Spatial And Temporal Dynamics Analysis Of Amur Leopard And Threshold Study On Human Disturbance In Amur Leopard Range

Amur leopard(Panthera pardus orientalis)is the rarest felid subspecies in the world,which currently occurs in Russian Far East and the eastern boundary area of Heilongjiang and Jilin Provence in China.From April 2013 to October 2017,our team set camera-traps in 6 forest bureaus or nature reserves in the eastern boundary area of Heilongjiang and Jilin Provence to monitor the Amur leopard population in China.We analysed the spatial and temporal distribution dynamics of Amur leopard and the drivers mainly by using the camera-traps data.And quantified the influences of prey and human disturbance on the spatial and temporal distribution of Amur leopard.Also human disturbance influence on the mammal community was quantified.Main outcomes and findings were as follows.1.The population size and geographical distribution of Amur leopard in China In this part,we realized individual identification for the all image data of Amur leopard by combining the Extract Compare software method and visual method.Then the all capture history information for identified individuals was recorded,including the individual numbers,capture location coordinates,capture data and time.Then we finished the spatial explicit processing for all capture locations to learn about the spatial distribution and activity rhythm.In addition,we compared the recorded individuals with the Amur leopards captured by camera-traps in Leopard Land Park of Russia from 2013 to 2015,to find the individuals lived both in China and Russia,and see their transborder movement.The result showed that,totally 660 times of Amur leopard images were collected from April 2013 to October 2017,31 individuals with both side body surface pattern and 18 individuals only with left or right side body surface pattern were identified,including 8 cubs or sub-adults from 5 female leopards.In July 2016,a leopard was captured by the camera-traps in Nantianmen forest farmland of Dongning forest bureau,making this location to be the known northernmost current range of Amur leopard in the world.After comparing the camera-traps data with Russia,we found that 17 of the all record individuals were also captured by camera-traps in Russia.Our result showed that the current range of Amur leopard in China was very broad,the population was in increase,and the transborder movement was in good situation.2.Spatial distribution of population density and its driving factors We used the camera-traps data and individual identification result to build the spatial explicit capture-recapture model to study the density distribution of Amur leopard.And explored the spatial distribution drivers of Amur leopard through generalized additive models method.We also carried out the ungulate(sample plots)survey from 2011 to 2013 in study area to calculate the population density of each ungulate species.The outcomes of spatial explicit capture-recapture model showed that the average density of Amur leopard in the study area was 0.620(0.374-0.897)individuals/100km2 and 16.58 individuals might live within the study area.Elevation,vegetation,prey and human disturbance were the main spatial distribution drivers of Amur leopard,and two ecological thresholds existed in maximum responses of Amur leopard distribution to elevation and prey biomass.3.A wavelet-based approach to evaluate the spatial and temporal interactions between Amur leopard and its prey and human disturbance The wavelet method was introduced to analysis the activity pattern of Amur leopard and spatial and temporal interactions of Amur leopard and 4 ungulate species.Also the total prey and human activity were included in this research.The result showed that the activity of Amur leopard was mainly distributed in spring and fall,and showed 2 relative steady periods,respectively were 9 days and 20 days.In addition,the roe deer was in phase with leopard in fall at a small scale,while the wild pig was in phase with leopard in spring at a bigger scale.The 2D wavelet analysis also showed that different prey species interacted with leopard in different spatial scale.Finally,we also found that the activity pattern of Amur leopard was influenced by human activity pattern in a certain extent,so the human disturbance management in Amur leopard range should not only consider the influence of human disturbance on their habitat and population distribution but also consider the influence on their activity pattern.4.Community-level threshold study on human disturbance in Amur leopard range Lastly,we carried out a quantification study on the influence of human activity on the mammal community in Amur leopard range by using the Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis(TITAN)method.The result proved that,in middle part of Hunchun forest bureau,the influence of total human activity and vehicle on the mammal community would result in a threshold effect,the threshold value were about 0.229 times/day and 0.100 times/day respectively.In east Wangqing nature reserve and mid-east Hunchun nature reserve,there were not remarkable indicators to prove the existence of threshold effect of human disturbance.This study uncovered the threshold effect of human disturbance on Amur leopard and the mammal community,proved reliable data support for controlling the strength and type of human disturbance and keeping the Amur leopard and mammal community in a health condition.In conclusion,this study systematically surveyed and analysed the individual number,geographical distribution and spatial and temporal distribution dynamics of Amur leopard in China,uncovered the spatial and temporal distribution drivers of Amur leopard in different perspectives.As the most important driving factor of Amur leopard and mammal community,the human disturbance was finally analysed by using a scientific quantification method.It explored population resource,spatial and temporal dynamics,driving factors and driving effects of the Amur leopard in China,supplemented the lack of biological conservation study on Amur leopard population in China,and proved theory and data support for developing scientific strategies for Amur leopard conservation in China.And provided technical and theoretical reference for the conservation of other large and endangered carnivores.