The Diversity,Spatial-Temporal Distribution Of Birds And Mammals In Laojun Mountain,Northwest Yunnan

An in-depth understanding of the diversity composition,seasonal variation,activity rhythm and impact of human activities of wildlife is the premise of effective resource conservation management.With the increasing maturity of infrared camera technology,it has become prevalent to use camera traps to investigate wildlife diversity.Laojun Mountain in Northwest of Yunnan,where is located in the longitudinal valley of the middle branch of the Yunling Mountains in Hengduan Mountain system.Its unique geographical environment creates rich biodiversity,but there is rarely literature report on the animal diversity with infrared camera technology.From October 2019 to May 2021,the author investigated the diversity of birds and mammals in Laojun Mountain by using camera traps,line transects,iron trap captures and interviews.23 species of mammals and 37 species of birds were recorded by camera traps,8 species were investigated by line transects,15 species were investigated by iron trap captures,24 species were investigated by interviews.Altogether,73 species have been recorded in Laojun Mountain.There are 3 species of National Class?key protected animals:Moschus berezovskii,Syrmaticus humiae and Garrulax bieti.18 species of National Class?key protected animals:Urus thibetanus,Ailurus fulgens,Tragopan temminckii etc.Of all the species recorded,there are 17 species are listed in the CITES Appendix,7 species listed in the threatened catalogues in IUCN and 22 species listed in the threatened catalogues in China's Vertebrate Red List.The results of camera traps monitoring showed that although there was no significant difference in the number of mammal species and community diversity index between different elevations,habitats and seasons,the difference in relative abundance of mammals was extremely significant between different elevations(RAI:?~2=14.1,df=4,P=0.007)and different seasons(RAI:?~2=12.651,df=3,P=0.005);There was no significant difference in the number of bird species and community diversity index at three temporal and spatial scales of elevation,habitat and season,but the relative abundance of birds was significantly at different elevations(RAI:?~2=9.780,df=4,P=0.044).Generally speaking,the richness of animals species is highest between the altitude 3000-4500m,and the relative abundance in this level is lower due to the more species.From the perspective of habitations,birds and mammals are mainly distributed from evergreen deciduous broad-leaved forest to alpine meadow shrubs.The daily activity rhythms of the four ungulates with high richness were analyzed.It was found that the activity rhythms of artiodactyla species were significantly different,such as Moschus berezovskii and Muntiacus muntjak(?=0.77,P=0.01),Moschus berezovskii and Sus scrofa(?=0.60,P<0.01),Elaphodus cephalophus and Sus scrofa(?=0.72,P=0.03).The activity rhythm of five small carnivores with high richness showed that there are some differences,such as Prionailurus bengalensis and Paguma larvata(?=0.71,P=0.01),Prionailurus bengalensis and Martes flavigula(?=0.39,P<0.01),Prionailurus bengalensis and Mustela sibirica(?=0.26,P<0.01),Paguma larvata and Martes flavigula(?=0.17,P<0.01),but there is no significantly difference between Prionailurus bengalensis and Ailurus fulgens,Martes flavigula and Mustela sibirica(P>0.05).The analysis of daily activity rhythms of two species of galliformes birds with high richness showed that the differentiation between Chrysolophus amherstiae and Ithaginis cruentus was not obviously(?=0.86,P=0.05).The differentiation of daily activity rhythm of related species of the same order or family is not obviously,but there are still differently in daily activity peaks.For examples,the daily activity peak of Moschus berezovskii is one to two hours behind Elaphodus cephalophus,and Mustela sibirica is two hours behind Martes flavigula.The difference of daily activity peaks may be driven by the competitive exclusion of closely related species.In the study area,the activities of humans and livestock have a great impact on wildlife.In terms of time,the daily activity rhythm of humans and livestock are significantly different from that of ungulates,small carnivores and galliformes(P<0.05).In terms of space,the elevation pattern of activities of humans and livestock are significantly different from that of ungulates,small carnivores and galliformes,which may be related to the long-term adaptation to disturbance in humans and livestock.In this study,the background resources of birds and mammals in Laojun Mountain were preliminarily cataloged,which provides a reliable data basis for the probable establishment of new natural reserves,and implementation of protection and scientific researches.The results also showed that camera-trappings is an effective method to monitor large and medium-sized mammals and terrestrial birds,but the auxiliary role of traditional investigation methods can not be ignored.