The Himalaya region of Nepal provides a habitat for the endangered snow leopard(Panthera uncia)and its principal prey species,the blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur).The aim of this study was to describe the habitat,the distr...The Himalaya region of Nepal provides a habitat for the endangered snow leopard(Panthera uncia)and its principal prey species,the blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur).The aim of this study was to describe the habitat,the distribution and the population structure of blue sheep,and to estimate their contribution to the carrying capac-ity of snow leopard in the upper Mustang region of Nepal.Blue sheep were recorded at altitudes from 3209-5498 m on slopes with gradients of 16-60°and aspects of 40°NE to 140°SE.A total of 939 blue sheep were counted in the upper Mustang region,and 98 were counted in the Yak Kharka region of Manang district;how-ever,upper Mustang had the lowest population density of blue sheep recorded within their distribution range in Nepal(0.86 blue sheep/km^(2)).The results of the study show that a higher density of blue sheep is associated with greater plant species diversity.The most important species present in the blue sheep habitat were Kobresia pyg-maea,Artemesia spp.,Lonicera spp.,Lancea tibetica,Poa spp.,Astragalus spp.and Ephedra gerardiana.It is estimated that the existing blue sheep population biomass of approximately 38925 kg in the upper Mustang re-gion could support approximately 19 snow leopards(1.6 snow leopards/100 km^(2)).展开更多
The blue sheep is an endemic species to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding regions.It has been regarded as having 2 subspecies:Pseudois nayaur nayaur and P.n.szechuanensis.However,such a classification remains ...The blue sheep is an endemic species to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding regions.It has been regarded as having 2 subspecies:Pseudois nayaur nayaur and P.n.szechuanensis.However,such a classification remains controversial.Herein,we analyze 10 microsatellite loci and part of the mitochondrial control region for clarification in such taxonomic debates.We use samples from 168 individuals from 6 geographic populations covering almost all the distribution areas of the species in China to carry out comparisons.Phylogenetic trees derived from both the microsatellite and mitochondrial markers combined with the discriminant analysis of principal components(DAPC)and the STRUCTURE analysis reveal that the individuals in the Helan Mountains are well grouped with a distinct evolutionary lineage and are significantly different from the other populations of P.n.szechuanensis according to Fst values,implying that this isolated population should be categorized as a valid subspecies;namely,Pseudois nayaur alashanicus.The isolation-by-distance(IBD)analysis shows a significant positive relationship between genetic and geographical distances among the populations.展开更多
The feeding habitat selection of blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur)was studied by direct observation method in the Helan Mountains,China during winter(from Novembe r to December)and spring(from April to June)from 2003 to 200...The feeding habitat selection of blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur)was studied by direct observation method in the Helan Mountains,China during winter(from Novembe r to December)and spring(from April to June)from 2003 to 2004.We established 25 line transects to collect information on feeding habitats used by blue sheep.Blue sheep in the study area preferred mountain savanna forests,a habitat dominated by Ulmus glaucescens,with medium tree density(<4 individuals/400 m^(2)),moderate tree height(4-6 m),higher shrub density(>5 individuals/100 m^(2)),higher shrub(>1.3 m),higher food abundance(>50 g),moderate distance to human disturbance(<500 m),and mild distance to bare rock(<2 m).Such habitats characterized by 12 ecological factors were preferred as feeding areas by blue sheep during winter.Similar to habitat selection by the species during winter,blue sheep also showed a preference for mountain savanna with tree dominated by Ulmus glaucescens and medium tree density(<4 individuals/400 m^(2))during spring.Nevertheless,blue sheep preferred medium tree height(<6 m),moderate tree density(5-10 individuals/100 m^(2)),medium shrub height(1.3-1.7 m),higher food abundance(>100 g),moderate altitude(<2000 m),moderate distance to water resource(<500 m),and medium hiding cover(50%-75%)during spring.Selection of the feeding habitats by sheep showed a significant difference in vegetation type,landform feature,dominant tree,tree height,shrub density,distance to the nearest shrub,food abundance,slope direc-tion,slope degree,distance to water resource,and hiding cover between winter and spring.Results of principal com-ponents analysis indicated that the first principal component accounted for 24.493%of the total variance among feeding habitat variance during winter,with higher loadings for vegetation type,dominant tree,tree height,distance to the nearest tree,shrub density,shrub height,altitude,distance to water resource,and distance to human disturbance.In spring,the first principal components explained 28.777%of the vari-ance,with higher loadings for vegetation type,distance to the nearest tree,shrub height,distance to the nearest shrub,food abundance,altitude,and distance to human disturbance.展开更多
Nonlethal human recreational activities have been confirmed to have negative effect on wild animals in a number of ways,including changes in behaviors,avoidance of suitable habitats and declines in breeding success.St...Nonlethal human recreational activities have been confirmed to have negative effect on wild animals in a number of ways,including changes in behaviors,avoidance of suitable habitats and declines in breeding success.Studies on the anti-disturbance mechanism of wild animals to human disturbance can provide valuable knowledge to the management of wild animals and the evolutionary mechanisms of behavioral adaptation to their habitats.To evaluate how blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur) would react to nonlethal human recreational disturbance,we studied their anti-disturbance strategy towards human disturbance in Suyukou National Forest Park(SNFP),Helan Mountains,Yinchuan of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.Using multinomial logistic regression models(MLRMs),we sought to answer two questions:(1) which kind of human recreational behavior would evoke the most serious anti-disturbance behaviors in blue sheep;and(2) how would various ecological factors influence the anti-disturbance strategy of blue sheep to human recreational disturbance? We collected 10 habitat and population variables and evaluated three kinds of reaction of blue sheep-no response,vigilance and flight.A total of 921 observations qualified to enter MLRMs.We found that habitat type(HT),gender(GEN),head direction(HD),visibility index(VI),and disturbance source(DS) were the five variables that significantly influenced the intensity of reactions of blue sheep.Blue sheep were more alert to tourists than to vehicles,and roads were the habitat type that caused the most intensive reaction of alertness where human disturbance was the highest.Females were more vigilant than males.Blue sheep might feel safer when staying in open habitat,and taking a front head direction provided them with the highest vigilance.Based on these results,we present suggestions to SNFP for the management of ecotourism and blue sheep conservation.展开更多
2007年3～12月,对四川竹巴笼自然保护区的矮岩羊(Pseudois schaeferi)进行了行为谱工作的研究,建立了矮岩羊行为谱及其PAE(posture,act and environment)编码系统。研究分辨和记录了矮岩羊的11种姿势,83种动作和118种行为,还区别了各种...2007年3～12月,对四川竹巴笼自然保护区的矮岩羊(Pseudois schaeferi)进行了行为谱工作的研究,建立了矮岩羊行为谱及其PAE(posture,act and environment)编码系统。研究分辨和记录了矮岩羊的11种姿势,83种动作和118种行为,还区别了各种行为在雄性、雌性和幼体之间的相对发生频次以及发生季节。展开更多
文摘The Himalaya region of Nepal provides a habitat for the endangered snow leopard(Panthera uncia)and its principal prey species,the blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur).The aim of this study was to describe the habitat,the distribution and the population structure of blue sheep,and to estimate their contribution to the carrying capac-ity of snow leopard in the upper Mustang region of Nepal.Blue sheep were recorded at altitudes from 3209-5498 m on slopes with gradients of 16-60°and aspects of 40°NE to 140°SE.A total of 939 blue sheep were counted in the upper Mustang region,and 98 were counted in the Yak Kharka region of Manang district;how-ever,upper Mustang had the lowest population density of blue sheep recorded within their distribution range in Nepal(0.86 blue sheep/km^(2)).The results of the study show that a higher density of blue sheep is associated with greater plant species diversity.The most important species present in the blue sheep habitat were Kobresia pyg-maea,Artemesia spp.,Lonicera spp.,Lancea tibetica,Poa spp.,Astragalus spp.and Ephedra gerardiana.It is estimated that the existing blue sheep population biomass of approximately 38925 kg in the upper Mustang re-gion could support approximately 19 snow leopards(1.6 snow leopards/100 km^(2)).
基金This research was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572014CA03)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31372221,31870512)+1 种基金the Heilongjiang Touyan Innovation Team Program for Forest Ecology and Conservation,the Monitoring and Investigation Projects of Conservation and Protection of Critically Endangered Wildlife Such as Red Deer of Ningxia Helan Mountains National Nature Reserve(NLF2016-220)the Monitoring System Construction Subsidy Fund Project of Ningxia Helan Mountains National Nature Reserve in 2018(NLF2018-35).
文摘The blue sheep is an endemic species to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding regions.It has been regarded as having 2 subspecies:Pseudois nayaur nayaur and P.n.szechuanensis.However,such a classification remains controversial.Herein,we analyze 10 microsatellite loci and part of the mitochondrial control region for clarification in such taxonomic debates.We use samples from 168 individuals from 6 geographic populations covering almost all the distribution areas of the species in China to carry out comparisons.Phylogenetic trees derived from both the microsatellite and mitochondrial markers combined with the discriminant analysis of principal components(DAPC)and the STRUCTURE analysis reveal that the individuals in the Helan Mountains are well grouped with a distinct evolutionary lineage and are significantly different from the other populations of P.n.szechuanensis according to Fst values,implying that this isolated population should be categorized as a valid subspecies;namely,Pseudois nayaur alashanicus.The isolation-by-distance(IBD)analysis shows a significant positive relationship between genetic and geographical distances among the populations.
基金This study was supported financially by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(Grant No.30470231)the Ministry of Education of People’s Republic of China,the State’s Tenth Five-year Program“211 project”-supported Key Academic Discipline Program of ECNU,and Chinese Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2005037496).
文摘The feeding habitat selection of blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur)was studied by direct observation method in the Helan Mountains,China during winter(from Novembe r to December)and spring(from April to June)from 2003 to 2004.We established 25 line transects to collect information on feeding habitats used by blue sheep.Blue sheep in the study area preferred mountain savanna forests,a habitat dominated by Ulmus glaucescens,with medium tree density(<4 individuals/400 m^(2)),moderate tree height(4-6 m),higher shrub density(>5 individuals/100 m^(2)),higher shrub(>1.3 m),higher food abundance(>50 g),moderate distance to human disturbance(<500 m),and mild distance to bare rock(<2 m).Such habitats characterized by 12 ecological factors were preferred as feeding areas by blue sheep during winter.Similar to habitat selection by the species during winter,blue sheep also showed a preference for mountain savanna with tree dominated by Ulmus glaucescens and medium tree density(<4 individuals/400 m^(2))during spring.Nevertheless,blue sheep preferred medium tree height(<6 m),moderate tree density(5-10 individuals/100 m^(2)),medium shrub height(1.3-1.7 m),higher food abundance(>100 g),moderate altitude(<2000 m),moderate distance to water resource(<500 m),and medium hiding cover(50%-75%)during spring.Selection of the feeding habitats by sheep showed a significant difference in vegetation type,landform feature,dominant tree,tree height,shrub density,distance to the nearest shrub,food abundance,slope direc-tion,slope degree,distance to water resource,and hiding cover between winter and spring.Results of principal com-ponents analysis indicated that the first principal component accounted for 24.493%of the total variance among feeding habitat variance during winter,with higher loadings for vegetation type,dominant tree,tree height,distance to the nearest tree,shrub density,shrub height,altitude,distance to water resource,and distance to human disturbance.In spring,the first principal components explained 28.777%of the vari-ance,with higher loadings for vegetation type,distance to the nearest tree,shrub height,distance to the nearest shrub,food abundance,altitude,and distance to human disturbance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30970371 and 31071944)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-08-0753)the Optional Project of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (2011-017)
文摘Nonlethal human recreational activities have been confirmed to have negative effect on wild animals in a number of ways,including changes in behaviors,avoidance of suitable habitats and declines in breeding success.Studies on the anti-disturbance mechanism of wild animals to human disturbance can provide valuable knowledge to the management of wild animals and the evolutionary mechanisms of behavioral adaptation to their habitats.To evaluate how blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur) would react to nonlethal human recreational disturbance,we studied their anti-disturbance strategy towards human disturbance in Suyukou National Forest Park(SNFP),Helan Mountains,Yinchuan of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.Using multinomial logistic regression models(MLRMs),we sought to answer two questions:(1) which kind of human recreational behavior would evoke the most serious anti-disturbance behaviors in blue sheep;and(2) how would various ecological factors influence the anti-disturbance strategy of blue sheep to human recreational disturbance? We collected 10 habitat and population variables and evaluated three kinds of reaction of blue sheep-no response,vigilance and flight.A total of 921 observations qualified to enter MLRMs.We found that habitat type(HT),gender(GEN),head direction(HD),visibility index(VI),and disturbance source(DS) were the five variables that significantly influenced the intensity of reactions of blue sheep.Blue sheep were more alert to tourists than to vehicles,and roads were the habitat type that caused the most intensive reaction of alertness where human disturbance was the highest.Females were more vigilant than males.Blue sheep might feel safer when staying in open habitat,and taking a front head direction provided them with the highest vigilance.Based on these results,we present suggestions to SNFP for the management of ecotourism and blue sheep conservation.
文摘2007年3～12月,对四川竹巴笼自然保护区的矮岩羊(Pseudois schaeferi)进行了行为谱工作的研究,建立了矮岩羊行为谱及其PAE(posture,act and environment)编码系统。研究分辨和记录了矮岩羊的11种姿势,83种动作和118种行为,还区别了各种行为在雄性、雌性和幼体之间的相对发生频次以及发生季节。
