三江源国家级自然保护区内云塔村雪豹种群动态

种群监测可为物种研究和保护提供关键信息和依据。雪豹(Panthera uncia)作为亚洲高山生态系统的顶级捕食者和旗舰种, 一直是研究和保护的重点, 但其难以到达的栖息地、隐秘的行踪和广阔的家域使其监测工作开展难度较大, 雪豹种群动态研究较为匮乏。本研究在2013年10月至2019年1月期间, 使用当地社区维护的红外相机, 监测三江源国家级自然保护区通天河沿保护分区内青海省玉树州哈秀乡云塔村雪豹种群的密度和动态, 共识别出35只雪豹个体。基于数据质量较好的2015、2016、2017年连续3年的红外相机数据各年截取3个月数据, 使用空间标记-重捕模型估算种群数量和密度, 发现当地雪豹种群和成年个体密度基本维持稳定, 种群增长率为1.02, 但监测期间雪豹个体更替明显, 平均个体更替率为0.44, 并且围绕两片雪豹核心利用区域发生了领域取代。推测雪豹种群具有较多个体更替和领域取代是因为种群处在雪豹潜在扩散通道上, 或调查范围未覆盖完整种群。本研究是国内首次对雪豹进行较为长期的种群动态监测和分析, 研究结果体现了动态监测的重要性, 也显示出以当地社区为主体监测哺乳动物种群的可能性。     

四川邛崃山脉雪豹与散放牦牛潜在分布重叠与捕食风险评估

由雪豹(Panthera uncia)捕食散放家畜引起的人兽冲突是目前中国雪豹保护面临的主要挑战之一。四川邛崃山脉地处雪豹分布范围的东南缘, 本研究以邛崃山中部的自然保护区群为研究区, 收集了2014-2018年红外相机调查和动物粪便DNA分析中采集到的雪豹与散放牦牛的分布位点, 使用MaxEnt物种分布模型预测两物种在研究区内的潜在分布范围, 以两物种分布重叠的程度作为评估雪豹捕食家畜潜在风险的指标, 从而识别雪豹-家畜冲突的高危区域。结果表明, 在邛崃山中部的保护区群中, 模型预测的雪豹适宜栖息地面积为871.14 km ², 牦牛适宜栖息地面积为988.41 km ², 二者重叠面积达534.47 km ², 主要分布在研究区西部的高山草甸地区, 占域内雪豹适宜栖息地总面积的61.35%。研究区域内总体上可能存在较高的雪豹-家畜冲突风险。在这些自然保护区以及新建的大熊猫国家公园的管理规划中, 应把高山放牧作为对区内野生雪豹种群的关键威胁之一, 重点关注模型预测的人兽冲突高危区域, 通过改变社区牧业管理方式、发展社区替代生计等方式, 降低潜在冲突的风险。     

三江源国家公园雪豹和岩羊生境适宜性分析

雪豹是青藏高原生物多样性保护的旗舰物种,主要以岩羊为食,研究两者在三江源国家公园的生境适宜性可为其种群保护提供科学依据。基于在国家公园区域内广泛调查获得的岩羊和雪豹分布位点数据,利用最大熵生态位(MaxEnt)模型,评价三江源国家公园内岩羊和雪豹的生境适宜性及其食物链空间分布模式,探讨生境与主要环境变量之间的相关性。结果显示,海拔、最干月降水量和温度年较差是影响岩羊和雪豹空间分布的主要环境变量;海拔最适区间在4 660~4 730 m重叠,最适最干月降水量在2~4 mm重叠,温度年较差在33.7℃~37.0℃重叠。雪豹和岩羊在国家公园内的适宜栖息地面积分别为19 246 km^2和39 977 km^2,分别占公园总面积的15.63%和32.47%;两者重叠的适宜栖息地面积为16 621 km^2,占公园总面积的13.50%,主要位于澜沧江源园区东北部、中部和东部区域以及长江源园区的东南区域。本研究可为制定三江源国家公园内岩羊和雪豹的协同保护管理措施提供理论依据。     

祁连山国家公园青海片区雪豹栖息地适宜性评价

雪豹是全球生物多样性保护的旗舰物种,精准评估雪豹栖息地质量可为其种群保护提供科学参考。本文选取地形、气候、植被类型和人为干扰等环境因子,采用景观连接度和MaxEnt模型两种方法,对祁连山国家公园青海片区雪豹栖息地质量进行评价。结果表明：高适宜栖息地主要分布在研究区的西部和中部,适宜面积占青海片区总面积的71.8% ~ 77.5%,两种方法预测的适宜栖息地重叠区为8 979.1 km²,占青海片区总面积的56.7%;39.8% ~ 43.3%的适宜栖息地分布在一般控制区,56.7% ~ 60.2%的适宜栖息地分布在核心保护区;疏勒河源区适宜栖息地面积最多,石羊河源区适宜栖息地面积最少,黑河源区适宜栖息地面积占比最高,约为77.1% ~ 91.8%。适宜栖息地面积整体呈现自东向西递增的趋势。一般控制区分布有较大面积的雪豹栖息地,人类活动将是一般控制区雪豹栖息地的潜在威胁。本研究对优化雪豹就地保护措施提供科学借鉴与参考。     

大兴安岭南段马鹿生境适宜性分析与生态廊道构建

构建生态廊道在缓解生境破碎化对生物多样性的影响、维持濒危物种的遗传多样性、维护自然生态系统结构完整与功能稳定方面具有重要作用。以内蒙古大兴安岭南段分布的马鹿(Cervus elaphus)种群为研究对象,利用MaxEnt模型对其生境适宜性进行分析,并利用最小累积阻力模型构建潜在生态扩散廊道,探讨大兴安岭南段区域隔离马鹿种群的栖息地连通方案。结果显示,马鹿栖息地呈破碎化状态,种群有明显的隔离分布趋势,现有适宜栖息地具有海拔较低(800—1200 m)、坡度较缓(<15°)、靠近水源、植被类型多为靠近山林的灌丛或草地等特点。所构建12条生态廊道具有经过河流浅水节段、远离村落等特点,便于落实栖息地生态恢复管理措施。研究从区域尺度综合分析了大兴安岭南段马鹿栖息地现状及连通性,有助于优化适宜栖息地格局,促进马鹿扩散和栖息地连通,为该物种隔离种群及其栖息地保护规划提供现实指导和基础资料。     

三江源和祁连山国家公园雪豹种群的遗传结构分析

掌握遗传信息对濒危物种的保护和管理具有重要意义。本研究在我国雪豹重要分布区祁连山和三江源国家公园分别采集粪便样品,利用mtDNA的cyt b基因、微卫星多态性位点进行了雪豹的物种鉴定、个体识别和种群遗传结构评估。在采集286份疑似雪豹粪便样品中,成功的对86份雪豹样品进行了扩增鉴定,利用微卫星位点进行个体识别获得41只雪豹个体,其中祁连山国家公园26只,三江源国家公园15只。通过等位基因数、有效等位基因数、观测杂合度、期望杂合度、多态信息含量等指标进行种群遗传多样性评估,认为雪豹种群遗传多样性相对较低,但祁连山国家公园雪豹种群遗传多样性相对较高。STRUCTURE进行群体遗传结构分析表明,4个种群可以划分为3个遗传类群,祁连山国家公园的种群（YCW和QLS）与三江源国家种群(DC和SJ)的遗传差异,可能与种群间的地理隔离存在明显的相似性。     

天山中部雪豹栖息地适宜性研究初报

栖息地丧失和破碎化是许多濒危物种面临的主要威胁,对于分布在高原山地的濒危物种雪豹亦是如此。为了更好地了解天山雪豹的分布情况和栖息地质量,2018年11月至2019年6月,我们在天山中部借助红外相机开展野外调查,调查面积2 425 km²,共获得78个雪豹的出现位点。利用8个物种分布模型对雪豹在此地的生境选择建模,综合结果表明,崎岖度和海拔是影响雪豹分布的主要因素,其中崎岖度大于70和海拔1 700~2 900 m是雪豹出现频率最高的地区。集成模型空间预测显示大部分适宜栖息地集中于乌苏市以东至板房沟分局管辖地区。本研究通过野外调查和模型分析获得了天山中部雪豹的分布区域及环境因子对其的影响,为天山雪豹保护及跨境合作提供科学的数据支撑。     

黄渤海濒危水鸟栖息地动态变化研究

中国滨海湿地是东亚-澳大利西亚迁徙路线上候鸟重要的停歇地、繁殖地和越冬地,土地利用变化所引发的滨海湿地退化导致水鸟栖息地类别和面积发生了很大转变,影响迁徙水鸟种群数量的稳定性。然而,土地利用变化在哪些区域和多大程度上影响了迁徙水鸟的栖息地分布尚不清晰。以土地围垦典型区域黄渤海滨海湿地为研究区,以受胁濒危水鸟物种勺嘴鹬、大滨鹬、大杓鹬、小青脚鹬、黑脸琵鹭、黄嘴白鹭、遗鸥、黑嘴鸥为研究对象,结合物种分布模型MaxEnt和GIS空间分析,模拟2000、2015、2020年水鸟栖息地时空分布,探索过去20年栖息地分布的时空变化,分析水鸟种群变化趋势,识别水鸟栖息地保护优先区域,提出水鸟栖息地保护管理建议。结果显示：2000—2020年,8个水鸟物种栖息地主要分布在渤海湾、莱州湾、江苏盐城沿岸、如东-东台沿岸区域。所有物种的栖息地面积均呈不同程度的下降趋势,其中7个物种栖息地下降比例超过50%,下降的区域主要分布在渤海湾、江苏盐城沿岸、东台条子泥、小洋口沿岸,滨海湿地丧失是导致水鸟栖息地面积下降的直接因素。7个物种种群数量呈下降趋势。研究所确定的水鸟保护优先区面积达240.32 km^2...     

三江源国家公园野生动物保护与管理对策

三江源国家公园是我国首批建立的面积最大的国家公园,也是青藏高原第一个国家公园,对青藏高原乃至我国加快构建以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系具有里程碑式意义。三江源国家公园野生动物多样性水平高且濒危物种占比大,其中兽类和鸟类受威胁比例分别为32.26%和19.90%;具有丰富的国家重点保护物种及青藏高原特有珍稀物种,包括46.77%的中国或青藏高原特有兽类和7.65%的中国特有鸟类,其生物多样性具有全国乃至全球意义的保护价值。本文简要回顾全球野生动物保护研究重要进展和取得的成果,分析三江源野生动物濒危成因,提出了加强三江源国家公园野生动物动态监测、创新栖息地保护技术、建立野生动物迁移廊道及避难所、开展草畜平衡管理、疫源疫病控制、人兽冲突研究和建立野生动物基因资源库等多项野生动物保护和管理对策,为实现三江源国家公园生态环境严格保护、人与自然和谐共生、区域可持续发展战略提供了有益的参考。     

三江源红外相机社区监测平台概述

三江源红外相机社区监测平台以当地牧民为监测工作的主体, 开展该地区的生物多样性监测、野生动物生态学和行为学研究, 以及基于社区的自然资源管理与保护成效评估。三江源红外相机社区监测平台于2013年10月由北京大学自然保护与社会发展研究中心与山水自然保护中心联合三江源当地社区共同建立与管理。截至2019年6月, 该平台共有有效监测样区9个, 监测覆盖面积7,000多平方公里, 覆盖三江源区域的玉树州全境五县一市和果洛州班玛县, 培养了社区监测队员264名。已处理照片总数252.43万张, 动物独立探测总数12万次, 共识别出30种野生兽类和37种野生鸟类。该平台在调查野生动物多样性本底, 研究雪豹(Panthera uncia)种群密度与动态、雪豹与同域分布的其他食肉动物的关系, 总结社区监测的管理经验等方面取得部分成果。平台未来的工作重点包括总结与发表平台的研究结果、构建云端数据库实现红外相机照片数据的共享与公众参与、打造可互动数据库管理平台和相应监测队员手持客户端以及人工智能辅助下的物种与个体识别。     

Predicting global population connectivity and targeting conservation action for snow leopard across its range

Movements of individuals within and among populations help to maintain genetic variability and population viability. Therefore, understanding landscape connectivity is vital for effective species conservation. The snow leopard is endemic to mountainous areas of central Asia and occurs within 12 countries. We assess potential connectivity across the species’ range to highlight corridors for dispersal and genetic flow between populations, prioritizing research and conservation action for this wide‐ranging, endangered top‐predator. We used resistant kernel modeling to assess snow leopard population connectivity across its global range. We developed an expert‐based resistance surface that predicted cost of movement as functions of topographical complexity and land cover. The distribution of individuals was simulated as a uniform density of points throughout the currently accepted global range. We modeled population connectivity from these source points across the resistance surface using three different dispersal scenarios that likely bracket the lifetime movements of individual snow leopard: 100 km, 500 km and 1000 km. The resistant kernel models produced predictive surfaces of dispersal frequency across the snow leopard range for each distance scenario. We evaluated the pattern of connectivity in each of these scenarios and identified potentially important movement corridors and areas where connectivity might be impeded. The models predicted two regional populations, in the north and south of the species range respectively, and revealed a number of potentially important connecting areas. Discrepancies between model outputs and observations highlight unsurveyed areas of connected habitat that urgently require surveying to improve understanding of the global distribution and ecology of snow leopard, and target land management actions to prevent population isolation. The connectivity maps provide a strong basis for directed research and conservation action, and usefully direct the attention of policy makers.     

Habitat suitability and connectivity implications for the conservation of the Persian leopard along the Iran–Iraq border

Habitat fragmentation has major negative impacts on wildlife populations, and the connectivity could reduce these negative impacts. This study was conducted to assess habitat suitability and structural connectivity of the Persian leopard along the Iran–Iraq border (i.e., the Zagros Mountains) and compare the situation of identified core habitats and connectivity with existing conservation areas (CAs). An ensemble modeling approach resulting from five models was used to predict habitat suitability. To identify core habitats and corridors along the Iran–Iraq border, factorial least‐cost path analyses were applied. The results revealed that topographic roughness, distance to CAs, annual precipitation, vegetation/cropland density, and distance to rivers were the most influential variables for predicting the occurrence of the Persian leopard in the study area. By an estimated dispersal distance of 82 km (suggested by previous studies), three core habitats were identified (two cores in Iran and one core in Iraq). The largest cores were located in the south and the center of the study area, which had the highest connectivity priorities. The connectivity from these cores was maintained to the core within the Iraqi side. Only about one‐fifth of detected core habitats and relative corridors were protected by CAs in the study area. Detected core habitats and connectivity areas in this study could be an appropriate road map to accomplish the CAs network along the Iran–Iraq border regarding Persian leopard conservation. Establishing transboundary CAs, particularly in the core habitat located in the center of the study area, is strongly recommended to conserve existing large carnivores, including the Persian leopard.     

Corridors and barriers in biodiversity conservation: a novel resource-based habitat perspective for butterflies

Habitat loss and fragmentation, exacerbated by projected climate change, present the greatest threats to preservation of global biodiversity. As increasing habitat fragmentation and isolation of residual fragments exceeds the dispersal capacity of species, there is the growing need to address connectivity to maintain diversity. Traditionally, habitat corridors have been proposed as a solution. But, the concept of corridors (barriers) is poorly understood; typically they are defined as linear habitats linking up habitat patchwork, and are advocated without a detailed understanding of the elements making up species’ habitats and the cost-effectiveness of alternative solutions. Yet, landscapes comprise an enormous range of ‘linear’ structures that can function in different ways to promote species’ persistence and diversity. In this review, a functional definition of corridor (barrier) is developed to give prominence to connectivity as opposed to ad hoc structures purported to advance connectivity. In developing the concept, urgency to accommodate environmental changes compels a growing emphasis on organism diversity rather than a preoccupation with single species conservation. The review, in focusing on butterflies to address the issue of corridors for patchwork connectivity, draws attention to fundamental divisions among organisms in any taxon: generalists and specialists. Both groups benefit from large patches as these necessarily house species with specialist resources as well as generalists with very different resource types. But, generalists and specialists require very different solutions for connectivity, from short-range habitat corridors and gateways for specialists to habitat and resource stepping stones (nodes, surfaces) for generalists. Connectivity over extensive areas is most critical for moderate generalists and their conservation requires emphasis being placed on space–time resource heterogeneity; landscape features, of whatever dimensionality and structure, provide a vital framework for developing the variety of suitable conditions and resources for enhancing their diversity.     

Prediction of habitat suitability,connectivity, and corridors in the future to conserve roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) as a locally endangered species in northern Iran

Roe deer is a protected species in Iran as its population and distribution in the country have considerably declined. Roe deer are threatened by several factors such as habitat fragmentation and road mortality, so studying their distribution and movement through the increasing habitat destruction and fragmentation is necessary. This will become increasingly important because climate change will transform the species’ future habitat and connectivity patterns. We evaluated the roe deer’s potential distribution range in northern Iran and, for the first time, developed connectivity models and designed corridors for the present and future to make better conservation plans. We collected 91 points indicating the presence of roe deer in the study region. After developing ensemble models using six species distribution algorithms, we defined high-ranked habitat cores using the concept of landscape suitability prioritization. From these, we designed connectivity and corridors in two time-frames with the help of least-cost paths and circuit theories to predict the potential movement throughout the study area. We estimated that the overall core habitats for roe deer in the present and future periods are, respectively, around 1200 km² and 2600 km², corresponding to 2 and 4 percent of the whole area. This suggests that the habitat core will expand in the future as a result of climate change. Similarly, the connectivity among the cores will strengthen. We also conclude that the temperature-driven and anthropogenic variables significantly affect the distribution of roe deer in northern Iran. It is necessary that conservationists and managers consider the designed corridors in the present study while planning conservation strategies.     

中国东北虎栖息地分析与潜在生态廊道构建

东北虎（Panthera tigris altaica）是现存5个虎亚种中体型最大者,其作为全球生物多样性保护的旗舰物种,在维持健康生态系统功能中占据不可替代的重要地位。近几十年来,由于东北虎栖息地受到人类活动强烈干扰,致使栖息地破碎化,主要栖息地孤立分布,呈现岛状,天然生态廊道消失殆尽,东北虎的保护面临巨大挑战。因此,确定东北虎关键栖息地,构建与恢复东北虎栖息地之间的生态廊道十分必要。本研究运用专家模型结合东北虎栖息地选择规律和栖息地特征,综合分析植被类型、国家级与省级自然保护区分布、地形因子以及人为干扰因子共7个主要影响因子;通过层次分析法(AHP)获得各影响因子的相对权重值,运用加权线性方程获得了东北虎潜在适宜栖息地,并确定了东北虎核心分布区以及分布区间的综合代价值。通过廊道设计模型（Linkage mapper）得到东北虎核心栖息地间的潜在生态廊道。结果得到了21条东北虎潜在生态廊道,对打通国内零星分布区,特别是张广才岭-完达山-老爷岭之间的迁移通道、扩大东北虎生存空间具有现实指导意义。     

Multispecies assessment of core areas and connectivity of desert carnivores in central Iran

Aim

Central Iran is a priority area for biodiversity conservation, which is threatened by encroachment on core habitats and fragmentation by roads. The goal of this study was to identify core areas and connectivity corridors for a set of desert carnivores by predicting habitat suitability and calculating resistant kernel, factorial least‐cost path modelling and graph network indices.

Location

Iran.

Methods

We used an ensemble model (EM) of habitat suitability methods to predict the potential habitats of leopard, cheetah, caracal, wild cat, sand cat and grey wolf and used resistant kernel and factorial least‐cost path modelling to identify important core habitats and corridors between patches. We also used a graph network analysis to quantify the importance of each core patch to landscape connectivity.

Results

Potential habitats of the studied carnivores appeared to be strongly influenced by prey density, annual precipitation, topographical roughness, shrubland density and anthropogenic factors. Most of the core patches were covered by protected areas and no‐hunting areas. This may be attributed to the relatively high resistance outside protected areas leading to isolated occupied patches. Patch importance to connectivity was significantly correlated with patch extent, density of dispersing individuals and probability of occurrence in the core patch.

Main conclusions

Our findings revealed that prey abundance in core habitat is critically important, and has higher influence than habitat area per se. In addition, our analysis provided the first map of landscape connectivity for multiple species in Iran and revealed that conserving these species requires integrated landscape‐level management to reduce mortality risk and protect core areas and linkages among them. These results will assist the development of multispecies conservation strategies to protect core areas for carnivores.

     

Assessment of Habitat Fragmentation and Corridors for an Isolated Subspecies of the Sichuan Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis</Emphasis>

Understanding habitat quality and landscape connectivity and exploring corridors connecting habitat patches are crucial for conservation, particularly for species distributed among isolated populations. The Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus roxellana, is an Endangered primate species endemic to mountainous forests in China. Its easternmost distribution lies in the Shennongjia area, which harbors an isolated subspecies, R. roxellana hubeiensis. Unfortunately, it has experienced significant habitat loss, fragmentation, and dramatic population decline in recent decades, primarily due to increased human disturbance. To quantify habitat quality, identify suitable habitat patches, and detect possible linkages among these patches for R. roxellana hubeiensis, we conducted habitat suitability assessments and landscape connectivity analyses in the Shennongjia area based on a set of environmental factors. We created a habitat quality model and a movement cost surface for the Shennongjia area based on a habitat suitability index, graph theory, expert knowledge, field experience, and information from the literature. Our results show that suitable habitat for R. roxellana hubeiensis in Shennongjia is fragmented and limited, and that this is particularly true for highly suitable habitats. We detected six core habitat patches and six least-cost paths and corridors. Our study does not provide accurate distributions of the monkeys and their habitat use. However, it identifies the most feasible and traversable habitats and corridors, which should be conservation priorities for this subspecies, and provides valuable guidance for reevaluating habitat conservation plans.