Simulation Of The Effects Of Landscape Fragmentation On Amur Tiger's Main Prey

Landscape fragmentation is the most important factor which threatened survival and development of wildlife,and it is the essential reason for the for endangered species and species extinction.There are landscape configuration fragmentation and ecological function fragmentation (habitat quality degradation) during landscape fragmentation process,at the same time the risks of hunting and poaching of wildlife by human was increased.These interlocking factors influence population development of wildlife together.Studying the effects of landscape fragmentation on wildlife population and discussing the key factors restricted wildlife population development are one of the most basic and important research contents of wildlife protection and management. Realistic habitat and population dynamics are combined based on individual in a spatially explicit population model.A spatially explicit population model has significant advantage in simulating and forecasting the effects of landscape fragmentation on wildlife by simulating population dynamics on a habitat map.Based on ecological characteristics of Amur tiger's main prey-----red deer(Cervus elaphus), wild boar(Sus scrofa) and roe deer(Capreolus capreolus),and combined with 3S technology, data-base technology and computer language,a spatially explicit population model(LAPS, Landscape-level Animal Populaiton Simulator) was developed.The Comparison between simulated and observed values in the East of China's Wanda Mountains and the Hunchun Natural Reserve demonstrated that spatially explicit pupulation model(LAPS) simulated the effects of landscape fragmentationon on population dynamics of the Amur tiger's main prey very well. Taking the EWM for example,setting various scenarios of incidental mortality,environmental Carrying capacity and landscape configuration fragmentation,through running the LAPS model,the effects of hunting and poaching,habitat degradation and landscape configuration fragmentation on the Amur tiger's main prey were disscused.The conclusion and progress of the research are as follows:1.Incidental mortality events induced by illegal activities mainly refering to hunting and poaching are the key factors restricting population development of the Amur tiger's main prey. Under different combined scenarios of landscape configuration fragmentation and habitat quality degradation,hunting and poaching had significant influence on population dynamics of red deer, wild boar and roe deer,which was the main reason for prey's population decline.Population size of the Amur tiger's main prey were declined dramaticlly under higher incidental mortality,and population size increased and recovered gradually with incidental mortality decrease.Therefore, controlling and reducing the incidental mortality events induced by hunting and poaching is the pivotal step to protect and recover the Amur tiger's main prey in fragmented landscape of research area.2.Compared to the landscape ecological fragmentation who's main feature is the habitat quality degradation,landscape configuration fragmentation had more effects on population dynamics of the Amur tiger's main prey.Hence protective measure should be emphasized on recovering landscape spatial pattern,ensuring enough suitability habitat area and minishing complexity of patch figure.Simulation results showed that habitat quality degradation had no obviouse effects on red deer and roe deer population dynamics in fragmented landscape,which was't the main reason for the declination of red deer and roe deer population.Environmental carrying capacity had distinct effects on wild boar populaiton in several incidental mortality scenarios under various landscape configuration fragmentation scenarios,but clear rule were not found during that progress.We can conclud that the effects of environmental carrying capacity on wild boar are complicated relatively.The effects of landscape configuration fragmentation on red deer and roe deer population were not significant under various combineded scenarios.Landscape configuration fragmentation didn't mainly contribute to population dynamics of red deer and roe deer.Landscape configuration fragmentation didn't have obvious effects on wild boar population under higher incidental mortality scenarios,but had obvious effects under slighter incidental mortality scenarios.The effects of landscape configuration fragmentation on wild boar population were weakened and concealed by strong hunting and poaching in fragmented landscape,so the effects were emerged gradually with weakening of incidental mortality.3.The effects of landscape fragmentation on the Amur tiger's main prey are difference in species.Response of red deer and roe deer to landscape fragmentation usually showed more tolerance and stability,that of wild boar showed more sensitivity and fluctuation.Wild boar population recovered rapidly when disturbance were weakened,and population decreased obviously when disturbance were increased.Therefore species differences should be considered during the protective process of the Amur tiger's main prey and should be treated differently.4.Simulated ungulates blocks mainly distributed in the most largest broad-leaved forest patch with the best connectivity in the EWM.Although landscape was fragmented in the EWM,the habitat type of the most largest patch is broad-leaved forest all the same,which almost cover wholly research area and has better connectivity.The most largest broad-leaved forest patch in research area carried most ungulates blocks.Ungulates blocks all mainly distributed in the most largest patch under various simulation scenarios.Protecting the largest suitable habitat patch and preventing its fragmentation process are the basic guarantee for protection and recovery of the Amur tiger and its prey.The simulation results provide important evidence for protection and recovery of the Amur tiger and its prey,at the same time,this paper provides reference for wildlife protection in other areas.