Does prey density limit Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica recovery in northeastern China?

Abstract

A residual population of Amur tigers Panthera tigris altaica probably survives in the eastern Wanda Mountains (EWM) in China, where the main prey species are red deer Cervus elaphus, eastern roe deer Capreolus pygargus and wild boar Sus scrofa ussuricus. We used 53 snow sample plots each containing about 29 km of transects to detect ungulate presence and determined their total density in EWM in 2002 to be 87.9 6 8.9 kg km -2 . We then applied these data to three published models that predict the relationship between tiger density and prey biomass density to obtain three estimates of tiger carrying capacity in EWM. Existing estimates of tiger density suggest that tigers were below carrying capacity estimates. Relationships between prey density and tiger density from 15 studies indicate a threshold prey biomass of 195 kg km -2 (CI: 33-433), below which a tiger population cannot be sustained. We therefore concluded that the EWM population of tigers is in peril. We compared densities between the years 2002 and 2008 using comparable data and found that the EWM populations of the three ungulate prey species all experienced decreases of 40-45%, apparently due to intense poaching. This rapid decline in prey density and pervasive threats to tigers and their prey in the EWM demands immediate and effective protection of ungulate and tiger populations from poaching if tigers are to persist and recover.

Relationships between humans and ungulate prey shape Amur tiger occurrence in a core protected area along the Sino‐Russian border

“…There was ample evidence that human activity mostly had negative effects on relative abundance of ungulates, consistent with considering humans as important predators of ungulates in this system (Li et al, ; Zhang, Zhang, & Stott, ). For example, transboundary efforts have removed more than 10,000 snares in HNR between 2001 and 2007, which were placed primarily to snare ungulates and other wildlife.…”

Spatial distribution drivers of Amur leopard density in northeast China

“…We only used animal tracks within b24 h after snowfall to calculate the number of individuals of each prey species in each sample plot (Zhang et al, 2013). The number of individuals in each sample plot was calculated using the following equation:…”

“…From February to March 2014, 10 plots were conducted to estimate ungulate densities, following the methods of Zhang et al (2013) and Liu et al (2015). Each plot with the area of approximately 10 km 2 (i.e., 5 km × 2 km) consisted of five parallel 5-km transect lines separated by 500 m. Two perpendicular transect lines were placed at the two ends of the five parallel transect lines to create four sections in each plot.…”

Estimating abundance and density of Amur tigers along the Sino–Russian border

“…We did not obtain photographs of tigers in the most northern reaches of HNNR, possibly due to lower prey biomass in this area caused by the lack of large species of deer ). Recovery of ungulate species will continue to be a priority for the return of tigers there and elsewhere across Northeast China (Zhang et al 2013). Future studies should explicitly seek to understand the link between specific prey species and spatial variation in Amur tiger abundance.…”