Studies On Community Of Plant And Animal In Habitat Of Rhinoyithecus Roxellana In Hubei Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, China

Study on the interaction of vegetation and distribution of animal community in habitat ofSichuan snub-nosed monkey in Hubei Shenongjia national nature reserve is helpful forunderstanding environmental carrying capacity of population of the monkey. It is important forprotecting population and its habitat of Sichuan snub-nosed monkey for its long-termprotection. Relationships between vegetation composition and Sichuan snub-nosed monkeyhabitat quality and other coexisted animals in the habitat were studied in this research. Basedupon analysis of the present plant communities utilization situation, and it's effect for survivalof Sichuan snub-nosed monkey was studied. This research try to provide scientific basis forprotection and management of Sichuan snub-nosed monkey in Hubei Shenongjia nationalnature reserve. The main contents and results of the studies are as follows:From June to Sptember in2010, and from March to Sptember in2011,102vegetationplots (20m×20m) in habitat of Sichuan snub-nosed monkey was investigated according toenvironment factors and vegetation types.58plant plots was selected according to altitudinalgradient that3-5plots were selected as altitude elevated300m on the mountain. In this study,a standardized sampling method was used to evaluate the habitat of forest communities inhabitat of Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey in Hubei Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. Dataof investigated plant plots was analyzed by means of the methods of average linking clusteringand distended correspondence analysis (DCA).58investigated plant plots were divided into9groups and attributed to7vegetation types according to the principle and system ofclassification in Vegetation of China. While the results of DCA revealed that the plantcommunities were gradually changed with environmental gradients. The results of DCAordination indicate that the main factors that restricted distribution of the communities weretemperature and humidity in habitat of Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey in Shennongjia NationalNature Reserve. The result of the ordination of species and quadrats were compared and itshowed that the plots ordination of the dominant species was varied in gradients. All these results show that the main factors restricting distribution of the communities are gradient ofaltitude in this habitat. It was in favor of interpreting the ecological meaning of the ordinationaxes．The first axis expressed the gradient of altitude among the communities,and the secondaxis represented the gradient in aspect and slope among the communities. The results indicatedthat Form. Abies fargesii+Betula utilis-Acer megalodum+Rosa caudata-Circaea alpine+Asteropyrum peltatum in the area is the best habitat for Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey inShennongjia because it is developed very well and the tall trees have a large proportion. Thetrend of richness index changed with environmental gradients. The trend of richness index inthe cold temperate coniferous forest and coniferous-deciduous broadleaf mixed forest indifferent layer along the community is shrub>herb>tree. The trend is shrub> tree> herb in theevergreen broadleaf forest and the evergreen broadleaf forest-deciduous broadleaf mixedforest and the trend is shrub>herb and tree in the deciduous broadleaf forest. Species of foodplants of Sichuan snub-nosed monkey in different forest type changed with environmentalgradients has positive correlation with the trend of richness index, but Lichens plants which isthe most important food for Sichuan snub-nosed monkey only grow in coniferous forest andconiferous-deciduous broadleaf mixed forest.α-diversity of the tree layer peaks in the evergreen broadleaved forest zone atlow-elevation,α-diversity of the shrub layer first increases gradually then decrease along thealtitudinal gradient,while α-diversity of the herb layer peaks in mid-altitude．Beta diversitypeaks at mid-elevations where the composition of edificatory species changed．The transitionzone was characterized by relatively high levels of species diversity and species turn-overrate．Overall species richness peak in mid-altitude．The results of this research could provide asound basis for reserve management and planning, preservation of Sichuan snub-nosedmonkey in this reserve.To survey and monitor the wildlife resources in the habitat of the monkey inHubeiShennongjia National Nature Reserve,37infra-red cameras was sited in95sites, with each sitemaintained for one to three month, from August to September,2010; and from March toSeptember,2011. The cameras totally took536photos with indentified animals, among which 82%were mammals,18%were birds,19species of mammals and9species of birds. The mostcommon mammals occurred on photos included Naemorhedus goral, Elaphodus cephalophus,Cervus nippon, Sus scrofa, Capricornis sumatraensis, Muntiacus reevesi; and the mostcommon birds were the Tragopan temminckii, Chrysolophus pictus, Turdus rubrocanus. Thephotographic rates (PR) varied at different elevation and vegetation type, PR was significantlyhigher in elevation of2219-2597m than that of1425-1765m,1860-2186m and2600-2998m;PR in cold temperate mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest was the largest, show that speciesand quantity of mammals and birds in these region were more than other place. The NRAI(Night-time relative abundance index) gave a clear indication of variation in nocturnalityamong the6species of mammals and2species of birds, Capricornis sumatraensis was mostactive at night and Sus scrofa was opposite in mammals and Chrysolophus pictus was activethan Tragopan temminckii in birds. PR was different according to vegetation type for a specieof animal, show preferation of animals for different vegetation type. PR was differentaccording to vegetation type for a specie of animal, show favorite of animals for differentvegetation type. By the study of6species of mammals and2species of pheasant, find that PRof Naemorhedus goral and Tragopan temminckii in temperate and cold temperate mixedconiferous and broadleaf forest were the highest, PR of Elaphodus cephalophus in Temperatemixed coniferous and broadleaf forest was the highest, PR of Sus scrofa, Cervus nippon,Cervus nippon in cold temperate mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest were the highest, PR ofCapricornis sumatraensis in coniferous forest were the highest.Comparative analysis of interspecific association within selected17species of mammalsand2species of pheasant, shows relationship among these animals. The overall inter-specificassociation among19animal species of the community show significantly or extremelysignificantly negative correlation among these animals, according to their great differencerequirement for environment, inter-specific association was weak, and the whole communitywas in developing and unstable. Sichuan snub-nosed monkey show extremely significantlynegative correlation with other animals, suggest that it has much different requirement forhabitat than other animals. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) with animal community and environment factor explained that elevation and distance to road were the key factor ofenvironment effect animal community composition in this reserve. Rhinophithecus roxellanae,Tragopan temminckii, Chrysolophus pictus, Elaphodus cephalophus had significantlycorrelation with the factor of road distance. On the other hand,change of elevation hadsignificantly effect for distribution of Naemorhedus goral, Cervus nippon, Sus scrofa,Capricornis sumatraensis, Prionailurus bengalensis. Form. Capricornis sumatraensis-Susscrofa-Naemorhedus goral.65species are divided into5groups by DCA ordination accordingto vegetation type with site of camera trap, that is (Ⅰ) Form. Muntiacus reevesi-Elaphoduscephalophus-Naemorhedus goral;(Ⅱ) Form. Elaphodus cephalophus-Naemorhedus goral-Cervus nippon;(Ⅲ) Form. Cervus nippon-Naemorhedus goral-Sus scrofa;(Ⅳ) Form.Capricornis sumatraensis-Sus scrofa-Naemorhedus goral;(Ⅴ) Form. Cervus nippon-Naemorhedus goral-Elaphodus cephalophus.Therefore, the animal community in Hubei Shennongjia National Nature Reserve is still inthe stage of development.Correlation between Sichuan snub-nosed monkey and othercoexistence animal are weak, so it hasn't significant impact of competition in the foodresources and habitat. Animal distribution of the reserve mainly affected by change of altitudeand human disturbence. With the development of the recovery of the vegetation and animalcommunities, animal distribution range expanded, Sichuan snub-nosed monkey range ofactivities will be expanded, and the boundary of the nature reserve should be adjustedaccording to the range of monkey.