Temporal patterns of three sympatric pheasant species in the Nanling Mountains: N-mixture modeling applied to detect abundance

Background:The reliability of long‑term population estimates is crucial for conservation and management purposes.Most previous studies assume that count indices are proportionally related to abundance;however,this assumption may not hold when detection varies spatially and temporally.We examined seasonal variations in abundance of three bird species(Cabot’s Tragopan Tragopan caboti,Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera,and Whitenecklaced Partridge Arborophila gingica)along an elevational gradient,using N‑mixture models that take into account imperfect detection in our bird data.Methods:Camera‑trapping was used to monitor temporal activity patterns of these species at Guangdong Nanling National Nature Reserve from December 2013 to November 2017(4 seasons per year).For abundance analysis(N‑mixture modeling),we divided a year into 4 seasons,i.e.3 months per season,and performed the analysis by season.Elevation was incorporated into the N‑mixture model as a covariate that may affect abundance.We compared the N‑mixture model with a null model(no covariate model)and selected the better model based on AIC values to make an inference.Results:From 24 sampling sites,we obtained 6786 photographs of 8482 individuals of 44 bird species and 26 mammal species.Silver Pheasant was photographed much more frequently and showed higher temporal activity frequency than White‑necklaced Partridge or Cabot’s Tragopan.Silver Pheasant was camera‑captured most frequently in summer,and other two species in winters.All three species had two daytime activity peaks:between 6:00 a.m.and 10:00 a.m.,and between 5:00 p.m.and 7:00 p.m.,respectively.Our estimated abundance and detection probability from the N‑mixture model were variable by season.In particular,all three species showed greater abundance in summer than in winter,and estimated abundance patterns of all three species were more similar with observed cameratrapping counts in summers.Moreover,in winter,elevation had a positive impact on abundance of Silver Pheasant and Cabot’s Tragopan,but not on White‑necklaced Partridge.Conclusions:Our results demonstrate that the N‑mixture model performed well in the estimation of temporal population abundance at local fixed permanent plots in mountain habitat in southern China,based on the modeling of repeated camera‑trapping counts.The seasonal differences in abundance of the three endemic bird species and the strong effect of elevation on abundance of two species in winter were only indicative of variations in spatio‑temporal distribution within species and between species.In identifying suitable habitat for endemic pheasants,the positive elevational effect also suggests that more attention should be paid to conservation of areas with higher elevation in the Nanling Mountains.

Geochemistry of Sediments from a Subalpine Lake Sedimentary Succession in the Western Nanling Mountains,Southern China:Implications for Catchment Weathering During the Last 15400 Years

In the present work,15400 yr old geochemical records of a core from the subalpine Daping swamp are presented with the aim to examine the relationship between the chemical weathering and the climatic changes in the region of the western Nanling Mountains,China.The climate of the study region was deeply controlled by the East Asian summer monsoon.The results indicate that,in the past 15400 yrs,the values of chemical index of alteration(CIA)ranged from 73.9%to 88.2%(mean:85.3%),suggested a medium and high intensity of chemical weathering.The local exogenous clastic materials,which were derived from the weathered residues,played a key role in contributing towards the sediments.Since the climate-induced chemical weathering exerted strong influences on the geochemical features of weathered residues,the geochemical characteristics of the sediments were deeply impacted by climatic conditions.Wetter and warmer conditions would favor increased chemical weathering,resulting in more leaching of soluble and mobile elements(e.g.,Ba and Sr)and leaving the resistant and immobile elements(e.g.,Al and Ti)enriched in the weathered residues.These materials were then eroded and transported into the lake,and led to the sediments characterized by the characteristic of having depleted soluble elements.In contrast,dry and cold conditions would result in an opposite trend.In this sense,the geochemical records can serve as proxies to indicate changes of chemical weathering intensity,which were closely related to the evolution of summer monsoon.

Grain-size distribution characteristics of red sandy sediments in Dongjiang River valley,southern Nanling Mountains,during the MIS2 stage

Layer LJ3 of Linjiang stratigraphic section in Dongjiang River valley in the south of the Nanling Mountains is a set of red sandy sediments.Measured by thermoluminescence(TL) dating,it was found to be formed in MIS2-9,500 ± 800 yr to 19,600 ± 1,800 yr B.P.After analy-sis of the grain sizes of the 16 samples(LJ3-100 to LJ3-85) in this layer,it was discovered that(1) The contents of each grain group in dif-ferent samples are similar.(2) The values of Md,Mz,,Sk,and Kg vary from LJ3-100 to LJ3-85 in a narrow range.(3) The segments of each sample in the accumulative curves extend parallel with similar slopes.All the three aspects reveal the Aeolian characteristics of Layer LJ3.Therefore,it is thought that Layer LJ3 consists of red sandy sediments formed in MIS2 in the south of Nanling Mountain,which reflects the arid climate at that time.

NUMERICAL PREDICTION EXPERIMENT OF AN ADVECTION FOG IN NANLING MOUNTAIN AREA

Now more comprehensive cloud microphysical processes have been included in advanced three- dimensional mesoscale meteorological model such as PSU/NCAR MM5 model,so the model can be used in the prediction of fog.In this paper,MM5 was utilized to simulate an advection fog occurring in Nanling Mountain area.The simulated results were compared with the facts obtained by detailed observation experiment.The results showed that the simulation was successful in the following aspects:(1)the formation and development of the fog;(2)the temporal variation of the maximum liquid water content;(3)the diffusion of the cold air,especially the temporal variation of the ground temperature;and (4)the uplift of the air and the formation and development of the low-lever inversion.Besides,we did some sensitivity numerical experiments and discussed the effects of the radiation,the release of condensation latent heat and the change of soil moisture and temperature on the formation and development of fog.The success of numerical simulation experiment of fog has proved that the numerical forecasting of fog is promising.

Macro-and Micro-Structures of Heavy Fogs and Visibility in the Dayaoshan Expressway

Belonging to the southern subtropical moist type of monsoon climate, the Nanling mountainous area experiences heavy fogs whenever quasi-stationary fronts appear there from September to May. There can be as many as 15-18 days of heavy fogs per month. Fogs have more serious consequences in the Lechang-Ruyuan section of the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway （the longest expressway in China） that passes through the main part of the Nanling Mts., where the road rises from 200 m to more than 800 m above sea level （ASL）. For a major motorway in the mountainous areas of Nanling Mts., two multidisciplinary integrated field observations were carried out, which measured visibility by the naked eyes, visibility by instrument, spectrum of fogdrops, liquid water content （LWC） of fog, tethered sounding, dual-parameter low-level sounding, turbulence diffusion within fog layers, aerosol spectra of size and composition, sampled fog water compositions, and sampled rainwater compositions. Typical cases were probed for their analyses of synoptics, micro- and macro-structures and microphysics. It is understood that heavy fogs take place with high frequency in the area and bring about serious consequences. Being typical advection and upslope fogs, they are in essence low-lying clouds appearing at high altitudes, which are closely related with the activity of South China frontal processes, especially the South China quasi-stationary fronts, and reflect on the role of local terrain as well. The heavy fogs are characteristic of long duration, extremely low visibility, well-organized lumpshaped structure, large-size fog-drops, moderate concentration, high LWC, and stronger turbulent diffusion within the fog layers than in fine sky. They differ much from radiation fogs, which are better documented in previous study in China. It is found that fog LWC is in significant anti-correlation with visibility so that large LWC is associated with small visual range. It is also noted that one of the reasons for the fluctuation of characteristic quantities of micro-structure such as the LWC of fog in the area is, in addition to the inhomogeneous structure of the fog itself, the effect of advection and inhomogeneous underlying surface; during the translation of fog with the ambient wind, irregular upslope and cross-over movement is another reason for the inhomogeneous structure and fluctuation of fog. The spectrum of the aerosol size displays itself as the power function of monotonous descent. The concentration of submicrometer particles is even higher. The high-concentration sulfate particles found in the aerosols of Nanling Mts. are actually good nuclei for condensation, which are favorable for the formation of fog. The presence of fog can help cleanse the trace compositions in the atmosphere so that fog droplets contain high levels of polluting elements. In the meantime, compared to cloud droplets, fog droplets are easier to be captured by the vertical surfaces of objects on the land surface, such as vegetation and buildings to constitute another kind of cleansing process. In vast stretches of forest like the Nanling Mts., this kind of cleansing may be quite important. Studying the characteristic variation of fogs in the area realistically assists in setting up a forecast and warning system for local fogs and provides basic information for fog dispersal experiments.