Camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern Tibetan Plateau
Abstract The eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, a global biodiversity hotspot, is threatened by habitat degradation. Conservation actions are required in this region, but limited knowledge of large and medium-sized mammals is hampering conservation planning. Using 149 camera traps, we surveyed l...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0030605320000319 2024-09-15T18:01:22+00:00 Camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern Tibetan Plateau Xu, Yu Wang, Bin Gu, Xiaodong Song, Dazhao Yang, Biao 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000319 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0030605320000319 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Oryx volume 56, issue 1, page 137-144 ISSN 0030-6053 1365-3008 journal-article 2021 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000319 2024-07-31T04:04:47Z Abstract The eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, a global biodiversity hotspot, is threatened by habitat degradation. Conservation actions are required in this region, but limited knowledge of large and medium-sized mammals is hampering conservation planning. Using 149 camera traps, we surveyed large and medium-sized mammals in Xionglongxi Provincial Nature Reserve and adjacent areas, on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, during September 2016–May 2017. We obtained 5,752 independent captures of 29 large and medium-sized mammal species, including 13 that are globally threatened and 22 that are nationally threatened in China. Carnivores were especially diverse, with 16 species recorded. Of particular significance was our detection of seven felid species, including the leopard Panthera pardus and the snow leopard Panthera uncia . Our record of the Chinese mountain cat Felis bieti extends the known range of this species. We documented new upper elevation limits for eight species. There was elevational overlap between the leopard and the snow leopard, suggesting potential competition between the two species. The grey wolf Canis lupus and the leopard were the dominant predators, and the woolly hare Lepus oiostolus and several species of ungulates were the most frequently photographed prey species. The study area maintains a significant community of large and medium-sized mammals, which is more diverse than in other areas on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. We recommend the establishment of a larger nature reserve of national protection status in the region of the Xionglongxi Provincial Nature Reserve, to protect the unique subalpine and alpine ecosystems in this area. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Cambridge University Press Oryx 1 8 |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
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English |
description |
Abstract The eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, a global biodiversity hotspot, is threatened by habitat degradation. Conservation actions are required in this region, but limited knowledge of large and medium-sized mammals is hampering conservation planning. Using 149 camera traps, we surveyed large and medium-sized mammals in Xionglongxi Provincial Nature Reserve and adjacent areas, on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, during September 2016–May 2017. We obtained 5,752 independent captures of 29 large and medium-sized mammal species, including 13 that are globally threatened and 22 that are nationally threatened in China. Carnivores were especially diverse, with 16 species recorded. Of particular significance was our detection of seven felid species, including the leopard Panthera pardus and the snow leopard Panthera uncia . Our record of the Chinese mountain cat Felis bieti extends the known range of this species. We documented new upper elevation limits for eight species. There was elevational overlap between the leopard and the snow leopard, suggesting potential competition between the two species. The grey wolf Canis lupus and the leopard were the dominant predators, and the woolly hare Lepus oiostolus and several species of ungulates were the most frequently photographed prey species. The study area maintains a significant community of large and medium-sized mammals, which is more diverse than in other areas on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. We recommend the establishment of a larger nature reserve of national protection status in the region of the Xionglongxi Provincial Nature Reserve, to protect the unique subalpine and alpine ecosystems in this area. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Xu, Yu Wang, Bin Gu, Xiaodong Song, Dazhao Yang, Biao |
spellingShingle |
Xu, Yu Wang, Bin Gu, Xiaodong Song, Dazhao Yang, Biao Camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern Tibetan Plateau |
author_facet |
Xu, Yu Wang, Bin Gu, Xiaodong Song, Dazhao Yang, Biao |
author_sort |
Xu, Yu |
title |
Camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern Tibetan Plateau |
title_short |
Camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern Tibetan Plateau |
title_full |
Camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern Tibetan Plateau |
title_fullStr |
Camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern Tibetan Plateau |
title_full_unstemmed |
Camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern Tibetan Plateau |
title_sort |
camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern tibetan plateau |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000319 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0030605320000319 |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_source |
Oryx volume 56, issue 1, page 137-144 ISSN 0030-6053 1365-3008 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000319 |
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Oryx |
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1 |
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1810438517411545088 |