Habitats Evaluation and Protection Analysis of Endangered Ungulates in the Alpine Desert Ecosystem, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Tibetan Antelope, Tibetan wild donkey and wild yak are protected endangered wild animals in China, the endangered ungulates in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. As the national first class protected wild animals in China, their survival and sustainability received extensive concern. We evaluate the habitat suitability in the alpine desert ecosystem. The percentages of high suitability habitat for Tibetan Antelope, Tibetan wild donkey and wild yak are 18.03%, 20.06% and 18.14%, respectively, mainly in the south and east of the alpine desert ecosystem. The habitat of Tibetan Antelope and Tibetan wild donkey are more similar for a certain overlap of their habit. The habitat of wild yak is more concentrated in the eastern. Major of the high suitability habitat are protected in the national nature reserves (NNRs), while there is still approximate 30% adjacent to the boundary of the reserves. The Qiangtang NNR's protection proportion is higher than others, and the conservation efficiency in the Kekexili NNR is highest, indicating the importance of Qiangtang NNR and the rational allocation of protection resource. The lower conservation efficiency in Arjin Mountain NNR may be due to the poorer geographical natural conditions.