Relationship Between Amur Tiger And Prey: Population Size, Habitat Selection And Evaluation In Eastern Wandashan Mountains Of Heilongjiang Province, China

A study was conducted to establish the relationship between amur tiger and prey, including population size, habitat selection and evaluation, in Eastern Wandashan Mountains of Heilongjiang Province, China, between 2002 and 2009. Based on field survey and questionnaire survey, the main results by geomatics techniques and multiple statistical analysis were revealed as followes:1 Distribution and number of amur tigerTiger pugmarks indicated the presence of seven individuals (two males, three females and two young individuals). One tiger was killed by poachers in 2008, leaving six individuals in 2009. Amur tigers were mainly active in nine forest farms (Yongfeng, Xiangyang, Wupao, Qingshan, Hekou, Wulindong, Yongxing, Shichang and Dadai) around Shendingfeng Mountain, which is a highly suitable habitat block.2 Distribution and number of prey1) Track analyses showed that the main prey species of amur tiger (711-816 wild boar, 398-429 red deer and 1012-1018 roe deer) were wildly distributed in Eastern Wandashan Mountains. These prey species were concentrated in seven forest farms (Hekou, Qingshan, Wulindong, Haiyinshan, Donglin, Wupao, Yongxing) at an elevation of 100-550 m.2) Bootstrap analysis of surveyed prey indicated that population sizes could reasonably be established from 120 line transects for wild boar (sampling distance:600 km),150 line transects for red deer (sampling distance:750 km) and 115 line transects for roe deer (sampling distance:575 km).3) In addition, the percent of human-caused prey mortality (87.42%) was higher than natural mortality(12.58%), with human-caused mortality being concentrated in late winter and early spring.3 Prey biomassPrey biomass of the three ungulate species was estimated at 185 849.00-205 335.00 kg, comprising 74 767.50-87 825.00 kg for wild boar,79 744.50-85 984.50 kg for red deer and 31 337.00-31 525.50 kg for roe deer. Within the study area, the estimated total biomass of all prey species was 209 619.89-231 598.24 kg. Prey biomass, as represented by the three ungulate species, could support five or six amur tigers and the estimated total biomass of all prey species could support between five and seven individuals.4 Habitat selection and evaluation of prey1) The three main prey species favored east-facing mountain slopes. Wild boar and roe deer tend to avoid west-facing slopes, whereas red deer avoided northeastern-facing slopes. Wild boar and roe deer had a preference for terrain with an elevation between 150 and 300 m. Red deer, on the other hand, favored areas with elevations from 300 to 450 m. Wild boar preferred coniferous forests, whereas red and roe deer favored mixed broadleaf woodlands. All three prey species showed a preference for areas >3000 m from human settlements and avoided areas (<1500 m) close to settlements.2) Mortality of the three prey species usually occurred at an area with elevation from 300 to 450 m. Wild boar mortality occurred mainly in coniferous plantations on east-facing slopes, whereas mortality of red and roe deer occurred in broadleaf woodlands. There was less association between shrub terrain and farmland and mortality of the three species. A higher mortality of prey species was recorded for areas <1500 m from main roads compared with areas >4000m from main roads.3) An integrated occurrence-mortality habitat model for prey classified 8.06%(297.49 km2) of the study area as unsuitable habitat,5.43%(200.44 km2),32.76%(1 209.85 km2) and 8.20%(302.77 km2) as first-, second- and third-level attractive sink-like habitats, respectively, and 8.91%(329.00 km2),30.53%(1 127.22 km2) and 6.11%(225.29 km2) as first-, second-and third-level source-like habitats, respectively.5 Habitat selection, use and evaluation of amur tiger1) Six factors, including prey, aspect, elevation, vegetation type, disturbance distance from settlements and main roads, affected habitat selection of the amur tiger. A logistic regression model was developed with a classification rating of 91.81%, indicating that the model may reflect the habitat distribution of amur tiger.2) Amur tiger showed a preference for forest habitat where the three prey species co-occurred, and totally avoided farmland, wetlands and shrub terrain. They favored east- or south-facing slopes, coniferous/broadleaf mixed forests, and areas with elevation >200 m and a disturbance distance from main roads of >3000 m. They avoided areas with disturbance distance from human settlements of <3000 m.3) Regarding habitat suitability, the model classified 1 288.76 km2 of the study area as high,1033 km2 as medium,608.00 km2 as low and 690.30 km2 as unsuitable habitat for amur tiger. Thus,62.87% of the study area (i.e. sum of high and medium suitability) contained suitable habitats, indicating that Eastern Wandashan Mountains is a suitable region for amur tiger.6 Conservation plans1) As regards conservation of the amur tiger, we recommend that Datashan, Zhenbaodao and Wulindong forest farms should be designated conservation zones as two ecological corridors for amur tiger migration.2) Two management zones should be also established for amur tiger conservation. The first management zone, designated the key amur tiger conservation area, would encompass high quality habitat where serious threats could occur to limit tiger survival. The second management zone, designated the key amur tiger recovery area, would mainly comprise medium suitability habitats, which occur as fragmented blocks around the key conservation area, and pose greater threats to amur tiger survival. This is the area that needs to be protected to help recovery of the amur tiger population.