| The Chinese pangolin is a typical burrowing animal,with termites as its main food.It digs burrows to get close to termite nests and chooses some burrows to rest,reproduce and raise young.There are a large number of pangolin burrows in their habitat,causing a lot of soil turnover.Chinese pangolin is endangered in the wild,but few ecological studies have been carried out,providing insufficient theoretical support and scientific guidance for pangolin conservation.This paper explores the important ecological role of pangolins as ecosystem engineers from the perspective that pangolins dig burrows for habitat modification and provide thermal refuge for local biological communities.Morphological measurements were performed on pangolin burrows in three pangolin distribution areas in Guangdong Province,and then calculated the burrow volume and mound coverage area to quantify the habitat modification function of pangolin.A habitat survey was conducted in pangolin burrows,and the relationship between burrow microhabitat factors and soil disturbance was analyzed using structural equation model(SEM)to explore the spatial distribution pattern of pangolin increasing habitat heterogeneity.The microclimate of pangolin burrow was investigated,and the characteristics of temperature change and the function of thermal refuge were analyzed by one-way linear regression and analysis of variance.Combined with pangolin burrow automatic camera data,the utilization patterns of symbiotic species on burrow thermal refuge resources under different burrow outside temperature conditions and their corresponding impacts were discussed.Research results as follows:(1)Pangolin burrows caused a large amount of soil turnover,up to 2.11±1.88 m3/ha(about 2.18±1.95t/ha),and these burrows increased coverage area of bare mound was83.1±51.0 m2/ha.This strongly proves that the habitat modification function of pangolin significantly increases habitat heterogeneity at the landscape level.(2)In Heping region,pangolins tend to dig resting burrows in thickets and meadows where near water sources,at high altitudes and on steep slopes or hilltops,and have a strong preference for sandy loam and clay.Roads are the main interference factor.In Tianjingshan region,pangolins tend to dig resting burrows in broad-leaved forest and mixed broadleafconifer forest where far away from human settlements,and have a strong preference for sandy loam and clay.In Wuqinzhang region,pangolin tend to dig resting burrows in the upper slope position of the mountain where far away from human settlements at high altitude,and roads are the main interference factor.(3)The volume and mound coverage area of pangolin burrows were mainly affected by burrow category,and the soil in the distribution area of resting burrow was disturbed the most,which contributed the most to increasing habitat heterogeneity.In situ conservation of pangolins,the concentrated distribution area and potential distribution area of resting burrows should be protected first.(4)When subjected to external environmental temperature stress,commensals tend to use pangolin burrow microclimate to regulate body temperature,relieve homeostasis pressure,and reduce energy loss.In conclusion,the Chinese pangolin in landscape level significantly increased the habitat heterogeneity,pangolin burrow temperature fluctuation is small,long-term to provide a comfortable and stable micro climate,acts as the thermal refuge in the local habitat,is an important part in local animals which can adjust the body temperature,provides conditions for animal and plant diversity maintaining. |
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