A science-based approach to guide Amur leopard recovery in China

Wang, Tianming; Feng, Limin; Yang, Haitao; Han, Boyu; Zhao, Yiheng; Lin, Jun; Lü, Xinyue; Zou, Liang; Li, Tong; Xiao, Wei; Mou, Pu; Smith, James L.; Ge, Jianping

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2016.03.014

Cited by 44 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…In recent years the presence of leopards and even breeding females has been confirmed in China and the number of individuals seems to show a positive trend (Wang et al, 2015). In 2014 26 individual adult leopards were recorded in China during the March-June survey period (Wang et al, 2016). At the same time 47 individuals were registered in Russia.…”

Section: Spatial Distribution and Territory Usementioning

confidence: 85%

A complex approach to study the Amur leopard using camera traps in Protected Areas in the southwest of Primorsky Krai (Russian Far East)

Vitkalova¹,

Shevtsova²

2016

Nat. Cons. Res.

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The paper describes the methodology and preliminary results of a complex camera trap study of the Amur leopard. The main studies were concentrated on protected areas: the Land of the Leopard National Park with its buffer zone and the Kedrovaya Pad' Biosphere Reserve, a total area of 3600 km 2 . The first results of the 2014-2015 survey period are presented. According to spatial capture-recapture analysis at least 57 adult Amur leopards occupied the Russian protected areas with the density of about 0.98 individuals/100 km 2 . The sex ratio (male : female) was 1:1.2. Five breeding females with 11 cubs were registered in 2014 and 9 females with 16 cubs in 2015. The basis was founded for long-term monitoring of and fundamental research on the Amur leopard in the protected areas in Primorsky Krai.

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Section: Spatial Distribution and Territory Usementioning

confidence: 85%

A complex approach to study the Amur leopard using camera traps in Protected Areas in the southwest of Primorsky Krai (Russian Far East)

Vitkalova¹,

Shevtsova²

2016

Nat. Cons. Res.

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“…To facilitate the interpretation of covariate coefficients and improve convergence, continuous covariates (Table ) were scaled prior to the analysis (Zero‐mean Normalization) (Wang et al ., ). We also checked for multi‐collinearity using the variance inflation factor (VIF), with covariates eliminated from our model at VIF > 3 (Wang et al ., ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The elevation of the area ranges from 5 to 1477 m a.s.l. (Wang et al ., ). The major potential regional forest types include spruce‐fir ( Picea jezoensis Maxim) forests at high elevations and mixed coniferous and broad‐leaved forests on massive mountains at lower elevations (Xing, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do prey availability, human disturbance and habitat structure drive the daily activity patterns of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica)?

et al. 2018

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The daily activities of animals are influenced by various factors, including their physiological adaptations and preferred habitat distributions, as well as prey availability and human disturbances. For felids, the main drivers of activity patterns appear to be prey availability and anthropogenic disturbances, as suggested by previous studies. In this study, we explore a set of variables that influence the activity patterns of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in Jilin and Heilongjiang Provinces in north‐east China near south‐western Primorsky Krai, Russia. This area is currently the only occupied tiger habitat in China. Prey availability (e.g. wild boar, sika deer and roe deer), human disturbances (e.g. human activity, distance to human settlements and intense forest livestock grazing), and habitat structure were analysed. Our results revealed crepuscular and nocturnal activity of Amur tigers. Although the temporal overlaps between the tigers and their prey species were high, the spatial overlap indices were low. Although the presence of tigers decreased near human settlements, tigers showed a preference for walking along roads. Tigers also avoided high‐elevation coniferous and mixed hardwood forests. Overall, our results indicated that (1) tigers spatially and temporally avoided human disturbances and tigers respond behaviourally to human disturbances and (2) human disturbances may determine the activity of Amur tigers in north‐east China. In the future, to address conflicts between tigers and local humans and to improve tiger conservation, conservation planning should incorporate the spatio‐temporal activity patterns of tigers and humans.

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“…Recent advances in technology and statistical analyses have helped to overcome some of these challenges; notably, data from remotely‐triggered camera traps are now widely used in conjunction with spatial capture–recapture (SCR) modelling to estimate population densities of individually‐distinguishable species (O'Connell, Nichols, & Karanth, , Burton et al, ). In some cases, such efforts have greatly improved management of carnivores, by informing and prioritizing conservation actions (e.g., Paviolo et al, ; Wang et al, ), and enabling decision‐makers to assess the impacts of interventions (e.g., Duangchantrasiri et al, ; Kachel, McCarthy, McCarthy, & Oshurmamadov, ). They have also contributed to our understanding of species' behaviour and ecology (Royle, Fuller, & Sutherland, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Big cats at large: Density, structure, and spatio‐temporal patterns of a leopard population free of anthropogenic mortality

et al. 2019

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Human impact is near pervasive across the planet and studies of wildlife populations free of anthropogenic mortality are increasingly scarce. This is particularly true for large carnivores that often compete with and, in turn, are killed by humans. Accordingly, the densities at which carnivore populations occur naturally, and their role in shaping and/or being shaped by natural processes, are frequently unknown. We undertook a camera-trap survey in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve (SSGR), South Africa, to examine the density, structure and spatio-temporal patterns of a leopard Panthera pardus population largely unaffected by anthropogenic mortality. Estimated population density based on spatial capture-recapture models was 11.8 ± 2.6 leopards/100 km 2 . This is likely close to the upper density limit attainable by leopards, and can be attributed to high levels of protection (particularly, an absence of detrimental edge effects) and optimal habitat (in terms of prey availability and cover for hunting) within the SSGR. Although our spatio-temporal analyses indicated that leopard space use was modulated primarily by "bottom-up" forces, the population appeared to be self-regulating and at a threshold that is unlikely to change, irrespective of increases in prey abundance. Our study provides unique insight into a naturally-functioning carnivore population at its ecological carrying capacity. Such insight can potentially be used to assess the health of other leopard populations, inform conservation targets, and anticipate the outcomes of population recovery attempts. K E Y W O R D Scarnivore ecology, carrying capacity, Panthera pardus, population regulation, spatial capture-recapture

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A science-based approach to guide Amur leopard recovery in China

Cited by 44 publications

References 62 publications

A complex approach to study the Amur leopard using camera traps in Protected Areas in the southwest of Primorsky Krai (Russian Far East)

A complex approach to study the Amur leopard using camera traps in Protected Areas in the southwest of Primorsky Krai (Russian Far East)

Do prey availability, human disturbance and habitat structure drive the daily activity patterns of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica)?

Big cats at large: Density, structure, and spatio‐temporal patterns of a leopard population free of anthropogenic mortality

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