Winter habitat use of snow leopards in Tomur National Nature Reserve of Xinjiang,Northwest China

Snow leopards are one of the least known large cats, the population of which has dramatically de- creased. Their habitat loss was considered the main reason for the decline during the last decade, but their habitat preferences are still not well known. In this paper, we studied the winter habitat preferences of snow leopards in the Tomur National Nature Reserve （TNNR） in Northwest China during 2004-2005. We used sign surveys and tran- sects to study the winter habitat selection of snow leopards. The results indicated that snow leopards showed a preference for habitat variabilities in slope aspect, vegetation cover, dominant topographical features, landform ruggedness and grazing status. We found that prey availability and dominant topographical features were the most important factors that determined the winter habitat selection of snow leopards. Our results supported the idea that the habitat preferences of snow leopards are a tradeoff between suitable habitat features and avoidance of potential human interactions.

昆仑山中段初冬鸟类调查及其多样性分析

2008年10月14日至11月21日，考察了新疆和田地区的民丰、于田、策勒、和田、皮山5县的11条昆仑山河谷，包括安迪尔河（上游）、克里雅河、阿克赛河、布藏河、策勒河、玉龙喀什河、喀拉喀什河、杜瓦河、桑株河、康阿孜河等，徒步攀登最高至海拔5300m以上。跨度从77°40’～84°00’E，35°55’～37°30’N范围。东西长600km，南北宽约100km，覆盖面积6．0×10^4km^2以上。采用样线法和点计数法，对昆仑山区不同县域鸟的种类和数量进行多样性分析和比较。共记录到110种鸟类，隶属于14目、33科、74属，合计14161只，其中斑姬鸫（Ficedula hypoleuca）为中国鸟类新记录种。区系组成以古北型和广布种为主，缺少东洋型的成分。属于青藏高原特有物种只有雪雀（Montifringilla sp．）、雪鸡（Tetraogallus sp．）和地山雀（褐背拟地鸦）（Pseudopodoces humilis）等。物种多样性指数和均匀度分析表明，策勒（〉4．0）和皮山（〉3．9）的指数均较高。策勒与和田的相似性系数较大（〉0．60）。

保护需要从意识转为行动

缺少对原因的准确判断和建设性的途径，人与野生动物和谐相处就总是一种空幻。如今，雪豹的命运再一次把这个问题摆在我们面前。请听一位国际雪豹基金会高层人士的见解。

又一个被推向濒危的旗舰种

雪豹是一种重要的食肉动物和旗舰种，几乎在中亚洲所有的山脉都有分布，包括喜马拉雅山、喀喇昆仑山、兴都库什山、帕米尔高原、天山和阿勒泰山。它们的分布区包括各种不同的栖息地：喜马拉雅的冰川山坡，大戈壁，还有世界上最干旱的山地。雪豹喜欢悬崖、山脊、沟谷等构成的陡峭地形，但在蒙古和青藏高原的草原和沙漠也有分布。它们主要分布在海拔5000米到4500米之间，但在北部分布区900米的低海拔处也发现有雪豹活动。雪豹的栖息地给人的印象是偏远、荒僻，甚至充满了敌意。然而，如今雪豹已不再生活在人类足迹难以涉及的荒野中了。