四川邛崃山脉雪豹与赤狐时空生态位关系

食肉动物是生态系统中关键的功能类群,探究顶级捕食者和次级捕食者的种间作用和共存机制有助于我们深入理解生态系统变化和物种种群动态变化的驱动机制,是目前全球大型兽类种群衰退背景下的重要议题。在动物物种生态位的诸多维度中,空间与时间生态位是其中最为关键的两个维度,了解同域分布物种之间在时、空生态位上的相互关系是探究物种共存机制的基础。本研究以邛崃山脉中部的卧龙国家级自然保护区为研究区域,使用红外相机技术与粪便DNA技术在区内的高山生境开展野外调查,收集雪豹（Panthera uncia,分布点数量n=198）与赤狐（Vulpes vulpes,n=68）的分布数据,分别使用MaxEnt物种分布模型和日活动模式分析来探究区内雪豹和赤狐在时、空生态位上的相互作用关系。结果显示,在空间上,研究区域内雪豹和赤狐的潜在适宜分布区重叠面积404.08 km²,主要集中在保护区西北部的高海拔区域,分别占二者适宜栖息地总面积的77.74%和80.79%,重叠程度较高;在垂直分布上,区内雪豹分布的平均海拔较赤狐稍高,赤狐的海拔分布范围较雪豹稍广,但两物种在垂直方向上的重叠程度也较高,均在海拔4 300 m左右出现分布高峰。在时间生态位上,雪豹（独立探测数n=351）与赤狐（n=155）的日活动模式均为双峰型,雪豹偏向晨昏性而赤狐更偏向夜行性,整体上二者日活动节律重叠度较高（Δ=0.68）;在有雪豹活动的位点上以及两周内曾有雪豹活动的情况下,赤狐会加强夜间活动,降低其日活动节律与雪豹之间的重叠程度,但其日活动模式未有显著改变。本研究的结果初步揭示了雪豹与赤狐的时空生态位关系,将为深入理解高山生态系统中顶级捕食者与次级捕食者的共存机制提供实例与基础信息,同时也将为保护区针对这些食肉动物种群的精细化管理提供支持。     

贡嘎山国家级自然保护区兔狲的活动节律与适宜栖息地预测

2016年6月-2017年5月,采用红外相机陷阱法研究了四川贡嘎山国家级自然保护区兔狲Otocolobus manul的活动节律,以样线法和红外相机调查得到的兔狲分布点为数据源,采用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型预测了兔狲的适宜栖息地分布。结果显示:(1)兔狲分布在海拔3 780~4 956 m的灌丛、草甸和流石滩生境,其中87.2%的分布点位于海拔4 500 m以上;(2)日活动差异指数为0.071 2,昼行性指数为0.34,兔狲的活动高峰为05∶00-07∶00和20∶00-22∶00;(3)增强型植被指数2年最大值均值、海拔、平均日较差和气温年较差是影响兔狲栖息地选择的主要环境因子,兔狲偏好在海拔4 000 m以上、温差较大的高山流石滩生境活动,保护区兔狲的适宜栖息地面积为187 km^2,占保护区总面积的4.56%。本研究充实了兔狲的生物学、生态学资料,也为该物种的保护管理提供了参考资料。     

川西高原三种雉类与其捕食者赤狐的空间关系

物种的空间分布会受到种间相互作用(如捕食关系等)和环境变量等多种因素共同影响。阐明环境变量和种间相互作用对同域物种空间分布关系的影响, 对于理解群落聚集和生物多样性的维持机制至关重要。为了解川西高原常见雉类与捕食者的空间分布关系及其驱动因素, 本研究利用2016-2018年在川西高原84个红外相机位点获得的682张目标物种的独立照片, 采用条件型双物种占域模型(conditional two-species occupancy model)在相机位点尺度评估了在川西高原广泛分布的黄喉雉鹑(Tetraophasis szechenyii)、血雉(Ithaginis cruentus)和白马鸡(Crossoptilon crossoptilon)与其捕食者赤狐(Vulpes vulpes)的空间分布关系。结果显示: (1)在物种作用和环境变量的共同影响下, 赤狐和血雉(物种相互作用因子, species interaction factor, SIF = 1.31 ± 0.14)与赤狐和黄喉雉鹑(SIF = 1.42 ± 0.41)在研究区域内的空间分布趋于重合, 赤狐和血雉的空间关系随距河流距离的增加呈现先重合后趋于分离的趋势, 而赤狐和黄喉雉鹑的空间关系随距河流距离的增加呈现出由重合转为分离的趋势。赤狐与白马鸡在空间分布上相互独立(SIF = 1), 白马鸡的空间分布主要受环境因子影响, 而赤狐对其没有影响。(2) 3种雉类的探测率受物种作用的影响, 在相机位点尺度上赤狐的存在减少了3种雉类的探测率(pB > rB)。本研究为物种空间分布关系的研究提供了新的案例, 也为理解物种共存机制和生物多样性保护提供了科学依据。     

四川省石渠县藏狐昼间行为特征观察

动物的活动节律作为行为生态学研究的重要领域在相当长的时期内在狐属(Vulpes spp.)和类狐(Foxlike)犬科动物中得到了国外学者广泛的研究[1～3].我国分布有3种狐属动物[4],对于这些物种的活动节律国内研究较少[5],尤其是对分布环境比较特殊的物种如藏狐(Vulpes ferrilata)和沙狐(Vulpes corsac)未见系统研究报道.     

四川卧龙国家级自然保护区三种高山同域鸡形目鸟类的时空生态位比较

高海拔山区气候条件恶劣, 资源匮乏, 探究同域分布的近缘物种如何利用有限的资源以实现稳定共存, 对于了解高山生态系统生物多样性格局的形成和维持机制具有重要意义。鸡形目鸟类飞行能力弱, 属于典型的地栖物种, 生态位空间相对狭窄, 可能面临更高的种间竞争压力。本研究旨在比较几种同域分布的鸡形目鸟类的时空生态位, 为了解高山生态系统同域物种的共存机制提供新的研究案例。2020年4-9月, 研究人员在四川卧龙国家级自然保护区海拔3,300-4,200 m的高山区域进行了野外调查, 通过样线法和样方法对鸡形目鸟类群落优势物种绿尾虹雉(Lophophorus lhuysii)、雉鹑(Tetraophasis obscurus)和雪鹑(Lerwa lerwa)繁殖期的微生境进行调查, 使用红外相机对其活动节律进行监测, 并运用核密度估计法从微生境利用和日活动节律两个生态维度进行了种间生态位比较。结果显示, 雪鹑在微生境利用和日活动节律上均与其他两个物种存在显著差异。绿尾虹雉与雉鹑在微生境的利用上具有相似偏好; 但绿尾虹雉的早活动高峰晚于雉鹑, 晚活动高峰早于雉鹑, 表现出显著的种间日活动节律差异; 然而, 整合两个维度后, 绿尾虹雉和雉鹑的整体生态位仍然高度重叠, 没有显著分化。本研究表明高山鸡形目物种间的生态位分化体现于多个不同的生态维度, 并且不同物种之间的分化方式有所差异。在空间和时间生态位上的显著分化使雪鹑与同域物种间的竞争压力相对较小, 有利于其实现稳定共存。而绿尾虹雉与雉鹑的整体生态位高度重叠, 建议进一步对其食性开展研究, 探讨营养生态位上的潜在种间分化。     

应用红外相机数据研究动物活动节律——以广东车八岭保护区鸡形目鸟类为例

动物活动节律和时间生态位分化是动物行为在时间维度的分布, 是对时间资源利用的重要体现。动物活动节律受到环境因素和种间作用的影响, 因此, 了解动物活动节律以及时间生态位有助于揭示群落中同域分布物种时间资源利用的差异及共存机制。近10多年来, 红外相机技术在国内外野生动物监测研究中得到广泛应用, 积累了大量有时间记录的动物行为数据, 极大地促进了动物活动节律和时间生态位分化的深入研究。本文对动物活动节律研究以及应用红外相机数据研究动物活动节律的方法进行梳理, 采用核密度估计方法, 利用广东车八岭国家级自然保护区的红外相机监测数据, 分析了鸡形目鸟类的活动节律, 以阐述单物种和多物种的活动节律以及种间作用对动物日活动节律的影响。研究结果表明车八岭保护区白鹇(Lophura nycthemera)、白眉山鹧鸪(Arborophila gingica)和灰胸竹鸡(Bambusicola thoracica)等3个鸡形目物种之间存在不同程度的竞争, 物种间的日活动节律呈现中等程度的重叠。最后, 针对动物活动节律分析方法应用的建议及影响因素进行讨论, 希望为国内动物活动节律研究提供参考。     

青海省都兰县藏狐家域范围及重叠度

2006年9月21日至10月21日、2007年1月14～20日、2月6～12日和3月13日至4月8日,应用无线电追踪技术对青海省都兰县沟里乡3只藏狐(2雄,1雌)进行追踪定位,采用Kernel方法计算了3只藏狐的家域面积,确定了该物种的核域,并探讨了不同藏狐个体间家域及核域的重叠状况.结果表明,沟里乡藏狐平均家域面积为6.4±0.4 km2,平均核域面积为1.6±0.2 km2,核域约占家域总面积的1/5～1/4.3只藏狐总体家域面积相差不大,藏狐家域及核域均有一定程度的重叠,家域重叠程度约为50%～60%,核域重叠程度则远远减小,约为7%～20%.     

基于红外相机对云南腾冲高黎贡山云猫的调查

云猫(Pardofelis marmorata)在中国分布狭窄、种群稀少, 目前尚缺少有关其调查与研究的报道。通过红外相机分析野生动物的空间分布以及日活动节律, 有助于了解濒危物种的生态学特征, 为保护管理提供科学依据。我们于2014年4月至2021年5月在云南高黎贡山国家级自然保护区腾冲辖区34个位点放置红外相机进行监测。基于监测数据分析了云猫的空间分布, 并利用核密度估计方法(kernel-density estimation)对云猫与豹猫(Prionailurus bengalensis)的日活动节律进行了比较。通过31,462个相机日的监测, 共获得230个云猫的独立探测事件。探测数据显示: 云猫在研究区域内主要分布于海拔2,300‒3,100 m保存完好的常绿阔叶林中。记录到的云猫主要出现在白天, 于6:00‒11:00和14:00‒19:00活动最为频繁。在云猫记录密集的北部地区, 同域分布的豹猫表现出明显的夜行性, 而在南部地区则倾向于晨昏活动, 与云猫活动节律的重叠度较低。腾冲高黎贡山云猫的相对多度指数明显高于低纬度的热带地区, 对该区域云猫进行更为深入的研究对于了解与保护此物种至关重要。     

卧龙保护区三种中型食肉动物的生态位差异

2014至2019年,利用红外相机对卧龙保护区的赤狐（Vulpes vulpes）、黄喉貂（Martes flavigula）和豹猫（Prionailurus bengalensis）进行了监测,并分析比较了三者的栖息地分布和日活动节律。结果显示,赤狐栖息地主要分布于保护区西部高海拔地区,与黄喉貂和豹猫栖息地重叠较少;豹猫和黄喉貂的栖息地均集中分布于皮条河以南,且相互重叠部分达56.7%;在日活动节律方面,赤狐和豹猫表现出夜行性,黄喉貂表现出昼行性。本研究表明,三种食肉动物均通过栖息地或日活动节律的差异产生了生态位分离,从而实现了在卧龙保护区内的相互共存。     

同域分布中华鬣羚与中华斑羚时空生态位特征

为了解同域分布有蹄类在环境复杂的山地森林生境中以何种方式维持种间关系以实现稳定共存,基于物种分布模型与日活动模式分析了四川省岷山、邛崃、大相岭、小相岭和凉山五大山系同域分布中华鬣羚(Capricornis milneedwardsii)与中华斑羚(Naemorhedus griseus)的时空生态位特征。结果显示:(1)在四川省五大山系,中华鬣羚的适宜栖息地面积为28006.07 km²,占研究区总面积的26.18%,其中高适宜栖息地面积为10015.90 km²,中华斑羚的适宜栖息地面积为21073.32 km²,占研究区总面积的19.71%,其中高适宜栖息地面积为8396.22 km²;(2)中华鬣羚与中华斑羚在生境因子选择上相似性高、栖息地重叠面积大,其空间生态位重叠度指数D=0.776,I=0.949,其适宜栖息地的主要重叠区域位于岷山和邛崃山系;(3)中华鬣羚与中华斑羚的日活动节律重叠指数为0.812;(4)中华鬣羚与中华斑羚属于同域分布的资源利用型竞争物种,中华鬣羚的存在会显著影响中华斑羚的日活动节律(P=0.016);二者同域分布时都会增加其昼间活动强度,并增加活动高峰期的强度及持续时间。本研究初步分析了中华鬣羚与中华斑羚的时空生态位特征,揭示了二者在空间、时间生态位上种群共存及种间竞争的耦合关系。研究有利于深入理解同域分布动物时空生态位特征、近缘物种的共存机制及种间竞争关系,为有蹄类等珍稀野生动物种群及栖息地的保护提供科学参考。     

河南内乡宝天曼国家级自然保护区豹猫及其潜在猎物之间日活动节律的季节性

日活动节律是动物应对食物可利用性、天敌捕食风险和环境条件等变化的适应性特征。阐明捕食者与猎物之间的日活动节律以及相关影响因素, 对于理解不同物种的生存策略、指导保护对策至关重要。然而, 由于采样方法的限制和人类干扰下的快速环境变化, 人们对许多野生动物日活动节律的了解并不全面, 甚至与实际情况存在偏差。以往认为夜行性的豹猫(Prionailurus bengalensis)被发现有一定程度的日间活动, 并增加晨昏活动, 这说明有必要深入调查豹猫等野生动物的昼夜节律为何存在这些变化。本研究在河南内乡宝天曼国家级自然保护区通过红外相机技术对豹猫及其潜在猎物进行调查, 基于核密度函数比较分析了豹猫与其潜在猎物在冷、暖季节的日活动节律。2016年全年设置了55个红外相机位点, 累计14,972个相机工作日, 获得豹猫及其潜在猎物的独立有效照片1,343张。结果显示, 该保护区内豹猫、蒙古兔(Lepus tolai)和鼠类以夜间活动为主, 其中豹猫有明显的晨昏活动高峰, 而赤腹松鼠(Callosciurus erythraeus)、岩松鼠(Sciurotamias davidianus)、红腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus pictus)和勺鸡(Pucrasia macrolopha)均在昼间活动。活动重叠度分析结果显示, 豹猫与夜行性的蒙古兔和鼠类在冷季和暖季均有较高重叠度(Δ ≥ 0.50), 但与其他猎物之间的重叠度均相对较低(Δ ≤ 0.40)。本研究显示豹猫及其猎物的昼夜节律既有保守性, 也具有一定的季节可塑性, 可能受到季节性猎物分布和环境变化的影响。因此, 需要加强调查研究来充分认识不同物种日活动节律的季节性变化规律及其驱动因素。     

Diets of sympatric native and introduced carnivores in the Barrington Tops,eastern Australia

Invasive predators have severe impacts on global biodiversity, and their effects in Australia have been more extreme than on any other continent. The spotted‐tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), an endangered marsupial carnivore, coexists with three eutherian carnivores, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), feral cat (Felis catus) and wild dog (Canis lupus ssp.) with which it did not coevolve. No previous study has investigated dietary overlap between quolls and the suite of three eutherian carnivores. By analysing scats, we aimed to quantify dietary overlap within this carnivore assemblage in eastern Australia, and to detect any differences that may facilitate coexistence. We also sought evidence of intraguild predation. Dietary overlap between predators was extensive, with the greatest similarity occurring between foxes and cats. However, some differences were apparent. For example, cats mainly consumed smaller prey, and wild dogs larger prey. Quolls showed greater dietary overlap with foxes and cats than with dogs. Intraguild predation was evident, with fox remains occurring in 3% of wild dog scats. Our results suggest wild dogs competitively dominate invasive foxes, which in turn are likely to compete with the endangered quoll.     

Resource utilization by two insular endemic mammalian carnivores,the island fox and island spotted skunk

We compared resource utilization of two insular endemic mammalian carnivores, the island spotted skunk and island fox, along niche dimensions of space, food, and time on Santa Cruz Island. We predicted that resource use by foxes and skunks would differ along one or more niche dimensions, and that both species would have broader niches or higher densities compared with mainland relatives. Island foxes and island spotted skunks differed to some extent in habitat use, diets, and circadian activity, which may account for their long-term coexistence. Nonetheless, substantial overlap between skunks and foxes in spatial, dietary, and temporal dimensions suggests that competition between the two species does occur. Moreover, competition may be asymmetric, affecting skunks more than foxes. Compared with mainland foxes, island foxes have smaller body size, smaller home range, increased population density, increased diurnal activity, and behavior that is more highly inquisitive and less flightprone all common features of insular faunas. Island skunks, however, apparently have not developed these changes, perhaps due to asymmetric competition with foxes in conjunction with severe ecosystem disturbances caused by feral sheep.     

Trophic niche overlap and wild ungulate consumption by red fox and wolf in a mountain area in Italy

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and wolf (Canis lupus) are two widespread opportunistic predators living in simpatry in many areas. Nonetheless, scarce information are available on their trophic interactions. We investigated food habits of these two carnivores in a mountain area in Italy and assessed the extent of their trophic niche overlap, focusing on the consumption of wild ungulates. Thereby we analyzed the content of 669 red fox scats and 253 wolf scats collected between May 2008 and April 2009. Red foxes resulted to have a more than three times higher niche breadth than wolves. Vegetables, small mammals, wild ungulates, and invertebrates were major items (altogether 92% of volume) of the red fox annual diet. On the contrary wolf annual diet relied on wild ungulates (94% of volume) with wild boar (Sus scrofa) being the main food item. The degree of trophic niche overlap between the two species was found to be low (Pianka's O = 0.356). Diet variation between the warm and the cold seasons was limited in both species, and higher in red fox than in wolf. The two canids appeared to use wild ungulates unevenly being the former more selective for younger preys, smaller in size (newborn piglets and roe deer Capreolus capreolus fawns), whereas the latter exhibited a preference for medium-sized and large ungulates (10–35 kg wild boar and adult roe deer). Even if wild ungulates represent the main shared food category, the different use of age/weight classes by the two predators, together with their possible consumption as carrions by red fox, suggests a very limited trophic competition between wolf and red fox.This study represents a contribution to the knowledge of trophic interaction in predator–prey systems where sympatric carnivores are present.     

The high level of nutritional niche overlap between red fox (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes vulpes</Emphasis>) and sympatric golden jackal (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Canis aureus</Emphasis>) affects the body weight of juvenile foxes

In the period of August 2013 to September 2015, we collected and measured the body weight of 246 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) carcasses collected during hunts. A portion of these red foxes (n = 153) was originally from habitats they shared with the golden jackal (Canis aureus), while the other portion (n = 93) had almost no contact with this species. We analyzed the body weight of red foxes from both areas according to age (adult-cub) as well as gender. We have found that the younger animals that live sympatrically with the golden jackal weigh less than those from the golden jackal-free territory regardless of gender. In the case of adult red foxes, the habitat-related differences between body weight were found to be insignificant. These results suggest that the high level of nutritional niche overlap between sympatric red fox and golden jackal could affect the body weight of juvenile red foxes.     

Intraguild dietary overlap and its possible relationship to the coexistence of mesocarnivores in intensive agricultural habitats

The stone marten (Martes foina) and the pine marten (M. martes) are closely related mammalian carnivores potentially subject to exploitative competition. The recent expansion of the pine marten into the intensively cultivated plain of the River Po (NW Italy), where previously only stone marten occurred, offered an interesting opportunity to analyse their relationships. We studied the distribution and diet of Martes species and trophic niche overlap between martens and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in two study areas, each with two pseudoreplicates, by analysing genotyped faeces. Our results seem to confirm the displacement of the stone marten from one study area, the pine marten being the only Martes species occurring where previously the stone marten had been reported. We found a large food niche overlap between red fox and both stone and pine martens, but with evidence of size-related differences in the consumption of some food items. We hypothesised that, due to the poor prey-base of the environment, highly altered by intensive crop cultivation, intense interspecific competition originally occurred between the red fox and stone marten. The heightening of interspecific competition caused by the entry of the pine marten in the predator guild may have caused the displacement of the stone marten, at least temporarily. The mechanism of such displacement needs to be clarified through further surveys in areas where the three species occur sympatrically.     

同域分布鼬獾和食蟹獴活动节律的比较

为探明同域分布的鼬獾（Melogale moschata）和食蟹獴（Herpestes urva）的日活动节律、时间生态位及其两者共存机制,于2016年12月至2017年12月,在广西弄岗国家级自然保护区开展红外相机监测获取数据,后采用核密度估计（Kernel density estimation）和重叠指数（Coefficient of overlap）对该地区的鼬獾和食蟹獴进行了研究。结果表明：鼬獾属于典型的夜行性动物,其日活动模式为双峰型,活动峰值出现在01：00—05：00和21：00—24：00;与雨季相比,旱季的活动峰值均提前1 h,活动高峰期延长3 h。食蟹獴为典型昼行性动物,其日活动模式为单峰型,活动峰值出现在11：00—18：00,与雨季相比,旱季活动高峰期提前并延长1 h。两者间的日活动模式重叠指数较低（Δ=0.17）,但旱季（Δ=0.22）高于雨季（Δ=0.12）。两者主要通过改变时间生态位来避免对食物资源和领域的竞争,从而实现共存。     

Landscape genetics of the nonnative red fox of California

Invasive mammalian carnivores contribute disproportionately to declines in global biodiversity. In California, nonnative red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have significantly impacted endangered ground‐nesting birds and native canids. These foxes derive primarily from captive‐reared animals associated with the fur‐farming industry. Over the past five decades, the cumulative area occupied by nonnative red fox increased to cover much of central and southern California. We used a landscape‐genetic approach involving mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences and 13 microsatellites of 402 nonnative red foxes removed in predator control programs to investigate source populations, contemporary connectivity, and metapopulation dynamics. Both markers indicated high population structuring consistent with origins from multiple introductions and low subsequent gene flow. Landscape‐genetic modeling indicated that population connectivity was especially low among coastal sampling sites surrounded by mountainous wildlands but somewhat higher through topographically flat, urban and agricultural landscapes. The genetic composition of populations tended to be stable for multiple generations, indicating a degree of demographic resilience to predator removal programs. However, in two sites where intensive predator control reduced fox abundance, we observed increases in immigration, suggesting potential for recolonization to counter eradication attempts. These findings, along with continued genetic monitoring, can help guide localized management of foxes by identifying points of introductions and routes of spread and evaluating the relative importance of reproduction and immigration in maintaining populations. More generally, the study illustrates the utility of a landscape‐genetic approach for understanding invasion dynamics and metapopulation structure of one of the world's most destructive invasive mammals, the red fox.     

甘肃祁连山脉雪豹及其同域分布大型食肉动物时间生态位关系

<正>群落内多物种如何共存是群落生态学和生物多样性研究的核心内容之一。经典物种共存理论强调物种之间的生态位分化,侧重于物种对环境的需求,Hutchinson (1957)提出超体积生态位概念,认为物种适合度是由多个因素共同决定,即物种只有在满足其生态位需求的多维空间,