| Chinese pangolin(Manis pentadactyla)belongs to Manidae,Pholidota.There are three subspecies in China,M.p.aurita,M.p.pusilla and M.P.pentadactyla.Previous data recorded that it was widely distributed in most mountain areas in southern China.On June 5,2020,pangolin was upgraded from the national second-class key protected animal to the first class.,and pangolin also listed as one of the protected wildmedicinal species in Regulations on Conservation and Management of Wild Chinese Medicinal Material Resources.Pangolin was listed as one of the 14 most endangered wild medicinal species in China,and it was also a species that must be taken measures to strengthen the protection in China's action plan for modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.At present in China,pangolins has been decimated by indiscriminate hunting because of its significant edible and medicinal value,together with habitat destruction,the number of wild populations has declined sharply.It is now distributed only in several mountains and hills of southern China.At the end of 2017,all eight pangolin species in the world have been listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES),and all international trade of pangolins and their derivatives has been strictly banned.But frequent poaching to acquire commercial profits threatens this endangered animal.And,effective evaluations of wild pangolin populations in China are rare.This study is the first time in the world to conduct a comprehensive and systematic in-depth investigation into the ecological geographical distribution,habitat environment,wild population quantity and current situation of Chinese pangolin in China(except Taiwan),the influence of human economic activities and various interference and destruction factors on the wild population of pangolin,and so on,and then to conduct research and evaluation on the current situation of species diversity and ecosystem diversity in China from point to surface.Finally,it is of great significance to put forward feasible ecological restoration and protection strategies for the protection of wild pangolin and biodiversity in China.This study took 7 years to investigate 30 provinces.In this study,the number of wild population of Chinese pangolin was evaluated by line transect method,visit method and consulting data,and the population viability of wild populations of Chinese pangolin was analyzed by Vortex model to understand the current situation of wild population resources.The following results were obtained as follows:1.There was no significant change in the distribution of Chinese pangolins in the provinces,but the distribution area decreased by 96%.Chinese pangolins are mainly distributed in Hong Kong,Taiwan,Chongqing(Wulong,Qijiang,Xiushan),Sichuan(Meigu,Gulin),Guizhou(Bijie,Tongren,Jiangkou,Anlong,Libo,Shiqian,Yinjiang,Puan,etc.),Yunnan(Longchuan,Jinping,Menghai,Mengla,etc.),Hunan(Yizhang,Chenzhou,Qiyang,Guidong,Anhua,Fenghuang,Baojing,etc.),Hubei(Enshi,Xuanen,Tongshan,Tongcheng,Badong,Laifeng,etc.),Guangxi,Guangdong,Fujian,Zhejiang(Kaihua,Xiangshan,Fuyang,Jiangshan,Lin'an,Qingyuan,Longquan,Suichang,Huzhou,etc.),Jiangsu(Yixing,Zhenjiang,Changzhou,Xuzhou,Tongshan,Pizhou,etc.),Jiangxi(Jiujiang,Yongxiu,Xiushui,Fuliang,Wanli District,Pan Yang,Le'an,Ningdu,etc.),Anhui(Yuexi,Huangshan,Qimen,Xuancheng,Shexian,Xiuning,Jixi,etc.),Henan(Lushi County),Hainan(Baisha,Qiongzhong,Ledong,Lingshui,Baoting,etc.).2.Chinese pangolin mostly inhabits sunny slopes or semi-cloudy and semi-sunny slopes with medium altitude,medium canopy density and high understory coverage.The habitat selection order of Chinese pangolin to forest type is:mixed coniferous and broad-leaf forest>shrubforest>evergreen broad-leaf forest>coniferous forest.There are many burrows found in mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests and shrubs.Chinese pangolin likes high temperature and is sensitive to temperature.The temperature in high altitude areas is relatively low,so it is rarely distributed in high altitude areas above 1500m in the field.However,in order to avoid human interference,it is also distributed in areas with an altitude of 760?1500m.In terms of canopy density,pangolin is mostly active in forests with medium canopy density and high understory coverage.If canopy density is too high,illumination is insufficient,environmental temperature is too low,and understory vegetation is poor,while if canopy density is too low,concealment is poor,and it is easy to be found by predators,neither of these two habitats can meet pangolin's requirements for temperature and concealment.In aspect,sunny slope has sufficient light,complex vegetation types and high food abundance.The semi-cloudy and semi-sunny slopes are warm and humid,with various undergrowth vegetation and rich food types,which can also ensure certain illumination.Therefore,Chinese pangolin likes both slopes.In terms of slope,in order to improve concealment and ensure that the nest is not washed by rain,it is usually selected in some steep slopes,which can save some physical strength when drilling burrows.3.The wild Chinese pangolin population in China(except Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan)is about 11291.47±4829.92,with a distribution area of about 100,000square kilometers and a population ecological density of only 0.062?0.154ind/km~2.Currently,pangolin is mainly distributed in various protected areas and forest parks in China where vegetation is well maintained and human interference is less.According to the analysis of the area of each protected area and the field investigation,most of them exist in isolated insular ecological habitats,which are all in the state of ecologically isolated small wild populations,and most of them have populations ranging from 10?30.4.In recent years,with the rapid economic development and population expansion,the habitat on which wildlife depends has been damagedseverely.Large areas of habitat have been cut into discontinuous island-like habitats due to human activities such as road construction,housing construction and the rise of tourism.The habitat distribution is very insular,and Chinese pangolin is very sensitive to habitat selection.These fragmented habitats are difficult to provide suitable living environment for wild Chinese pangolin.At the same time,the insularity of habitat hinders gene communication between different populations.In small populations,inbreeding recession is more likely to occur.In the face of natural disasters(such as snow disasters),small populations are difficult to recover and the risk of extinction is greater.Therefore,it is also urgent to strengthen the protection of pangolin habitat.5.The population vibility analysis for Chinese pangolin was simulated by model VORTEX.The wild pangolin population has certain viability under the condition of no interference from human activities.With the increase of population number,the extinction time will be prolonged.When the population number is about 10,if there is no human interference and hunting in the ideal state,it is estimated that after 40 years of extinction,the genetic diversity is only 42%;when ifremainingabout 10 pangolins,the extinction time of the population will be advanced about 10 years for every 10%increase in the probability of human hunting or disturbance.Simulation analysis using VORTEX model suggested that 36 individuals could permit a survival of 95%probability in 100 years and it is the minimum viable population in Chinese pangolin.To sum up,it is suggested that urgent measures be taken as soon as possible to strengthen the protection of Chinese pangolin,to maintain the stability of the existing population,to increase investment in protection,to strengthen the patrol of protected areas and their surrounding forests,to create ecological corridors,and to reduce human interference and poaching. |
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