Knowledge of large carnivore population abundance is essential for wildlife management and conservation,but these data are often difficult to obtain in inherently low-density species.In particular,the snow leopard,Pant...Knowledge of large carnivore population abundance is essential for wildlife management and conservation,but these data are often difficult to obtain in inherently low-density species.In particular,the snow leopard,Panthera uncia,an enigmatic cat occupying remote mountains in Central Asia,has received insufficient assessments of its population abundance because of logistical and methodological challenges.Here,we aimed to develop a robust density estimation of snow leopards based on 81 days of camera trapping within a contiguous and previously un-surveyed 1950 km2 area of habitat on the Tibetan Plateau(Mayue Township,Shenzha County,Tibet Autonomous Region,China).By applying spatially explicit capture–recapture models,we produced an estimate of 1.40(95%CI:1.06–1.84)individuals per 100 km2.Results also suggested sex-specific variation in the range of movement around activity centers,with male(N=10,σ=4.02)movement considerably greater than female(N=8,σ=1.84)move-ment.Thefindings can serve as a reliable baseline reference for assessing the population trends of this endangered felid species with future estimates.This study will provide context to contribute toward a better understanding of ecological factors shaping the distribution and abundance of snow leopards and the related conservation measures needed to sustain their long-term survival on the Tibetan Plateau.展开更多
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to expand the ancient land routes that connect China to the Mediterranean Sea and corresponding ocean- based routes, is expanding global cooperation with profou...China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to expand the ancient land routes that connect China to the Mediterranean Sea and corresponding ocean- based routes, is expanding global cooperation with profound socioeconomic and ecological implications. As China and associated countries are developing specific policies to implement the initiative, it is important to analyze and integrate major relevant issues. In this article, we discuss several major challenges facing the Belt and Road region: complex natural features, mismatched resources, shared ecological issues, and diverse socioeconomic conditions. To meet the challeng-es, we apply the integrated framework of telecoupling (socioeconomic and environmental interactions over distances) and propose to enhance infrastructure connection, transboundary actions, scientific and cultural exchanges, and institutional innovations within the Belt and Road region;and collaborate with more interna-tional organizations and countries beyond the Belt and Road region for a prosperous and sustainable world.展开更多
Medicinal herb collection has historical and cultural roots in many rural communities in developing countries.Areas where herb collection occurs may overlap with biodiversity hotspots and crucial habitat of endangered...Medicinal herb collection has historical and cultural roots in many rural communities in developing countries.Areas where herb collection occurs may overlap with biodiversity hotspots and crucial habitat of endangered and threatened species.However,impacts of such practices on wildlife are unknown and possibly underestimated,perhaps due to the elusive nature of such activities.We examined this phenomenon in Wolong Nature Reserve,China,a protected area in the South-Central China biodiversity hotspot that also supports a community of Tibetan,Qiang and Han people who use herb collection as a supplementary source of livelihood.We adopted a participatory approach in which we engaged local people in outlining spatial and temporal dynamics of medicinal herb collection practices.We found that the overall spatial extent of herb collection increased in the past two decades.We then overlaid herb collection maps with localities of giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)feces collected over two time points in the reserve.Using a Bayesian parameter estimation,we found evidence for declined giant panda occurrence in the areas most recently impacted by emerging medicinal herb collection.Our methodology demonstrates the potential power of integrating participatory approaches with quantitative methods for processes like herb collection that may be difficult to examine empirically.We discuss future directions for improving explanatory power and addressing uncertainty in this type of mixed-method,interdisciplinary research.This work has implications for future attempts to understand whether and how prevalent but subtle human activities may affect wildlife conservation.展开更多
Telemetry studies that track animals through space and time can lead to advances in scientific understanding that are vital in conservation efforts.For example,telemetry studies of the giant panda(Ailuropoda melano...Telemetry studies that track animals through space and time can lead to advances in scientific understanding that are vital in conservation efforts.For example,telemetry studies of the giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)have shed light on many aspects of panda biology,but small sample sizes in each separate study make it difficult to draw broad conclusions.To overcome this problem we conducted the first synthesis of all 5 panda telemetry studies conducted to date.Using these data we investigated patterns in 6 main topics:home range,space-use interactions,core areas,movement patterns,seasonal migration and natal dispersal.We found that panda home range sizes do not vary between 2 main mountain ranges(Qionglai and Qinling),as was previously believed.Our results also suggest that female pandas increase their movement in the mating season:a behavior typically attributed only to males.We found and summarized telemetry and genetic evidence for female natal dispersal in the giant panda.Our synthesis highlights the need for additional research relating panda behavior to human disturbance factors,and can aid future studies on giant pandas as well as other species.展开更多
基金funded by Panthera,Blue Moon Fund,Beijing Bishengyuan Co.Ltd.,and China Green Carbon Foundation.
文摘Knowledge of large carnivore population abundance is essential for wildlife management and conservation,but these data are often difficult to obtain in inherently low-density species.In particular,the snow leopard,Panthera uncia,an enigmatic cat occupying remote mountains in Central Asia,has received insufficient assessments of its population abundance because of logistical and methodological challenges.Here,we aimed to develop a robust density estimation of snow leopards based on 81 days of camera trapping within a contiguous and previously un-surveyed 1950 km2 area of habitat on the Tibetan Plateau(Mayue Township,Shenzha County,Tibet Autonomous Region,China).By applying spatially explicit capture–recapture models,we produced an estimate of 1.40(95%CI:1.06–1.84)individuals per 100 km2.Results also suggested sex-specific variation in the range of movement around activity centers,with male(N=10,σ=4.02)movement considerably greater than female(N=8,σ=1.84)move-ment.Thefindings can serve as a reliable baseline reference for assessing the population trends of this endangered felid species with future estimates.This study will provide context to contribute toward a better understanding of ecological factors shaping the distribution and abundance of snow leopards and the related conservation measures needed to sustain their long-term survival on the Tibetan Plateau.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(41371535,41001098,71303198,41201444)the China Scholar ship Council,U.S.National Science Foundation,Michigan AgBio Research,and Michigan State University.
文摘China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to expand the ancient land routes that connect China to the Mediterranean Sea and corresponding ocean- based routes, is expanding global cooperation with profound socioeconomic and ecological implications. As China and associated countries are developing specific policies to implement the initiative, it is important to analyze and integrate major relevant issues. In this article, we discuss several major challenges facing the Belt and Road region: complex natural features, mismatched resources, shared ecological issues, and diverse socioeconomic conditions. To meet the challeng-es, we apply the integrated framework of telecoupling (socioeconomic and environmental interactions over distances) and propose to enhance infrastructure connection, transboundary actions, scientific and cultural exchanges, and institutional innovations within the Belt and Road region;and collaborate with more interna-tional organizations and countries beyond the Belt and Road region for a prosperous and sustainable world.
基金these grants:National Natural Science Foundation of China(4157151731572293)Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation(China West Normal University),Ministry of Education,China(XNYB17-2).
文摘Medicinal herb collection has historical and cultural roots in many rural communities in developing countries.Areas where herb collection occurs may overlap with biodiversity hotspots and crucial habitat of endangered and threatened species.However,impacts of such practices on wildlife are unknown and possibly underestimated,perhaps due to the elusive nature of such activities.We examined this phenomenon in Wolong Nature Reserve,China,a protected area in the South-Central China biodiversity hotspot that also supports a community of Tibetan,Qiang and Han people who use herb collection as a supplementary source of livelihood.We adopted a participatory approach in which we engaged local people in outlining spatial and temporal dynamics of medicinal herb collection practices.We found that the overall spatial extent of herb collection increased in the past two decades.We then overlaid herb collection maps with localities of giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)feces collected over two time points in the reserve.Using a Bayesian parameter estimation,we found evidence for declined giant panda occurrence in the areas most recently impacted by emerging medicinal herb collection.Our methodology demonstrates the potential power of integrating participatory approaches with quantitative methods for processes like herb collection that may be difficult to examine empirically.We discuss future directions for improving explanatory power and addressing uncertainty in this type of mixed-method,interdisciplinary research.This work has implications for future attempts to understand whether and how prevalent but subtle human activities may affect wildlife conservation.
文摘Telemetry studies that track animals through space and time can lead to advances in scientific understanding that are vital in conservation efforts.For example,telemetry studies of the giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)have shed light on many aspects of panda biology,but small sample sizes in each separate study make it difficult to draw broad conclusions.To overcome this problem we conducted the first synthesis of all 5 panda telemetry studies conducted to date.Using these data we investigated patterns in 6 main topics:home range,space-use interactions,core areas,movement patterns,seasonal migration and natal dispersal.We found that panda home range sizes do not vary between 2 main mountain ranges(Qionglai and Qinling),as was previously believed.Our results also suggest that female pandas increase their movement in the mating season:a behavior typically attributed only to males.We found and summarized telemetry and genetic evidence for female natal dispersal in the giant panda.Our synthesis highlights the need for additional research relating panda behavior to human disturbance factors,and can aid future studies on giant pandas as well as other species.
