The various behaviors of four Amur tigers in captivity were investigated in March from 1998 to 2001 in Harbin Zoo. The results showed that the behavior could be divided into 5 major types: moving, resting, sleeping, e...The various behaviors of four Amur tigers in captivity were investigated in March from 1998 to 2001 in Harbin Zoo. The results showed that the behavior could be divided into 5 major types: moving, resting, sleeping, eating and other behaviors (including drinking, urinating, grooming, playing, standing). Of all behavioral models, sleeping and moving behaviors alone accounted for 75.18% and were two major behavioral models of all behaviors. Resting, eating and other behaviors accounted for 24.82%. Apart from eating, one male and two female individuals have similar peak periods of 4 major behaviors (one peak period in the daytime, and one peak period at night), similar to that of wild Amur tiger. However, one female individual have two clear peak periods at night.展开更多
In modern wildlife ecological research,feces is the most common non-invasive source of DNA obtained in the field and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) technology based on microsatellite markers is used to mine genetic in...In modern wildlife ecological research,feces is the most common non-invasive source of DNA obtained in the field and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) technology based on microsatellite markers is used to mine genetic information contained within.This is especially the case for endangered species.However,there are risks associated with this genotyping method because of the poor quality of fecal DNA.In this study,we assessed genotyping risk across 12 microsatellite loci commonly used in previous tiger studies using blood and fecal DNA from captive Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica).To begin,we developed an index termed the accumulated matching rate of genotypes(R)between positive DNA(blood samples) and fecal DNA to explore the correct genotyping probability of a certain microsatellite locus.We found that different microsatelliteloci had different genotyping risks and required different PCR amplification protocols.The genotyping errors we detected altered population genetic parameters and potentially impact subsequent analyses.Based on these findings,we recommend that:(1) four loci(E7,Fca094,Pti007 and Pti010) of 12 loci are not suitable for Amur tiger genetic research because of a low Rand difficulty reaching a stable status;(2) the Rof the 12 microsatellite loci plateaued differently,and considering limited budgets,amplification times of some loci could be increased when using fecal samples; and(3) future genetic analysis of wild Amur tigers should be corrected by genotyping error rates(1-R).展开更多
Prey availability is one of the principal drivers of tiger distribution and abundance.Therefore,formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger diet.We used scat analysis in combi...Prey availability is one of the principal drivers of tiger distribution and abundance.Therefore,formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger diet.We used scat analysis in combination with data on the abundance of several prey species to estimate Amur tiger diet and preference at 3 sites in the Russian Far East.We also examined the effect of pseudoreplication on estimates of tiger diet.We collected 770 scats across the 3 sites.Similar to previous studies,we found that tigers primarily preyed on medium to large ungulates,with wild boar,roe,sika and red deer collectively comprising 86.7%of total biomass consumed on average.According to Jacobs’index,tigers preferred wild boar,and avoided sika deer.Variation in preference indices derived from these scat analyses compared to indices derived from kill data appear to be due to adjustments in biomass intake when sex–age of a killed individual is known:a component missing from scat data.Pseudoreplication(multiple samples collected from a single kill site)also skewed results derived from scat analyses.Scat analysis still appears useful in providing insight into the diets of carnivores when the full spectrum of prey species needs to be identified,or when sample sizes from kill data are not sufficient.When sample sizes of kill data are large(as is now possible with GPS-collared animals),kill data adjusted by sex–age categories probably provides the most accurate estimates of prey biomass composition.Our results provide further confirmation of the centrality of medium ungulates,in particular wild boar,to Amur tiger diet,and suggest that the protection of this group of species is critical to Amur tiger conservation.展开更多
As an apex predator the Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)could play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of forest ecosystems in Northeast Asia.Due to habitat loss and harvest over the past century,tige...As an apex predator the Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)could play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of forest ecosystems in Northeast Asia.Due to habitat loss and harvest over the past century,tigers rapidly declined in China and are now restricted to the Russian Far East and bordering habitat in nearby China.To facilitate restoration of the tiger in its historical range,reliable estimates of population size are essential to assess effectiveness of conservation interventions.Here we used camera trap data collected in Hunchun National Nature Reserve from April to June 2013 and 2014 to estimate tiger density and abundance using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian spatially explicit capture-recapture(SECR)methods.A minimum of 8 individuals were detected in both sample periods and the documentation of marking behavior and reproduction suggests the presence of a resident population.Using Bayesian SECR modeling within the 11400 km2 state space,density estimates were 0.33 and 0.40 individuals/100 km^(2) in 2013 and 2014,respectively,corresponding to an estimated abundance of 38 and 45 animals for this transboundary Sino-Russian population.In a maximum likelihood framework,we estimated densities of 0.30 and 0.24 individuals/100 km^(2) corresponding to abundances of 34 and 27,in 2013 and 2014,respectively.These density estimates are comparable to other published estimates for resident Amur tiger populations in the Russian Far East.This study reveals promising signs of tiger recovery in Northeast China,and demonstrates the importance of connectivity between the Russian and Chinese populations for recovering tigers in Northeast China.展开更多
The automatic individual identification of Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)is important for population monitoring and making effective conservation strategies.Most existing research primarily relies on manual iden...The automatic individual identification of Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)is important for population monitoring and making effective conservation strategies.Most existing research primarily relies on manual identifi-cation,which does not scale well to large datasets.In this paper,the deep convolution neural networks algorithm is constructed to implement the automatic individual identification for large numbers of Amur tiger images.The experimental data were obtained from 40 Amur tigers in Tieling Guaipo Tiger Park,China.The number of images collected from each tiger was approximately 200,and a total of 8277 images were obtained.The experiments were carried out on both the left and right side of body.Our results suggested that the recognition accuracy rate of left and right sides are 90.48%and 93.5%,respectively.The accuracy of our network has achieved the similar level compared to other state of the art networks like LeNet,ResNet34,and ZF_Net.The running time is much shorter than that of other networks.Consequently,this study can provide a new approach on automatic individual identification technology in the case of the Amur tiger.展开更多
A small,isolated Amur tiger population ranges across the southwest Primorskii Krai region in Russia and Hunchun region in China.Many individuals,with“dual nationality,”cross the border frequently.Formulating effecti...A small,isolated Amur tiger population ranges across the southwest Primorskii Krai region in Russia and Hunchun region in China.Many individuals,with“dual nationality,”cross the border frequently.Formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger food requirements in both countries.While the diets of tigers ranging in Russia is clearly understood,little is known of the tigers’feeding habits in China..We used scat analysis combined with data on the abundance of 4 prey species to examine Amur tiger diet and prey preferences in Hunchun.We examined 53 tiger scat samples from 2011 to 2016 and found that tigers preyed on 12 species(11 species in winter),4 of which were domestic animals with 33.58%biomass contribution;this was the first record of Amur tigers eating lynx in this area.Tigers showed a strong preference for wild boar(Jacobs index:+0.849),which were also the most frequently consumed prey,and a strong avoidance of roe deer(Jacobs index:–0.693).On the Russian side,domestic animals(just dog)were rarely found in tiger scat,and tigers did not show strong avoidance of roe deer,but of sika deer.We also found red deer footprints during winter surveys and that tigers ate red deer on the Chinese side,while there was no record of red deer feeding on the Russian side.Reducing or eliminating human disturbance,such as grazing,is essential to recovering tiger prey and habitat in this area and the Sino–Russian joint ungulate annual survey is indispensable for prey estimates of this small,isolated Amur tiger population.展开更多
To better understand the spatial structure of Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)at the southern edge of their range we fitted 14 tigers(6♀♀and 8♂♂)with 15 GPS-Argos collars between 2008 and 2011 in 2 study sites...To better understand the spatial structure of Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)at the southern edge of their range we fitted 14 tigers(6♀♀and 8♂♂)with 15 GPS-Argos collars between 2008 and 2011 in 2 study sites:the Ussuriskii Reserve of southern Sikhote-Alin and the Land of the Leopard National Park in southwest Primorye,Russian Far East.Fixed kernel estimates of male home ranges were larger than those of female home ranges(P<0.05[mean 95%fixed kernel♀=401±205 km2;mean 95%fixed kernel♂=778±267 km2]).The home range size of females varied greatly,but on average was similar to estimates derived from earlier work further north.Low overlap of adjacent home ranges suggested that females retained exclusive territories.Real core areas of females overlapped only slightly,and remained stable over multiple years.The home ranges of adult males were smaller than those of males to the north,and in contrast to previous studies,high overlap among males indicated the absence of territoriality.Nonetheless,real core areas of males did not overlap,suggesting some spatial separation.In comparison to other tiger populations and other areas of the Russian Far East,the sex ratio in our 2 study areas was highly skewed towards males.We believe this skewed sex ratio resulted in the dissolution of territoriality of males due to an inability to defend individual females,with males resorting to scramble competition for mates.Continued monitoring of these sites to determine whether shifts in the sex ratio might result in a return to male territoriality would provide confirmation of our tentative hypothesis.展开更多
In 2010,the world’s tiger(Panthera tigris)range countries agreed to the goal of doubling tiger numbers over 12 years,but whether such an increase is biologically feasible has not been assessed.Long-term monitoring of...In 2010,the world’s tiger(Panthera tigris)range countries agreed to the goal of doubling tiger numbers over 12 years,but whether such an increase is biologically feasible has not been assessed.Long-term monitoring of tigers in Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik(SABZ),Russia provided an opportunity to determine growth rates of a recovering population.A 41-year growth phase was followed by a rapid decline in tiger numbers.Annual growth rates during the growth phase averaged 4.6%,beginning near 10%in the earliest years but quickly dropping below 5%.Sex ratio(females per male)mirrored growth rates,declining as population size increased.The rapid decline from 2009 to 2012 appeared to be tied to multiple factors,including poaching,severe winters and disease.Reproductive indicators of this population are similar to those of Bengal tiger populations,suggesting that growth rates may be similar.These results suggest that,first,tiger populations likely in general grow slowly:3–5%yearly increases are realistic and larger growth rates are likely only when populations are highly depressed,mortality rates are low and prey populations are high relative to numbers of adult females.Second,while more research is needed,it should not be assumed that tiger populations with high prey densities will necessarily grow more quickly than populations with low prey densities.Third,while growth is slow,decline can be rapid.Fourth,because declines can happen so quickly,there is a constant need to monitor populations and be ready to respond with appropriate and timely conservation interventions if tiger populations are to remain secure.Finally,an average annual growth rate across all tiger populations of 6%,required to reach the Global Tiger Initiative’s goal of doubling tiger numbers in 12 years,is a noble but unlikely scenario.展开更多
A healthy population of captive Amur tigers might assist recovery of the wild population in Northeast China if individuals were properly prepared and considered suitable for release in the wild.We analyzed the breedin...A healthy population of captive Amur tigers might assist recovery of the wild population in Northeast China if individuals were properly prepared and considered suitable for release in the wild.We analyzed the breeding records of 68 female Amur tigers from 1995 to 2010 in the Hengdaohezi Felid Breeding Center of China and compared the reproductive parameters of this population to wild female Amur tigers.We found that the reproductive parameters of the captive population(the age of first parturition,length of gestation and litter survival rate)were not significantly different from those of wild Amur tigers.Differences in birth date and litter size between wild and captive populations may be caused by management protocols for the captive population or insufficient field data from the wild population.Reproductive parameters of females giving birth after losing a litter were similar to parameters of females that did not lose a litter,except for birth date.These results provide no indication of major problems in using captive females for a breeding program for release of cubs into the wild,but additional information is still needed to assess their suitability.展开更多
We used molecular genetic analyses to noninvasively identify individual Amur tigers and define subpopulations of tigers in the Russian Far East.We identified 63 individuals after genotyping 256 feces,7 hair and 11 blo...We used molecular genetic analyses to noninvasively identify individual Amur tigers and define subpopulations of tigers in the Russian Far East.We identified 63 individuals after genotyping 256 feces,7 hair and 11 blood samples collected within southern,central and northern Sikhote-Alin,as well as Southwest Primorye.Analysis of nuclear DNA at 9 microsatellite loci demonstrated greater genetic similarity between animals from southern and northern Sikhote-Alin(some 500 km apart)than between animals from Ussuriskii State Nature Reserve and Southwest Primorye(less than 10 km apart at their nearest point),suggesting that a true barrier exists preventing movements of tigers between Southwest Primorye and the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains.展开更多
The rapid explosion of human populations and the associated development of human-dominated landscapes have drastically reduced and fragmented habitat for tigers(Panthera tigris)and leopards(Panthera pardus)across Asia...The rapid explosion of human populations and the associated development of human-dominated landscapes have drastically reduced and fragmented habitat for tigers(Panthera tigris)and leopards(Panthera pardus)across Asia,resulting in multiple small populations.However,Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)habitat in Russia has remained largely interconnected,except for a break between tigers in southwest Primorye and the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains.This habitat patch in southwest Primorye also retains the last population of Amur leopards(Panthera pardus orientalis).Genetic differentiation of tigers in southwest Primorye and the Sikhote-Alin Mountains along with survey data suggest that habitat fragmentation is limiting movement of tigers and leopards across the Razdolnaya River basin.We looked at historical and recent survey data on tigers and leopards and mapped existing cover types to examine land-use patterns of both large felids and humans in the development strip along the Razdolnaya River.We then used least-cost distance analyses to identify the most effective potential corridor to retain connectivity for large felids between Land of the Leopard National Park and Ussuriskii Zapovednik(Reserve).We identified a single potential corridor that still exists with a total distance of 62.5 km from Land of the Leopard National Park to Ussuriskii Zapovednik,mostly(93%)through forested habitat.We recommend formal recognition of a Razdolnaya ecological corridor and provide specific recommendations for each of 3 proposed management sections.展开更多
Anthropogenic impacts are the primary threats to Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)and their habitat.Villagers living in proximity to tigers tend to view them negatively and,often,as a source of revenue on black mar...Anthropogenic impacts are the primary threats to Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)and their habitat.Villagers living in proximity to tigers tend to view them negatively and,often,as a source of revenue on black markets.We aim to reduce human–tiger conflict by working with young students of Ternei County in the heart of tiger habitat in Primorskii Krai(Province).To inform and influence Ternei County’s future decision-makers,we developed“Safe Conduct”,a year-long education program held in 6 villages,culminating in a multi-school conference.We tested the efficacy of Safe Conduct as a potential model for tiger conservation educational programs.We measured levels of student knowledge about tiger ecology,their attitude towards tigers,and their willingness to engage in tiger conservation activites prior to,immediately after and 6 months following the completion of our program.Results supported the fundamental premise of Safe Conduct that knowledge and attitude towards tigers are correlated.Knowledge of tiger ecology and attitude towards tigers increased by the project’s completion;both remained high after 6 months.However,commitment to participation in conservation efforts rose temporarily post-program and then dropped.Results varied by village.We recommend that the reasons for the high performance measures of students in 2 villages be investigated,and that lessons learned be applied to villages that underperformed.Safe Conduct represents a potential model for environmental education programs in Ternei County and elsewhere to educate future generations,to eventually develop a strong commitment to Amur tiger conservation at the community level.展开更多
Although considerable conservation resources have been committed to develop and use law enforcement monitoring and management tools such as SMART,measures of success are ill-defined and,to date,few reports detail resu...Although considerable conservation resources have been committed to develop and use law enforcement monitoring and management tools such as SMART,measures of success are ill-defined and,to date,few reports detail results post-implementation.Here,we present 4 case studies from protected areas with Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)in Russia,in which indicators of success were defined and evaluated at each.The ultimate goal was an increase in tiger numbers to 1 individual/100 km^(2)at each site.We predicted that improvements in law enforcement effectiveness would be followed by increases in prey numbers and,subsequently,tiger numbers.We used short-term and long-term indicators of success,including:(i)patrol team effort and effectiveness;(ii)catch per unit effort indicators(to measure reductions in threats);and(iii)changes in target species numbers.In addition to implementing a monitoring system,we focused on improving law enforcement management using an adaptive management process.Over 4 years,we noted clear increases in patrol effort and a partial reduction in threats.Although we did not detect clear trends in ungulate numbers,tiger populations remained stable or increased,suggesting that poaching of tigers may be more limiting than prey depletion.Increased effectiveness is needed before a clear reduction in threats can be noted,and more time is needed before detecting responses in target populations.Nonetheless,delineation of concrete goals and indicators of success provide a means of evaluating progress and weaknesses.Such monitoring should be a central component of law enforcement strategies for protected areas.展开更多
So far,there has been no safe and convenient method to weigh the largefierce animals,like Amur tigers.To address this problem,we built models to predict the body weight of Amur tigers based on the fact that body weight...So far,there has been no safe and convenient method to weigh the largefierce animals,like Amur tigers.To address this problem,we built models to predict the body weight of Amur tigers based on the fact that body weight is proportional to body measurements or age.Using the method of body measurements,we extracted the body measurements from 4 different kinds of the lateral body image of tigers,that is,total lateral image,central lateral image,ellipsefitting image,and rectanglefitting image,and then we respectively used artificial neural network(ANN)and power regression model to analyze the predictive relationships between body weight and body measurements.Our results demonstrated that,among all ANN models,the model built with rectanglefitting image had the smallest mean square error.Comparatively,we screened power regression models which had the smallest Akakai information criteria(AIC).In addition,using the method of age,wefitted nonlinear regression models for the relationship between body weight and age and found that,for male tigers,logistic model had the smallest AIC.For female tigers,Gompertz model had the smallest AIC.Consequently,this study could be applied to estimate body weight of captive,or even wild,Amur tigers safely and conveniently,helping to monitor individual health and growth of the Amur tiger populations.展开更多
基金This paper was supported by the National Forestry Bureau (97-27).
文摘The various behaviors of four Amur tigers in captivity were investigated in March from 1998 to 2001 in Harbin Zoo. The results showed that the behavior could be divided into 5 major types: moving, resting, sleeping, eating and other behaviors (including drinking, urinating, grooming, playing, standing). Of all behavioral models, sleeping and moving behaviors alone accounted for 75.18% and were two major behavioral models of all behaviors. Resting, eating and other behaviors accounted for 24.82%. Apart from eating, one male and two female individuals have similar peak periods of 4 major behaviors (one peak period in the daytime, and one peak period at night), similar to that of wild Amur tiger. However, one female individual have two clear peak periods at night.
基金financially supported by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(2572014EA06)National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC 31572285)Study on Resource Survey Technology for Tiger and Amur Leopard Population(State Forestry Administration)
文摘In modern wildlife ecological research,feces is the most common non-invasive source of DNA obtained in the field and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) technology based on microsatellite markers is used to mine genetic information contained within.This is especially the case for endangered species.However,there are risks associated with this genotyping method because of the poor quality of fecal DNA.In this study,we assessed genotyping risk across 12 microsatellite loci commonly used in previous tiger studies using blood and fecal DNA from captive Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica).To begin,we developed an index termed the accumulated matching rate of genotypes(R)between positive DNA(blood samples) and fecal DNA to explore the correct genotyping probability of a certain microsatellite locus.We found that different microsatelliteloci had different genotyping risks and required different PCR amplification protocols.The genotyping errors we detected altered population genetic parameters and potentially impact subsequent analyses.Based on these findings,we recommend that:(1) four loci(E7,Fca094,Pti007 and Pti010) of 12 loci are not suitable for Amur tiger genetic research because of a low Rand difficulty reaching a stable status;(2) the Rof the 12 microsatellite loci plateaued differently,and considering limited budgets,amplification times of some loci could be increased when using fecal samples; and(3) future genetic analysis of wild Amur tigers should be corrected by genotyping error rates(1-R).
基金We thank the Save the Tiger Fund(a joint project of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Exxon Mobile Corporation),the Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenburg Foundation,the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Tiger Rhino Conservation Fund,the Disney Wildlife Fund,ALTA,the Robertson Foundation,the Starr Foundation,the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Zoological Society of London for financial support to conduct this work.We thank A.A.Laptev and A.I.Myslenkov of Lazovskii State Nature Zapovednik,A.A.Astafiev and Y.Pimenov of Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik,and A.Borodin of the Land of Leopard National Park for logistical and administrative support.We thank M.E.Borisenko,A.Bezrukov,V.Kolesnikov,I.Nikolaev,B.Schleyer,N.Rybin,A.Rybin,A.Kostyria,I.Seryodkin,V.Melnikov,A.Saphonov,V.Schukin,V.Storozhuk and E.Gizhko for assistance with data collection,and Paul Kapfer for assistance with data analyses.
文摘Prey availability is one of the principal drivers of tiger distribution and abundance.Therefore,formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger diet.We used scat analysis in combination with data on the abundance of several prey species to estimate Amur tiger diet and preference at 3 sites in the Russian Far East.We also examined the effect of pseudoreplication on estimates of tiger diet.We collected 770 scats across the 3 sites.Similar to previous studies,we found that tigers primarily preyed on medium to large ungulates,with wild boar,roe,sika and red deer collectively comprising 86.7%of total biomass consumed on average.According to Jacobs’index,tigers preferred wild boar,and avoided sika deer.Variation in preference indices derived from these scat analyses compared to indices derived from kill data appear to be due to adjustments in biomass intake when sex–age of a killed individual is known:a component missing from scat data.Pseudoreplication(multiple samples collected from a single kill site)also skewed results derived from scat analyses.Scat analysis still appears useful in providing insight into the diets of carnivores when the full spectrum of prey species needs to be identified,or when sample sizes from kill data are not sufficient.When sample sizes of kill data are large(as is now possible with GPS-collared animals),kill data adjusted by sex–age categories probably provides the most accurate estimates of prey biomass composition.Our results provide further confirmation of the centrality of medium ungulates,in particular wild boar,to Amur tiger diet,and suggest that the protection of this group of species is critical to Amur tiger conservation.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China(31270567,31210103911,31421063,31200410 and 31470566)the National Scientific and Technical Foundation Project of China(2012FY112000).
文摘As an apex predator the Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)could play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of forest ecosystems in Northeast Asia.Due to habitat loss and harvest over the past century,tigers rapidly declined in China and are now restricted to the Russian Far East and bordering habitat in nearby China.To facilitate restoration of the tiger in its historical range,reliable estimates of population size are essential to assess effectiveness of conservation interventions.Here we used camera trap data collected in Hunchun National Nature Reserve from April to June 2013 and 2014 to estimate tiger density and abundance using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian spatially explicit capture-recapture(SECR)methods.A minimum of 8 individuals were detected in both sample periods and the documentation of marking behavior and reproduction suggests the presence of a resident population.Using Bayesian SECR modeling within the 11400 km2 state space,density estimates were 0.33 and 0.40 individuals/100 km^(2) in 2013 and 2014,respectively,corresponding to an estimated abundance of 38 and 45 animals for this transboundary Sino-Russian population.In a maximum likelihood framework,we estimated densities of 0.30 and 0.24 individuals/100 km^(2) corresponding to abundances of 34 and 27,in 2013 and 2014,respectively.These density estimates are comparable to other published estimates for resident Amur tiger populations in the Russian Far East.This study reveals promising signs of tiger recovery in Northeast China,and demonstrates the importance of connectivity between the Russian and Chinese populations for recovering tigers in Northeast China.
基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572018BC07,2572017PZ14)the Heilongjiang postdoctoral project fund project(LBH-Z18003)+2 种基金Biodiversity Survey,Monitoring and Assessment Project of Ministry of Ecology and Environment,China(2019HB2096001006)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC 31872241,31572285)the Individual Identification Technological Research on Camera-trapping images of Amur tigers(NFGA 2017).
文摘The automatic individual identification of Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)is important for population monitoring and making effective conservation strategies.Most existing research primarily relies on manual identifi-cation,which does not scale well to large datasets.In this paper,the deep convolution neural networks algorithm is constructed to implement the automatic individual identification for large numbers of Amur tiger images.The experimental data were obtained from 40 Amur tigers in Tieling Guaipo Tiger Park,China.The number of images collected from each tiger was approximately 200,and a total of 8277 images were obtained.The experiments were carried out on both the left and right side of body.Our results suggested that the recognition accuracy rate of left and right sides are 90.48%and 93.5%,respectively.The accuracy of our network has achieved the similar level compared to other state of the art networks like LeNet,ResNet34,and ZF_Net.The running time is much shorter than that of other networks.Consequently,this study can provide a new approach on automatic individual identification technology in the case of the Amur tiger.
基金This study was funded by the National Key Programme of Research and Development,Ministry of Science and Technology(2016YFC0503200)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572014EA06,2572016AA10)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant ID 31272336,31572285)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project(2015M581416,LBH-Z14017)2 projects of the State Forestry Administration,entitled“Study on Tiger and Amur Leopard Population Resources Monitoring Technology”and“Survey Standard Compiling and Information Summary of Amur Leopard and Tiger Population and Habitat.”。
文摘A small,isolated Amur tiger population ranges across the southwest Primorskii Krai region in Russia and Hunchun region in China.Many individuals,with“dual nationality,”cross the border frequently.Formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger food requirements in both countries.While the diets of tigers ranging in Russia is clearly understood,little is known of the tigers’feeding habits in China..We used scat analysis combined with data on the abundance of 4 prey species to examine Amur tiger diet and prey preferences in Hunchun.We examined 53 tiger scat samples from 2011 to 2016 and found that tigers preyed on 12 species(11 species in winter),4 of which were domestic animals with 33.58%biomass contribution;this was the first record of Amur tigers eating lynx in this area.Tigers showed a strong preference for wild boar(Jacobs index:+0.849),which were also the most frequently consumed prey,and a strong avoidance of roe deer(Jacobs index:–0.693).On the Russian side,domestic animals(just dog)were rarely found in tiger scat,and tigers did not show strong avoidance of roe deer,but of sika deer.We also found red deer footprints during winter surveys and that tigers ate red deer on the Chinese side,while there was no record of red deer feeding on the Russian side.Reducing or eliminating human disturbance,such as grazing,is essential to recovering tiger prey and habitat in this area and the Sino–Russian joint ungulate annual survey is indispensable for prey estimates of this small,isolated Amur tiger population.
基金This study was part of the long-term“Program of Studying the Amur Tiger in the Russian Far East”within the framework of the Permanent Expedition of RAS for the Study of Animals Listed of the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and Other Highly Important Animals of the Russian Fauna as well as within the Siberian Tiger Project of the Wildlife Conservation Society(WCS-Russia).The authors are grateful to the staff of the V.L.Komarov“Ussuriskii”State Nature Reserve,FEB RAS and the Land of the Leopard National Park for fruitful support in data collection,to Dr Andrey D.Poyarkov from the A.N.Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution,RAS and to Mr Alexander L.Salman for discussion and technical support.This research was made within the framework of the Program for the Study of the Amur Tiger in the Russian Far East and was supported by the Russian Geography Society。
文摘To better understand the spatial structure of Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)at the southern edge of their range we fitted 14 tigers(6♀♀and 8♂♂)with 15 GPS-Argos collars between 2008 and 2011 in 2 study sites:the Ussuriskii Reserve of southern Sikhote-Alin and the Land of the Leopard National Park in southwest Primorye,Russian Far East.Fixed kernel estimates of male home ranges were larger than those of female home ranges(P<0.05[mean 95%fixed kernel♀=401±205 km2;mean 95%fixed kernel♂=778±267 km2]).The home range size of females varied greatly,but on average was similar to estimates derived from earlier work further north.Low overlap of adjacent home ranges suggested that females retained exclusive territories.Real core areas of females overlapped only slightly,and remained stable over multiple years.The home ranges of adult males were smaller than those of males to the north,and in contrast to previous studies,high overlap among males indicated the absence of territoriality.Nonetheless,real core areas of males did not overlap,suggesting some spatial separation.In comparison to other tiger populations and other areas of the Russian Far East,the sex ratio in our 2 study areas was highly skewed towards males.We believe this skewed sex ratio resulted in the dissolution of territoriality of males due to an inability to defend individual females,with males resorting to scramble competition for mates.Continued monitoring of these sites to determine whether shifts in the sex ratio might result in a return to male territoriality would provide confirmation of our tentative hypothesis.
基金We thank AA Astafiev and DY Gorshkov(former and current directors of SABZ),M.N.Gromyko,Y.Potikha and Y.Pimenova(former Assistant Directors of Science of SABZ),H.B.Quigley and M.G.Hornocker(Hornocker Wildlife Institute)and the Wildlife Conservation Society for logistical,administrative and financial support.Zapovednik scientists,forest guards,and staff of the Siberian Tiger Project(I.Nikolaev,B.Schleyer,N.Rybin,A.Rybin,A.Kostyria,I.Seryodkin,V.Melnikov,A.Saphonov,V.Schukin and E.Gizhko)contributed time and knowledge to the annual surveys.Funding was provided by the Liz Claiborne and the Art Ortenberg Foundation,the Wildlife Conservation Society,the Columbus Zoo,the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,the Save the Tiger Fund,the US Fish and Wildlife’s Tiger Rhinoceros Conservation Fund,the 21st Century Tiger,the ALTA Fund,the Disney Wildlife Fund,Gordon Dyal,Merrit Paulson,the Turner Foundation,Richard King Mellon,Avocet,the Robertson Foundation,the Starr Foundation and the Goldman Environmental Foundation.
文摘In 2010,the world’s tiger(Panthera tigris)range countries agreed to the goal of doubling tiger numbers over 12 years,but whether such an increase is biologically feasible has not been assessed.Long-term monitoring of tigers in Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik(SABZ),Russia provided an opportunity to determine growth rates of a recovering population.A 41-year growth phase was followed by a rapid decline in tiger numbers.Annual growth rates during the growth phase averaged 4.6%,beginning near 10%in the earliest years but quickly dropping below 5%.Sex ratio(females per male)mirrored growth rates,declining as population size increased.The rapid decline from 2009 to 2012 appeared to be tied to multiple factors,including poaching,severe winters and disease.Reproductive indicators of this population are similar to those of Bengal tiger populations,suggesting that growth rates may be similar.These results suggest that,first,tiger populations likely in general grow slowly:3–5%yearly increases are realistic and larger growth rates are likely only when populations are highly depressed,mortality rates are low and prey populations are high relative to numbers of adult females.Second,while more research is needed,it should not be assumed that tiger populations with high prey densities will necessarily grow more quickly than populations with low prey densities.Third,while growth is slow,decline can be rapid.Fourth,because declines can happen so quickly,there is a constant need to monitor populations and be ready to respond with appropriate and timely conservation interventions if tiger populations are to remain secure.Finally,an average annual growth rate across all tiger populations of 6%,required to reach the Global Tiger Initiative’s goal of doubling tiger numbers in 12 years,is a noble but unlikely scenario.
基金We are grateful for support provided through the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(2572014EA06 and 2572014AA14),the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC31272336,31572285)and the"Study on Resource Survey Technology for Tiger and Amur Leopard Population"and"Standard of Tiger and Amur Leopard Population and Habitat Survey and Data Summarization"(State Forestry Administration).
文摘A healthy population of captive Amur tigers might assist recovery of the wild population in Northeast China if individuals were properly prepared and considered suitable for release in the wild.We analyzed the breeding records of 68 female Amur tigers from 1995 to 2010 in the Hengdaohezi Felid Breeding Center of China and compared the reproductive parameters of this population to wild female Amur tigers.We found that the reproductive parameters of the captive population(the age of first parturition,length of gestation and litter survival rate)were not significantly different from those of wild Amur tigers.Differences in birth date and litter size between wild and captive populations may be caused by management protocols for the captive population or insufficient field data from the wild population.Reproductive parameters of females giving birth after losing a litter were similar to parameters of females that did not lose a litter,except for birth date.These results provide no indication of major problems in using captive females for a breeding program for release of cubs into the wild,but additional information is still needed to assess their suitability.
文摘We used molecular genetic analyses to noninvasively identify individual Amur tigers and define subpopulations of tigers in the Russian Far East.We identified 63 individuals after genotyping 256 feces,7 hair and 11 blood samples collected within southern,central and northern Sikhote-Alin,as well as Southwest Primorye.Analysis of nuclear DNA at 9 microsatellite loci demonstrated greater genetic similarity between animals from southern and northern Sikhote-Alin(some 500 km apart)than between animals from Ussuriskii State Nature Reserve and Southwest Primorye(less than 10 km apart at their nearest point),suggesting that a true barrier exists preventing movements of tigers between Southwest Primorye and the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains.
基金We thank the authors and the coordinators of surveys and monitoring programs for permission to use the data for this study,including D.G.Pikunov,V.V.Aramilev,M.N.Litvinov and others.Thanks to Y.Darman for background information on earlier conservation planning in this region.Support was provided by the Wildlife Conservation Society,the Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenburg Foundation,and the Pacific Institute of Geography.In addition,this study is part of the Program of the Amur Tiger Research in the Russian Far East,which is conducted by the Permanent Expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences for study of Russian Red Data Book animals and other key animals of Russian fauna,and was supported by the Russian Geographical Society and a Grant from the President of the Russia Federation(No MK-4313.2014.4).
文摘The rapid explosion of human populations and the associated development of human-dominated landscapes have drastically reduced and fragmented habitat for tigers(Panthera tigris)and leopards(Panthera pardus)across Asia,resulting in multiple small populations.However,Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)habitat in Russia has remained largely interconnected,except for a break between tigers in southwest Primorye and the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains.This habitat patch in southwest Primorye also retains the last population of Amur leopards(Panthera pardus orientalis).Genetic differentiation of tigers in southwest Primorye and the Sikhote-Alin Mountains along with survey data suggest that habitat fragmentation is limiting movement of tigers and leopards across the Razdolnaya River basin.We looked at historical and recent survey data on tigers and leopards and mapped existing cover types to examine land-use patterns of both large felids and humans in the development strip along the Razdolnaya River.We then used least-cost distance analyses to identify the most effective potential corridor to retain connectivity for large felids between Land of the Leopard National Park and Ussuriskii Zapovednik(Reserve).We identified a single potential corridor that still exists with a total distance of 62.5 km from Land of the Leopard National Park to Ussuriskii Zapovednik,mostly(93%)through forested habitat.We recommend formal recognition of a Razdolnaya ecological corridor and provide specific recommendations for each of 3 proposed management sections.
基金This program was conducted as a joint effort by the Uragus Association,the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve and the Wildlife Conservation Society(WCS-Russia),with a grant from the Conservation Leadership Programme(CLP).We are grateful to the staff of WCS-Russia,especially Director Dale Miquelle,for advice and consultation.We extend our gratitude to the Phoenix Fund,in particular Alexander Vrisch,for working with us in visiting schools and holding seminars for teachers.Special thanks to the Sikhote-Alin Reserve’s Scientific Division and Environmental Education Division,the District Public Education Division in Ternei,the district administration,and numerous volunteers for their immense help in arranging the youth festival.Our thanks also goes to the CLP team for the support and assistance they provided in addition to funding our project.
文摘Anthropogenic impacts are the primary threats to Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)and their habitat.Villagers living in proximity to tigers tend to view them negatively and,often,as a source of revenue on black markets.We aim to reduce human–tiger conflict by working with young students of Ternei County in the heart of tiger habitat in Primorskii Krai(Province).To inform and influence Ternei County’s future decision-makers,we developed“Safe Conduct”,a year-long education program held in 6 villages,culminating in a multi-school conference.We tested the efficacy of Safe Conduct as a potential model for tiger conservation educational programs.We measured levels of student knowledge about tiger ecology,their attitude towards tigers,and their willingness to engage in tiger conservation activites prior to,immediately after and 6 months following the completion of our program.Results supported the fundamental premise of Safe Conduct that knowledge and attitude towards tigers are correlated.Knowledge of tiger ecology and attitude towards tigers increased by the project’s completion;both remained high after 6 months.However,commitment to participation in conservation efforts rose temporarily post-program and then dropped.Results varied by village.We recommend that the reasons for the high performance measures of students in 2 villages be investigated,and that lessons learned be applied to villages that underperformed.Safe Conduct represents a potential model for environmental education programs in Ternei County and elsewhere to educate future generations,to eventually develop a strong commitment to Amur tiger conservation at the community level.
基金We thank the Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation,the North American Association of Zoos and Aquariums,the Disney Conservation Fund,Feld Entertainment,the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation,the Phoenix Fund,the Tigris Foundation,the United States Agency for International Development(USAIDAssociate Award#118-A-00-11-00007-00)+1 种基金the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s Rhinoceros and Tiger Fund(grant numbers F10AP00399 and F14AP00659)the Columbus Zoo and the Zoological Society of London for their financial support of the SMART program in Russia.We are grateful to Yevgeny Stoma for trial testing the collection of data for the LEM program,and we thank the staff and directors of Lazovsky State Zapovednik,Land of the Leopard National Park,Zov Tigra National Park and Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik for agreeing to participate in this program and for their efforts to make SMART a success.
文摘Although considerable conservation resources have been committed to develop and use law enforcement monitoring and management tools such as SMART,measures of success are ill-defined and,to date,few reports detail results post-implementation.Here,we present 4 case studies from protected areas with Amur tigers(Panthera tigris altaica)in Russia,in which indicators of success were defined and evaluated at each.The ultimate goal was an increase in tiger numbers to 1 individual/100 km^(2)at each site.We predicted that improvements in law enforcement effectiveness would be followed by increases in prey numbers and,subsequently,tiger numbers.We used short-term and long-term indicators of success,including:(i)patrol team effort and effectiveness;(ii)catch per unit effort indicators(to measure reductions in threats);and(iii)changes in target species numbers.In addition to implementing a monitoring system,we focused on improving law enforcement management using an adaptive management process.Over 4 years,we noted clear increases in patrol effort and a partial reduction in threats.Although we did not detect clear trends in ungulate numbers,tiger populations remained stable or increased,suggesting that poaching of tigers may be more limiting than prey depletion.Increased effectiveness is needed before a clear reduction in threats can be noted,and more time is needed before detecting responses in target populations.Nonetheless,delineation of concrete goals and indicators of success provide a means of evaluating progress and weaknesses.Such monitoring should be a central component of law enforcement strategies for protected areas.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC31872241 and 31702031)the National Key Programme of Research and Development,the Ministry of Science and Technology(2016YFC0503200)+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572017PZ14 and 2572020BC05)the Biodiversity Survey,Monitoring and Assessment Project of Ministry of Ecology and EnvironEnvironment,China(2019HB2096001006)the Heilongjiang postdoctoral project fund(LBH-Z18003).
文摘So far,there has been no safe and convenient method to weigh the largefierce animals,like Amur tigers.To address this problem,we built models to predict the body weight of Amur tigers based on the fact that body weight is proportional to body measurements or age.Using the method of body measurements,we extracted the body measurements from 4 different kinds of the lateral body image of tigers,that is,total lateral image,central lateral image,ellipsefitting image,and rectanglefitting image,and then we respectively used artificial neural network(ANN)and power regression model to analyze the predictive relationships between body weight and body measurements.Our results demonstrated that,among all ANN models,the model built with rectanglefitting image had the smallest mean square error.Comparatively,we screened power regression models which had the smallest Akakai information criteria(AIC).In addition,using the method of age,wefitted nonlinear regression models for the relationship between body weight and age and found that,for male tigers,logistic model had the smallest AIC.For female tigers,Gompertz model had the smallest AIC.Consequently,this study could be applied to estimate body weight of captive,or even wild,Amur tigers safely and conveniently,helping to monitor individual health and growth of the Amur tiger populations.
