Impact of Snow Storms on Habitat and Death of Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkeys in the Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China

Abstract

Natural disasters such as snow storms have far-reaching effects on variations in the habitat structure and ecological aspects of non-human primates. Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) inhabit high-altitude forest and endure harsh winters. The effect of heavy snow-storms (January 19 to February 6, 2008) on two large groups of R. bieti (Gehuaqing group and Xiangguqing group) inhabiting Samage Forest in the Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve were assessed. Data on habitat damage were collected between March and May 2008 via field line sampling. The snow storms destroyed 237 big trees in the Samage Forest. The destroyed trees were mostly located along the mountain ridge and valley including Abies georgei, Tsuga dumosa, Pinus yunnanensis and Cyclobalanopsis oxyodon. These trees were important for R. bieti as they provide a dietary source of lichen that is a critical winter fallback food for this primate species, and consequently food availability for R. bieti was reduced. Our results also showed that two juveniles in the Gehuaqing group and three juveniles in the Xiangguqing group were found deceased following the storms. The fact indicates that R. bieti is well adapted to high altitude and strongly seasonal habitat might explain its resilience to heavy snow storms.

Quantifying the severity of hurricanes on extinction probabilities of a primate population: Insights into “Island” extirpations

“…Estimates of frequency and intensity of an extreme climatic event impacting a primate population and its habitat should be derived from empirical evidence whereas vital rates must derive from long‐term demographic monitoring of the population itself. Our modeling framework requires the analysis of this type of information and there are several examples of studied populations that are susceptible to extreme events for which sufficient data might become available [Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve, Rhinopithecus bieti , Long et al, ; Li et al, ; Barro Colorado Island, A. palliata and Cebus capucinus , Milton & Giacalone, 2013; Lemur catta , Beza‐Mahafaly Reserve, Gould et al, ; Gemmil & Gould, 2008; Propithecus verreauxi , Beza‐Mahafaly Reserve, Lawler ; Isla Brasilera, Alouatta caraya , Pavé et al, ; Kinkazan Island, Macaca fuscata , Tsuji & Takatsuki, 2008; Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary, Semnopithecus entellus , Waite et al, ; Monkey River, Alouatta pigra , Pavelka et al, ; Shennongjia Nature Reserve, R. roxellana hubeiensis , Li et al, ].…”

An Improved Neural Network for Regional Giant Panda Habitat Suitability Mapping: A Case Study in Ya’an Prefecture

“…In our study, the signs and survey method meet the two hypotheses. In fact, previous studies have discovered close relationship of HSI and apparent density [25,26] and Tirpak et al equate apparent density with HSI and use HSI to deduce the spatial distribution of bird density [5]. For the giant panda previously, bamboo stem fragment, waste, food sign, footprint, caves and scratches have been used as signs.…”

“…DEM (I) and its derivation slope (II), aspect (III) and topographic position index (IV) generated from Jeff Jenness' topographic position index toolbox (ArcView Extensions) [37] are added as the four topographic habitat factors. Several studies have stated that terrain related habitat factors like elevation, slope and aspect affect the vegetation and water availability in giant panda habitats [4][5][6]35,36,38]. Considering the surveying time span of the third giant panda survey report (May 2000 to November 2001) and frequent, heavy cloud cover in Ya'an region, we selected ETM+ data from 13 June 2001.…”

“…However, apparent density map is reliable in regions that are accessible in most parts. Moreover, it should be noted that these and other statistical methods are data demanding [5,16].…”

“…Considering these advantages, HSI mapping is widely used in wildlife management decision making [2], spatial habitat quality predictions [3] and impacts of significant emergency assessments [4,5]. It is a commonly used method adopted by many researchers including in Giant panda habitat studies [4,[6][7][8][9].…”