Assessment of habitat suitability of the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve based on MaxEnt modeling

Habitat evaluation constitutes an important and fundamental step in the management of wildlife populations and conservation policy planning. Geographic information system （GIS） and species presence data provide the means by which such evaluation can be done. Maximum Entropy （MaxEnt） is widely used in habitat suitability modeling due to its power of accuracy and additional descriptive properties To survey snow leopard populations in Qomolangma （Mt. Everest） National Nature Reserve （QNNR）, Xizang （Tibet）, China, we pooled 127 pugmarks, 415 scrape marks, and 127 non-invasive identifications of the animal along line transects and recorded 87 occurrences through camera traps from 2014-2017. We adopted the MaxEnt model to generate a map highlighting the extent of suitable snow leopard habitat in QNNR. Results showed that the accuracy of the MaxEnt model was excellent （mean AUC=0.921）. Precipitation in the driest quarter, ruggedness, elevation, maximum temperature of the warmest month, and annual mean temperature were the main environmental factors influencing habitat suitability for snow leopards, with contribution rates of 20.0%, 14.4%, 13.3%, 8.7%, and 8.2% respectively The suitable habitat area extended for 7 001.93 km^2, representing 22.72% of the whole reserve. The regions bordering Nepal were the main suitable snow leopard habitats and consisted of three separate habitat patches Our findings revealed that precipitation, temperature conditions, ruggedness, and elevations of around 4 000 m a.s.I, influenced snow leopard preferences at the landscape level in QNNR. We advocate further research and cooperation with Nepal to evaluate habitat connectivity and to explore possible proxies of population isolation among these patches. Furthermore, evaluation of subdivisions within the protection zones of QNNR is necessary to improve conservation strategies and enhance protection.

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.

16S rRNA Gene Sequence Analysis of Snow Leopard, Gray Wolf, Horse and Bactrian Camel in Mongolia

In this study, mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences of snow leopard, gray wolf, domestic horse and Bactrian camel inhabited or domesticated in Mongolian territory were obtained by using polymerase chain reaction （PCR） based on universal primers for 16S rRNA （F-5＇-AACGAGCCTGGTGATA-3＇ and R-5＇-CTCCGGTCTGAACTCAGATCACGTA-3＇）. The 16S rRNA sequence was 1,048 bp to 1,086 bp in length, and each sequence was compared to other related species （Felidae, Camelidae, Equidae and Canidae） by using NCBI Basic Local Alignment Search Tool （BLAST）. Results showed that sequences were highly similar to sequences in GenBank database （93%-99%）. Then phylogenetic analysis was performed based on about 1,100 bp sequence of 16S rRNA for Panthera uncia, Canis lupus, Equus caballus, Camelus bactrianus and other related species. The result revealed that P. uncia and P. leo were sister species, C. bactrianus and C. ferus were more closely related species, and wolf and dog were the almost similar species. This finding could be important for designing species specific primers for PCR based analysis of animal species identification and forensic veterinary medicine.

王者之争 Windows 7 & Snow Leopard在MacBook上的对决

在经历市场对Vista的萎靡反映后,微软(Microsoft)终于决定洗心革面,重新开始以用户的角度开发操作系统。而Mac OS X这一被苹果(Apple)自称是现今世界上最先进的操作系统,也没有放缓前进的脚步。面对苹果的步步进逼,从来都在对手阵营打胜仗的微软该如何面对苹果在自家本土的挑战呢?此次,MI特意将两个最新操作系统的Beta版分别安装在MacBook的两个不同分区内,带领各位米饭提进前入未来战场,体会一下这一王者之争。

Spatial density estimate of the snow leopard, Panthera uncia, in the Central Tibetan Plateau, China

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.

Blue sheep in the Annapurna Conservation Area,Nepal:habitat use,population biomass and their contribution to the carrying capacity of snow leopards

The Himalaya region of Nepal provides a habitat for the endangered snow leopard(Panthera uncia)and its principal prey species,the blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur).The aim of this study was to describe the habitat,the distribution and the population structure of blue sheep,and to estimate their contribution to the carrying capac-ity of snow leopard in the upper Mustang region of Nepal.Blue sheep were recorded at altitudes from 3209-5498 m on slopes with gradients of 16-60°and aspects of 40°NE to 140°SE.A total of 939 blue sheep were counted in the upper Mustang region,and 98 were counted in the Yak Kharka region of Manang district;how-ever,upper Mustang had the lowest population density of blue sheep recorded within their distribution range in Nepal(0.86 blue sheep/km^(2)).The results of the study show that a higher density of blue sheep is associated with greater plant species diversity.The most important species present in the blue sheep habitat were Kobresia pyg-maea,Artemesia spp.,Lonicera spp.,Lancea tibetica,Poa spp.,Astragalus spp.and Ephedra gerardiana.It is estimated that the existing blue sheep population biomass of approximately 38925 kg in the upper Mustang re-gion could support approximately 19 snow leopards(1.6 snow leopards/100 km^(2)).

Assurance of the existence of a trans-boundary population of the snow leopard(Panthera uncia)at Tsagaanshuvuut-Tsagan-Shibetu SPA at the Mongolia-Russia border

The existence of a trans-boundary population of the snow leopard(Panthera uncia)that inhabits the massifs of Tsagaanshuvuut(Mongolia)-Tsagan-Shibetu(Russia)was determined through non-invasive genetic analysis of scat samples and by studying the structure of territory use by a collared female individual.The genetic analysis included species identification of samples through sequencing of a fragment of the cytochrome b gene and individual identification using a panel of 8 microsatellites.The home range of a female snow leopard marked with a satellite Global Positioning System(GPS)collar was represented by the minimum convex polygon method(MCP)100,the MCP 95 method and the fixed kernel 95 method.The results revealed insignificant genetic differentiation between snow leopards that inhabit both massifs(minimal fixation index[FST]),and the data testify to the unity of the cross-border group.Moreover,5 common individuals were identified from Mongolian and Russian territories.This finding clearly shows that their home range includes territories of both countries.In addition,regular movement of a collared snow leopard in Mongolia and Russia confirmed the existence of a cross-border snow leopard group.These data support that trans-boundary conservation is important for snow leopards in both countries.We conclude that it is crucial for Russia to study the northern range of snow leopards in Asia.

Dietary overlap of snow leopard and other carnivores in the Pamirs of Northwestern China

Information about competition between carnivore species for food within high altitude regions is limited.Data collected from the Taxkorgan Nature Reserve,China revealed important interactions between snow leopard(Panthera uncia),grey wolf(Canis lupus),red fox(Vulpes vulpes)and their prey species,including domestic livestock.Sixty-four line transects were conducted in order to identify field signs of habitat occupancy and collect scats for diet analysis.High dietary overlap was observed between all three carnivore species:snow leopard and red fox(Pianka’s index=0.96),red fox and grey wolf(Pianka’s index=0.90),snow leopard and grey wolf(Pianka’s index=0.87).Snow leopard and grey wolf showed significant predation on livestock(36.8%for snow leopard and 29.4%for grey wolf in diet composition).As a pioneering exploration of the endangered snow leopard and its relationship with other species within the alpine ecosystem under livestock grazing pressure,this study contributes a greater understanding of the relationship within carnivore guild in the Pamirs whilst providing implications for conservation planning and project implementation activities in China.

照见众生的雪豹:多重影像叙事与生态文化反思

从2009年至今,雪豹作为一种兼具神秘色彩与神圣性的高原物种,持续成为不同主体,如科学家、环保主义者、当地牧民、佛教僧侣与中外影视工作者追踪记录与影像表现的野生动物“明星”。在近十五年的历程中,红外相机拍摄的科学调查影像、当地民众拍摄的“主位”社区影像、主流媒体拍摄的电视纪录片、电影工作者拍摄的院线纪录片或故事片,汇聚为一部以雪豹为主题的多声部光影史诗,其中,由藏族导演万玛才旦执导的电影《雪豹》是这一系列影像文本中的代表性作品,兼具现实意义与艺术隐喻。本文将《雪豹》作为一种影像史叙事的出发点,旨在追溯雪豹这一在生态系统与藏人信仰中皆有特殊地位的生灵,何以成为当代中国影像与生态文化中一个多义性的符号。

雪豹之眼:“视角主义”下电影《雪豹》的空间结构与魔幻隐喻

电影《雪豹》通过魔幻现实主义手法,营造了“魔幻”与“现实”两个极具特色的空间,并通过雪豹视角的转变,完成了影片表层结构与深层结构的融合。《雪豹》与以往万玛电影不同之处在于其颇具匠心的拍摄手法即以雪豹的视角出发,通过雪豹与喇嘛之间的灵性交流、人豹作为“食肉者”的共同身份、雪豹作为母亲等其他可以理解的共情角度,刻画了青藏高原人兽冲突中的复杂情境,突出了雪豹作为有情感、讲伦理的主体地位,可谓是“视角主义”在涉藏电影中的成功展现。

基于非线性自适应比例因子的雪豹优化算法

针对雪豹优化算法在求解复杂优化问题时,存在全局勘探能力不足、寻优精度低等问题,提出一种改进的雪豹优化算法。首先,基于分段Logistic混沌映射初始化从而提高初始种群多样性;其次,引入非线性比例因子用于平衡算法的全局勘探能力和局部开发能力;然后,提出了一种差分变异策略,在第一次种群更新位置后,使用5个随机个体提高全局搜索能力和算法收敛能力,在第二次种群更新位置后,使用3个随机个体保证在求解过程的中后期也具有一定的全局勘探能力,尽可能避免陷入局部最优。通过在IEEE CEC2022基准函数测试集上测试,并与其他算法进行比较,结果表明所提出的算法在种群质量、求解精度以及算法稳定性上均有较大提升。最后将所提出的算法应用于工程优化,计算结果进一步证实了算法的强优化能力。

《雪豹》:万玛才旦导演作品中的创作观念与反叙事表现

本文通过对万玛才旦导演的电影作品《雪豹》进行深入分析,探讨了导演在这部影片中所呈现出的不同于过往作品的创作意识和创作观念,以及在叙事层面下作出的策略选择。通过对影片镜头、叙事结构以及故事内容的解读,揭示了导演对自身创作观念的动态反思,以及对传统叙事方式的解构,从导演作为电影作者层面对影像意义的某种追求、实验和舍去,从而引发观众对电影创作本质的思考。本文还进一步探讨观众的角色和电影媒介的观察功能,挑战观众对电影观看的传统认知。

从性别角色到局内局外:电影《雪豹》的视角转换

万玛才旦执导的电影《雪豹》于2024年4月正式于中国内地公映,这一影片围绕一只跳进牧民羊圈的雪豹展开。影片主人公雪豹喇嘛喜爱拍摄雪豹,却一直未拍摄跳入自家羊圈的雪豹。逻辑悖逆背后承载着性别与家庭角色的隐喻,以及电影创作者对影视内部与外部视角转换的探索。《雪豹》所折射的生命一体的自然观,以及对“自我”的反思精神,对现今正面对生态危机,急需重新思考自我与它者关系的人类社会有重要意义。

基于改进EfficientDet的雪豹红外相机图像检测方法

针对红外相机图像中雪豹存在难检测、难辨认等问题,提出了一个基于域迁移和新型注意力机制的EfficientDet雪豹检测算法。该算法首先采用图像增强来扩充训练样本提高模型的鲁棒性,并添加非雪豹图像优化数据集结构;其次,使用生成式对抗网络对夜间红外灰度图像进行域迁移,融合图像迁移前后的预测结果解决夜间红外图像目标识别能力弱的问题;最后通过在主干特征提取网络中加入注意力机制细化特征图来提高RGB和红外图像中雪豹的视觉显著性,并且改进特征融合网络结构整合更多有效信息。分析对比实验和消融实验的结果表明,该方法相比Faster-RCNN、YOLOv3和SSD的检测速度和精度更好,改进后的算法平均精确度为97.4%且检测速度可达19张/s,该检测模型更适合定位识别雪豹RGB与红外图像。

基于最大熵模型的青海祁连山雪豹生境适宜性评价

近年来,各种人为和自然因素导致了青海祁连山山区局部出现了严重的生态破坏,加剧了祁连山雪豹生境的退化,如何有效地对雪豹生境进行适宜性评价是恢复和改善祁连山生态环境的重要途径。本研究基于3S技术,在青海祁连山雪豹分布区利用红外相机监测、日常巡护监测以及雪豹粪便、脚印等痕迹获得其分布点数据并综合考虑气候、地形、植被、人为干扰等关键环境变量,运用MAXENT模型对青海祁连山区域雪豹生境适宜性进行分析评价。研究结果表明:岩羊密度、降雨和海拔是影响雪豹生境选择的关键因子,适宜生境总面积为13935.98 km^(2),占研究区域的37%,而大约48%的适宜生境分布在保护区外。现有功能区下雪豹保护的关键区域为位于保护区中部及西北部区域的祁连山中段疏勒南山-托勒南山区域,另有部分最适宜区位于保护区管辖范围之外的祁连县北部的沙龙滩管护站、托勒河源管护站及瓦乎斯管护站所在区域。

祁连山国家公园牧民对雪豹(Panthera Unica)保护的态度认知及其影响因素

祁连山地区是中国乃至全球雪豹(Panthera Unica)分布最集中、种群密度最高的地区之一,该地区的雪豹科学保护对于全球雪豹种群具有重要意义。了解祁连山国家公园牧民对雪豹保护的态度认知、探究影响牧民对雪豹保护态度的主要因素,对于保护国家公园生态系统的原真性、促进人与野生动物和谐共处具有重要意义。基于半结构式访谈对祁连山国家公园牧民进行了随机抽样调查,结果表明:(1)受访者认为狼(n=34,91.89%)和雪豹(n=16,43.24%)是最重要的两种致害野生动物;(2)所有受访者对雪豹保护均持积极态度;(3)受访者认为野生动物捕杀(n=14,50.00%)和草场退化(n=9,32.14%)是家畜面临的两大威胁因素;(4)“雪豹捕杀家畜”和“为家畜购买商业保险”是影响牧民对雪豹保护态度的关键因素(P<0.05)。为促进人与野生动物长期共存,需要各级政府以国家公园体制建设为契机,进一步加强科学研究,制定更加科学合理的野生动物保护与管理措施。

甘肃祁连山脉雪豹及其同域分布大型食肉动物时间生态位关系

群落内多物种如何共存是群落生态学和生物多样性研究的核心内容之一。经典物种共存理论强调物种之间的生态位分化,侧重于物种对环境的需求,Hutchinson(1957)提出超体积生态位概念,认为物种适合度是由多个因素共同决定,即物种只有在满足其生态位需求的多维空间,才能在没有个体迁入的条件下持续生存;极限相似性假说假定能够稳定共存的两个物种之间的相似性程度存在一个上限,超过此上限,物种间即发生竞争排除(MacArthur and Levins,1967)。

不同年龄阶段圈养雪豹昼间行为时间分配和行为节律观察

为了探究不同年龄阶段圈养雪豹的昼间行为时间分配和行为节律的差别,为圈养雪豹的饲养管理提供基础资料,实验采用瞬时扫描法对西宁野生动物园3只不同年龄的雪豹进行行为观察。结果表明,老年雪豹的昼间行为时间分配情况为:运动行为31.48%、警觉行为20.56%、休息行为20.56%、蹭头行为12.04%、进食行为9.82%、理毛行为3.52%、喷尿行为2.04%;壮年雪豹的昼间行为时间分配情况为:运动行为38.33%、警觉行为21.48%、蹭头行为15.74%、进食行为9.07%、喷尿行为9.07%、休息行为4.81%、理毛行为1.48%;青年雪豹的昼间行为时间分配情况为:运动行为32.96%、警觉行为32.22%、休息行为24.82%、进食行为3.89%、蹭头行为3.15%、理毛行为2.22%、喷尿行为0.74%。不同年龄阶段雪豹的昼间行为节律性较强,早晨和傍晚运动行为出现频次较高,壮年雪豹的昼间休息行为显著低于老年和青年雪豹(P<0.05),喷尿行为显著高于老年和青年雪豹(P<0.05)。不同年龄阶段雪豹的采食行为在17∶00~18∶00达到峰值。说明壮年雪豹的领地意识较强,雪豹的梳理行为占比与年龄无关。

基于粪便DNA的青藏高原雪豹种群调查和遗传多样性分析

基于非损伤性取样,利用mtDNA和微卫星DNA遗传标记,对来自青藏高原三江源国家级自然保护区、羌塘国家级自然保护区和甘肃党河南山地区等地的277份疑似雪豹粪便样品进行了物种鉴定、个体识别和遗传多样性研究。结果显示:在190份成功扩增的mtDNA cytb基因片段中,确定有89份属于雪豹;微卫星分析确定其属于48个不同的个体。在48个雪豹mtDNA cytb基因片段中,共检测出13个多态性位点,定义了9个单倍型,单倍型多态性为0.776,核苷酸多态性为1.50%,9个单倍型的遗传距离为0.009-0.058。研究表明在研究区域均存在雪豹分布,并具有一定的遗传多态性,地理距离分布较远的羌塘国家级自然保护区和甘肃党河南山地区的雪豹样品具有一定的遗传差异。

利用自动照相术获得天山雪豹拍摄率与个体数量

采用红外线自动照相机记录雪豹的活动和个体数量,这在国内尚属首次。野外调查开始于2005年10月18日,至12月27日结束。累计野外工作71d,共布设36台红外照相机,约2094个照相日,50256h,收回胶卷71个。在新疆天山托木尔峰自然保护区内5个峡谷的16个地点成功拍摄到清晰雪豹照片约32张,平均拍摄率或“捕获率”达1.53%。根据照片个体斑纹分析和“雪后痕迹调查”(SignSurveyAfterSnowing)的信息,确定在250km2范围内有5-8只雪豹活动,个体的日活动距离3-10km/d,其最低分布密度为2.0-3.2只/100km2。还拍摄到其它野生动物照片22张,如北山羊、野猪、草兔、石鸡、赤狐等。另外,还调查样线20条,搜集粪样和毛发样品计31个。