Effects of tourism disturbance on habitat quality and population size of the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)

Abstract

Context Tourism is becoming one of the largest and fastest growing industries in many countries. Increasing tourism exerts serious impacts on the habitats of wildlife in nature reserves. Aims To ascertain how tourism affects the habitat of the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus), especially water quality and population size. Method An experiment was conducted to investigate the influences of different tourism disturbance intensities on the habitat quality and population size of the Chinese giant salamander in the Hunan Zhangjiajie Chinese Giant Salamander National Nature Reserve. Habitat characteristics, water physicochemical properties and microbial abundance were analysed, and population size estimated. Key results The results showed that high levels of tourism disturbance (>100 000 visitors per year) had negative effects on habitat quality. These effects included increased noise and abundance of aquatic microbes, increased concentration of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) and a reduction of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water. The abundance of Escherichia coli could be regarded as an indicator of tourism disturbance on Chinese giant salamander. Conclusions It is concluded that: (1) the habitats were much noisier with increasing numbers of tourists, which might directly reduce the population size; (2) tourism indirectly disturbs the salamander population by increasing TN and TP, and reducing DO in the water; and (3) tourism might take in pathogenic microbes to the water habitats, which could cause disease for the salamander population. Implications Although tourism development might reduce local poverty, such efforts must consider the deterioration of habitats for wildlife, especially for this endangered animal species. Moreover, the intensity of tourism disturbance needs be reduced (by controlling the number of tourists) to achieve the coordinated development of tourism and wild animal protection.

Metacoupled Tourism and Wildlife Translocations Affect Synergies and Trade-Offs among Sustainable Development Goals across Spillover Systems

“…It will be possible to identify more SDG interactions by tracking other positive or negative effects of the tourists flows and other associated flows (e.g., money). For example, the increased waste and sewage from tourism reduce water quality [86] may lead to trade-offs with SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) both locally and across adjacent areas, and carbon emissions due to tourism [87] may influence spillover systems at the global scale and result in a trade-off with SDG 13 (climate action). Identifying, tracking, and quantifying the flows, spillover systems, and effects on SDG interactions need more investigation.…”

Transcriptomic analysis of Andrias davidianus meat and experimental validation for exploring its bioactive components as functional foods

“…It has been revealed to have unique nutraceutical functions including high quality nutrients, antioxidant, anti-tumor, antibacterial, and anti-aging activity and the ability to treat burns, infections, and radiation exposure. Particularly, the meat (muscle) of CGS is long known to be functional food and medicine in China [1,2]. Although the protein contents in the meat of CGS is lower than in aquaculture, it is rich in essential amino acids, particularly in lysine and tryptophan [1,2].…”

Building eco-surplus culture among urban residents as a novel strategy to improve finance for conservation in protected areas

“…A comprehensive assessment of 1,961 terrestrial protected areas across 149 countries demonstrates that recreational activities are the second most common threat to biodiversity (occurring in 55% of the studied protected areas), just behind unsustainable hunting (occurring in 61% of protected areas) (Schulze et al, 2018 ). It is reported that tourism-induced activities, construction of infrastructure (e.g., resorts, roads, trails), and introduction of alien species can lead to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss (Kelly et al, 2003 ; Hasler and Ott, 2008 ; Luo et al, 2018 ; Tolvanen and Kangas, 2016 ). For example, in a case study of the Chinese giant salamander ( Andrias davidianus ), Luo et al ( 2018 ) discovered that high levels of tourism disturbance reduce the habitat quality and species population size by increasing noise, pathogenic microbes, the concentration of nitrogen, and total phosphorus, and mitigating dissolved oxygen in the water (Luo et al, 2018 ).…”

“…It is reported that tourism-induced activities, construction of infrastructure (e.g., resorts, roads, trails), and introduction of alien species can lead to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss (Kelly et al, 2003 ; Hasler and Ott, 2008 ; Luo et al, 2018 ; Tolvanen and Kangas, 2016 ). For example, in a case study of the Chinese giant salamander ( Andrias davidianus ), Luo et al ( 2018 ) discovered that high levels of tourism disturbance reduce the habitat quality and species population size by increasing noise, pathogenic microbes, the concentration of nitrogen, and total phosphorus, and mitigating dissolved oxygen in the water (Luo et al, 2018 ). In a review of tourism’s impact on threatened species in the Pacific, tourism is attributed to the threatened status of 282 species in the region.…”