Study On Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia),Chinese Monal (Lophophorus Lhuysii),and The Sympatric Wildlife In Wolong National Nature Reserve Using Infrared Camera

Species diversity is a central issue in biodiversity research.For many years,there has been little systematic observation and limited scientific knowledge of wildlife and species diversity in the alpine areas of Wolong National Nature Reserve,China.Due to climate change and human disturbance,historical data are also unable to objectively and accurately represent the current state of wildlife species diversity in the reserve.In this thesis,firsthand data collected by infrared-triggered camera-trapping in Wolong were used to investigate the activity patterns of two protected species,the snow leopard(Panthera uncia)and Chinese monal(Lophophorus lhuysii),and demonstrate the species diversity of mammals and birds in alpine areas of the Wolong reserve.Based on this observation study,recommendations for further research are also provided,with the aim of improving biodiversity protection in the alpine regions of Wolong.From November 2013 to March 2016,twenty Ltl-6210 MC infrared cameras were installed in Yinchang Valley,Tizi Valley and Weijia Valley,inside the Wolong National Nature Reserve,at altitudes ranging from 3,536 m to 4,481 m,and encompassing various habitat types including alpine shrubland,alpine meadow and alpine scree.This study is divided into two main sections:(1)The Relative Abundance Index(RAI)and other indices of animal activity intensity are introduced to quantitatively assess both annual and seasonal activity patterns,variations in daily and seasonal activity,the level of nocturnal activity and the impact of lunar-phase on nocturnal activity,as well as the preferences of the snow leopard and Chinese monal for particular habitats and slope positions,and their choice of temperature for certain activities;(2)To assess species diversity of mammals and birds in the alpine region,the RAI was calculated from observed population data and compared with results from previously published literature.The number of samples collected by the camera-trapping was also confirmed to be sufficient for a meaningful assessment of the species in this study.In addition,the spatiotemporal distribution of mammal and bird species and their relative and absolute abundance at different locations and times are discussed and the reasons for these patterns are analyzed.The key research findings were as follows:(1)The effective number of snow leopard samples collected by the camera-trapping was 43,and the calculated RAI for this species was 6.09.Its annual activity peak is in January,and the daily activity peak is between the hours of 18:00–20:00,daily activity patterns show seasonal variations.The range of preferred reference temperatures for snow leopard activity was calculated to be –10? to –3?,and its preferred habitat is the alpine scree where they appeared most in the ridge areas.It was found that the snow leopard is fairly active at night,and the lunar-phase has a significant impact on its level of nocturnal activity(P<0.01).(2)For the Chinese monal,the number of usable samples taken by the camera-trapping was 106,and the RAI of the species was 15.02.The monal's annual activity peak is in the month of July,and it has two daily activity peaks during the morning hours of 08:00–10:00 and the evening hours of 18:00–20:00.Its daily activity patterns also show seasonal differences.The range of preferred temperatures for Chinese monal activity was found to be between 0?–10?,and seasonal migration to higher elevations was observed between July and September,when its population assembles in the alpine area of the reserve.The Chinese monal preferred habitat is the non-ridge areas of alpine scree.(3)A total of 7,056 camera-days of data were collected,including approximately 120,000 photos and video clips.From the 2,251 effective captures,there were 37 species of animals recorded,representing 15 families in 8 different orders of wildlife;this includes 13 species of 7 families in 4 orders of mammals,and 24 species of 8 families in 4 orders of birds,which provides a sufficient sample size for analysis,the level of species diversity and the degree to which wildlife is endangered are both high.The calculated RAI of wildlife in Yinchang Valley was lower than in Tizi Valley and Weijia Valley,and Tizi Valley had the greatest number of species.RAI and species number showed significant variations in different months and seasons of the year.