Population Densities And Activity Rhythms Of Amur Tiger’s Main Preys In Wangqing Nature Reserve,Jilin Province,China

In order to scientifically determine Amur tiger’s prey population dynamics and activity patterns and contribute to the research on Amur tiger and its habitat restoration work, we used Rowcliffe method to analysis the data from 78 ATL camera traps deployed in Lanjia conservation station of Wangqing National Nature Reserve. The data collected on one year period (2013～2014) were from center-positioned cameras disseminated on 78 square kilometers (grid composed of 78 cells=1cell/km2) with a monitoring angle of 0.8727 rad and a radius of 0.01km. By this setting,we comprehensively and systematically studied the 4 main preys of Amur tiger:Sika deer(Cervus nippon),red deer(Cervus elaphus),roe deer(Capriolus pygargus),wild boar(Sus scrofa). Our result showed that:-Camera-trap monitoring method can be used to collect data on Amur tiger’s prey population density and as a monitoring and research tool,-the prey density is normally distributed by K-S test,-the average monthly density are as follow:0.2914individual/km2 for Sika deer (assuming that the day movement distance is 1.5 to 5 km); 0.1376 individual/km2 for Red deer (assuming that the day movement distance is 1.5 to 4 km); 3.2852 individual/km2 for Roe deer (with a day movement distance= 0.5 to 2.5 km); and 0.1376 individual/km2 for wild boar (with a day movement distance= 1.7 to 3 km),-roe deer and wild boar population density account for 89.82% of 4 prey’s total density.Moreover, the analysis of the activity and seasonal rhythm of these 4 ungulates showed that Sika deer, red deer and roe deer have a twilight rhythm and the highest frequency of their activity was recorded between 00:00～06:00, followed by 14:00 to 18:00, then 07:00～11:00 and a low frequency between 19:00～24:00Finally, we analyzed the activity rhythm of these ungulates through the one-way ANOVA analysis of Duncan test. For all these four ungulates, the activity rhythm in summer and autumn is greater than in spring and winter, P<0.05. We also found that the daily rhythm of these 4 ungulates is driven by food, climate, breeding and human activity. Beside these factors, the wild boar is also affected by elevation whereas the roe deer is affected by snowfall. Sika deer, red deer, wild boar showed significant difference in seasonal rhythm (P<0.05),but roe deer displayed no significant difference in seasonal rhythm(P>0.05)This study, the first of its genre, shows the use of camera trap monitoring for prey density survey and behavior analysis therefore laying down the foundation for future use of this method in the monitoring, restoration and conservation work of Amur Tiger and its prey.