to a comprehensive understanding of species' resource requirements and effective habitat protection.Chinese monal (Lophophorus lhuysii), an alpine-obligate Galliformes species native to China, has received a first-class National Protected Wildlife status with a high priority for global conservation.To our knowledge, no study to date has examined habitat selection of Chinese monal across spatial and temporal scales.In this paper, we detail how Chinese monal habitat selection patterns may reveal habitat in critical need for protection to facilitate its persistence and the conservation of biodiversity at scale.Methods: During October 2019 to October 2020, we constructed 15 transect localities and established a network of infrared camera monitoring stations in Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan.In total, we sampled 303 quadrats, including both microhabitat used by Chinese monal and systematic controls and collected landscape-scale habitat usage data from 176 wildlife cameras.To examine spatial patterns in habitat selection of Chinese monal, we used principal component analysis (PCA) and logistic regression models to analyze the data at the microhabitat and landscape scales, respectively.Furthermore, our analyses separate data from breeding (March-August) and non-breeding (September-February) periods, which allowed us to examine interactions in habitat utilization at both spatial and temporal scales.Results: At the landscape scale, the Chinese monal showed similar habitat selection patterns during breeding and non-breeding periods, with significant preferences for habitats (1) at higher elevation (3,700-4,300 m), (2) intermediate slopes (27°-33°), (3) proximity to exposed slope-faces, and (4) a higher proportion of meadows and tundras (complimented by a lower proportion of forests and bushes).At the microhabitat scale, the Chinese monal displayed significant preferences for habitats with higher rock coverage during breeding period.However, during non-breeding period, habitats with higher herbage coverage and lower shrub and litter coverage were significantly preferred.Conclusions: Our research indicates that Chinese monal show habitat specificity at both landscape and microhabitat scales, as well as seasonal variation in microhabitat selection reflecting changes in resource demands at different life stages.These findings enrich our understanding of the life history, biology, and ecology of Chinese monal.Given the endangered status of this species, we believe our research can inform more effective habitat and population management in the Wolong National Nature Reserve and beyond.

高海拔山区气候条件恶劣,资源匮乏,探究同域分布的近缘物种如何利用有限的资源以实现稳定共存,对于了解高山生态系统生物多样性格局的形成和维持机制具有重要意义。鸡形目鸟类飞行能力弱,属于典型的地栖物种,生态位空间相对狭窄,可能面临更高的种间竞争压力。本研究旨在比较几种同域分布的鸡形目鸟类的时空生态位,为了解高山生态系统同域物种的共存机制提供新的研究案例。2020年4–9月,研究人员在四川卧龙国家级自然保护区海拔3,300–4,200m的高山区域进行了野外调查,通过样线法和样方法对鸡形目鸟类群落优势物种绿尾虹雉（Lophophorus lhuysii）、雉鹑（Tetraophasis obscurus）和雪鹑（Lerwalerwa）繁殖期的微生境进行调查,使用红外相机对其活动节律进行监测,并运用核密度估计法从微生境利用和日活动节律两个生态维度进行了种间生态位比较。结果显示,雪鹑在微生境利用和日活动节律上均与其他两个物种存在显著差异。绿尾虹雉与雉鹑在微生境的利用上具有相似偏好;但绿尾虹雉的早活动高峰晚于雉鹑,晚活动高峰早于雉鹑,表现出显著的种间日活动节律差异;然而,整合两个维度后,绿尾虹雉和雉鹑的整体生态位仍然高度重叠,没有显著分化。本研究表明高山鸡形目物种间的生态位分化体现于多个不同的生态维度,并且不同物种之间的分化方式有所差异。在空间和时间生态位上的显著分化使雪鹑与同域物种间的竞争压力相对较小,有利于其实现稳定共存。而绿尾虹雉与雉鹑的整体生态位高度重叠,建议进一步对其食性开展研究,探讨营养生态位上的潜在种间分化。

食肉动物是生态系统中关键的功能类群,探究顶级捕食者和次级捕食者的种间作用和共存机制有助于我们深入理解生态系统变化和物种种群动态变化的驱动机制,是目前全球大型兽类种群衰退背景下的重要议题.在动物物种生态位的诸多维度中,空间与时间生态位是其中最为关键的两个维度,了解同域分布物种之间在时、空生态位上的相互关系是探究物种共存机制的基础.本研究以邛崃山脉中部的卧龙国家级自然保护区为研究区域,使用红外相机技术与粪便DNA技术在区内的高山生境开展野外调查,收集雪豹(Panthera uncia,分布点数量n=198)与赤狐(Vulpes vulpes,n=68)的分布数据,分别使用MaxEnt物种分布模型和日活动模式分析来探究区内雪豹和赤狐在时、空生态位上的相互作用关系.结果 显示,在空间上,研究区域内雪豹和赤狐的潜在适宜分布区重叠面积404.08 km2,主要集中在保护区西北部的高海拔区域,分别占二者适宜栖息地总面积的77.74％和80.79％,重叠程度较高;在垂直分布上,区内雪豹分布的平均海拔较赤狐稍高,赤狐的海拔分布范围较雪豹稍广,但两物种在垂直方向上的重叠程度也较高,均在海拔4300m左右出现分布高峰.在时间生态位上,雪豹(独立探测数n =351)与赤狐(n=155)的日活动模式均为双峰型,雪豹偏向晨昏性而赤狐更偏向夜行性,整体上二者日活动节律重叠度较高(△=0.68);在有雪豹活动的位点上以及两周内曾有雪豹活动的情况下,赤狐会加强夜间活动,降低其日活动节律与雪豹之间的重叠程度,但其日活动模式未有显著改变.本研究的结果初步揭示了雪豹与赤狐的时空生态位关系,将为深入理解高山生态系统中顶级捕食者与次级捕食者的共存机制提供实例与基础信息,同时也将为保护区针对这些食肉动物种群的精细化管理提供支持.

In this study, the relevant information about Trgopan temminckii collected by infrared camera survey in Wolong National Nature Reserve from 2014 to 2019 was collected, and species distribution model (MaxEnt) was used to predict the suitable habitat of Trgopan temminckii in the Nature Reserve. The difference of activity rhythm in spring, summer, autumn and winter was analyzed using kernel density estimation method. The results showed that in Wolong National Nature Reserve, the predicted suitable habitat for Trgopan temminckii was 430.38 km2, accounting for 21.52% of the total area of the reserve, which was mainly distributed in the coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest at middle and low altitude on both sides of Pitiao River in the reserve. In terms of activity rhythm, the highest activity intensity of Trgopan temminckii was in spring followed by autumn and summer, and the lowest in winter. The daily activity rhythm of Trgopan temminckii in autumn was significantly different from that in spring, summer and winter, but there was no significant difference between spring, summer and winter. This study preliminarily identified the potential suitable habitat distribution of Trgopan temminckii in Wolong National Nature Reserve and the difference of activity rhythm in spring, summer, autumn and winter, which provided scientific basis for the conservation and management of Trgopan temminckii and other Phasianidaes distributed in the same area in the reserve.

绿尾虹雉Lophophorus lhuysii是中国特有的高山雉类,国家一级重点保护野生动物,具有极高的保护价值.卧龙国家级自然保护区是绿尾虹雉的重要分布区,但长期以来都缺乏针对性分布调查和生境研究.2019—2021年使用红外相机技术对保护区的绿尾虹雉种群进行了广泛调查,采用物种分布模型评价了其生境质量.结果显示:1)109个红外相机位点中共有66个拍摄到绿尾虹雉,其中银厂沟和足木沟等区域的种群相对多度较高;2)基于47个物种出现点和28个环境变量所构建的MaxEnt生境评价模型显示,保护区内绿尾虹雉的适宜生境总面积765.07 km2,占保护区总面积的38.25％,其中,高质量和低质量生境面积分别为202.22 km2和562.85 km2,并且主要位于核心区;3)气候、植被、地形和人为干扰共同影响绿尾虹雉的生境质量,降水季节性适中、最干季均温和年均温较低、远离河流和公路的灌丛和草甸是绿尾虹雉的最适宜生境.总体而言,保护区的绿尾虹雉生境面积大、质量高且连通性较好,为绿尾虹雉种群资源提供了良好的生存环境.

2014至2019年,利用红外相机对卧龙保护区的赤狐(Vulpes vulpes)、黄喉貂(Martes flavigula)和豹猫(Prionailurus bengalensis)进行了监测,并分析比较了三者的栖息地分布和日活动节律.结果 显示,赤狐栖息地主要分布于保护区西部高海拔地区,与黄喉貂和豹猫栖息地重叠较少;豹猫和黄喉貂的栖息地均集中分布于皮条河以南,且相互重叠部分达56.7％;在日活动节律方面,赤狐和豹猫表现出夜行性,黄喉貂表现出昼行性.本研究表明,三种食肉动物均通过栖息地或日活动节律的差异产生了生态位分离,从而实现了在卧龙保护区内的相互共存.

由雪豹(Panthera uncia)捕食散放家畜引起的人兽冲突是目前中国雪豹保护面临的主要挑战之一.四川邛崃山脉地处雪豹分布范围的东南缘,本研究以邛崃山中部的自然保护区群为研究区,收集了2014-2018年红外相机调查和动物粪便DNA分析中采集到的雪豹与散放牦牛的分布位点,使用MaxEnt物种分布模型预测两物种在研究区内的潜在分布范围,以两物种分布重叠的程度作为评估雪豹捕食家畜潜在风险的指标,从而识别雪豹-家畜冲突的高危区域.结果 表明,在邛崃山中部的保护区群中,模型预测的雪豹适宜栖息地面积为871.14km2,牦牛适宜栖息地面积为988.41 km2,二者重叠面积达534.47km2,主要分布在研究区西部的高山草甸地区,占域内雪豹适宜栖息地总面积的61.35％.研究区域内总体上可能存在较高的雪豹-家畜冲突风险.在这些自然保护区以及新建的大熊猫国家公园的管理规划中,应把高山放牧作为对区内野生雪豹种群的关键威胁之一,重点关注模型预测的人兽冲突高危区域,通过改变社区牧业管理方式、发展社区替代生计等方式,降低潜在冲突的风险.

作为中亚和青藏高原山地生态系统中的顶级捕食者,雪豹(Panthera uncia)对于维持食物网结构和生态系统稳定性有重要作用.了解雪豹的食性组成和变化对于理解其生态系统功能和物种间相互作用有重要意义.以往的雪豹食性分析多基于对其粪便中食物残渣的形态学鉴定,但准确度受人员经验和主观因素影响较大.邛崃山脉位于雪豹分布区东南缘,该区域的雪豹种群规模小且相对孤立,研究匮乏.本研究基于非损伤性取样,在邛崃山脉的卧龙国家级保护区采集疑似雪豹粪便样品38份,首先提取粪便DNA,并扩增线粒体DNA 16S rRNA基因片段进行分子物种鉴定,确定其中22份为雪豹粪便样品.随后,利用脊椎动物通用引物和雪豹特异性阻抑引物扩增粪便DNA中的食物成分,并进行高通量测序,分析雪豹食性构成.食性分析结果显示岩羊(Pseudois nayaur)是卧龙地区雪豹最主要的食物,在67％的样品中均有检出.家牦牛(Bos grunniens)在33％的样品中出现,也在雪豹食性中占较高比例.此外,鼠兔(Ochotona spp.)和鸟类也在少量样品中发现.可见,野生猎物是卧龙地区雪豹的主要食物资源;与大世界大多数其他地区的雪豹食性相同,野生大型有蹄类是雪豹最重要的食物.然而家畜(牦牛)在卧龙雪豹食谱中有相当高的占比,显示该区域内可能存在较为严重的由雪豹捕食散养家畜引起的人兽冲突问题.

2013年11月到2016年3月,在卧龙自然保护区27个位点布设了红外相机,其中10个位点成功拍摄到雪豹影像,基于MaxEnt模型预测雪豹在卧龙的适宜栖息地.结果显示:雪豹的适宜栖息地面积为345 km2,占总面积的12％.其中,279 km2(81％)位于核心区,49 km2位于缓冲区,17 km2位于实验区.植被类型、年均温度和坡向是影响雪豹栖息地选择的主要环境因子.雪豹主要选择年均温度为-8 ～0℃的阳坡,最偏好的植被类型为草句.

Wolong National Nature Reserve is the core nature reserve in the reserve network found in the Qionglai Mountains.Between 2014 and 2016,we conducted a baseline survey in Wolong on large fauna using camera-trapping.After an extensive survey effort comprised of 10,961 camera-days from 83 camera stations in 58 survey blocks (1 km × 1 km each),we recorded 32 wild and 4 domestic mammal species (belonging to 6 orders and 15 families) with 2,095 detections.Five and eleven mammals were listed as Class Ⅰ and Class Ⅱ Nationally Protected Wildlife,respectively,and 4,6,and 4 species were listed as EN,VU,and NT species,respectively,according to the IUCN Red List.Among the recorded wild mammals,Carnivora was the order with the greatest species richness (16 from 6 families),followed by Artiodactyla (8 from 4 families) and Rodentia (5 from 2 families),whereas Artiodactyla was the order with greatest detection (accounting for 63.33％ of all mammal detections),followed by Carnivora (20.01％) and Rodentia (5.73％).The most detected species in Carnivora was the hog badger (Arctonyx collaris,RAI =12.23),and tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus,RAI =32.21) in Artiodactyla.Three large apex carnivores were detected in Wolong,including snow leopard (Panthera uncia),wolf (Canis lupus) and dhole (Cuon alpinus).We recorded 59 bird species (belonging to 5 orders and 18 families) with a total detection of 655,including 4 newly recorded species in the reserve.Pheasants (Galliformes) had the highest detection of bird groups and accounted for 56.76％ of all bird detections.Our results provide basic information on the community structure,spatial distribution and relative abundance of terrestrial wild mammals and birds in Wolong,which provide support and guidelines for reserve management and long-term monitoring of Wolong.

In order to study giant panda's estrus site,to provide evidence for determining the key protection area,and to further understand the life history and biology of giant pandas,we investigated the scent mark trees at giant panda breeding sites in Wolong National Nature Reserve in early may 2011.Based on 5 surveys on 5 transects,we recorded species,height,and DBH of 594 trees on the transects of possible panda breeding sites.We documented 16 scent mark trees,12(75.00%) trees were seated on flat gradient below 20 degrees.13(81.25%) trees were located on the animal path.Average DBH of scent mark trees was 56.5 cm±20.7 cm(n=16),13(81.25%) trees were Tsuga spp.15(93.75%) trees' bark were rough.Average height of scent mark was 53.7 cm±20.3 cm(center above the ground).From the results and the field infrared cameras photos,the Wolong Nature Reserve preliminary suggested that the Dujuanhaizi area is vital habitats of the giant panda population during the spring mating season and had enhanced giant panda protection in this area by applying appropriate protection policy,and increasing patrolling frequency.

As a kind of steady,sensitive and efficient indication of environment,small terrestrial vertebrates can be used as an important pointer to the ecological environment changes.In this study,investigations were conducted on the distribution of small terrestrial vertebrates in the natural bamboo grove and man-made bamboo grove by means of the method of drift fences and pitfall traps,aiming to make assessment of small terrestrial vertebrates resources and the ecological environment of Wolong. A total of 15 species(2 amphibian species,1 reptile species,and 12 small mammal species),belonging to 7 families and 5 orders,were recorded in the study area.The number of the collected sample individuals came to 316.