Studies On The Population Ecology Of Badger (Meles Meles) In Shanghai

Badger (Meles meles), belongs to Carnivores, Mustelidae, Melinae, and as the only species of Meles. It is a medium-sizes mammals. Badger is widely distributed in Europe and Asian, and is distributed throughout China except TaiWan and HaiNan provinces. Badgers dig setts for living, the migrating ability are relatively weak. At present, Because of over-hunting and the reduction and fragmentation of distribution area, population amount of badgers have reduced sharply since recent decades. If you continue to ignore the effective protection for badgers, in the near future, badgers are likely dried up in many areas.Badgers are not only the important faunistical characteristics, but also the largest wild mammalian in ShangHai. Badgers play an important role in biological diversity. Historically, The suburbs of Shanghai have very rich resources of animals, but with the accelerating of urbanization process, the living environment of badgers are gradually disappear in ShangHai, so badgers have endangered. Therefore, the most urgent task is to take effective measures to protect the badger, and to recover populations to long-term health survival above the threshold.In order to protect and recover the endangered species, we must understanding the biological characteristics of the population, including community structure, population distribution and quantity, habitat characteristics, such as food composition and activities, so as to some aiming, set up a rational management and protection measures to restore the endangered wild population purpose.In view of this situation, the investigation and research on badgers in Shanghai suburb are implemented extensively from April,2007 to April,2011.The population distribution, population quantity, sett characteristics, habitat selection and activities rhythms and other aspects of badgers are analyzed comprehensive. So as to provide the data and theoretical basis for ecology study on badgers, and also provide the scientific basis for the protection and population recovery plan on badgers.The main research results are as follows:1.We selected 8 habitats of badgers for reseach, such as bamboo training center in ZhuangHang town of fengXian district, the TianMa mountain in SongJiang district, eastern She-Shan, western She-Shan, Heng-Shan, XiaoKun-Shan etc. The populations and distribution of badgers in ShangHai were visualized using automatic induction cameras and infrared imaging system. Lasted 107 days,263 photos of wild animals were collected by automatic induction camera,86 photos were badgers, accounting for 32.70%; 151 photos were other animals, accounting for 57.41%; and 26 photos have none animals, accounting for 9.89%. The video lasted 260h collected by the infrared camera, and 30.5h were nocturnal activity of badgers, accounting for 11.73% of video. As the results show, the images come from automatic induction camera and infrared imaging system were very clear, and we also make sure the Meles in Shanghai suburban are badgers. The survey method is also used to identification of other species and population quantity survey of settman family animals.2. According to the badgers activities information of infrared camera and automatic induction, we make the individual identification through body size, gender, the order information. Results show that:(1) In south of bamboo training center in ZhuangHang town of FengXian,3 (♂:♀=1:2), in north of bamboo training center in ZhuangHang town of FengXian,2(♂:♀=1:1), (2) the south village of SongJiang,2(♂:♀=1:1), TaGang village,4(♂:♀=1:3). (3) 4 badgers distribute in TianMa mountain,2 badgers distribute in eastern She-Shan,3 badgers distribute in western She-Shan,2 badgers distribute in Heng-Shan. The survey reveals that there were 7 habitats and 22 badgers were found in ShangHai. We conclude that the reduce of badgers population were caused by the reduce and fragmentation of habitat, and the hunting is also the important factor. 3.This paper adopts literature, questionnaire and on-the-spot investigation, so as to reveal the distribution of badgers in Shanghai suburban. Results show that:(1) During september to december in 2007, the distribution of 15 badgers'setts in JiaDing, SongJiang, JinShan, FengXian district were investigated.and 9 badgers' setts in SongJiang district (3 setts in SheShan,2 setts in TianMa-mountain, 1sett in Heng-Shan, 1sett in Xiao-Kun mountain, 1sett in Nan-Men village, 1sett in Ta-Gang village),5 badgers' setts in FengXian district (2 setts in bamboo training center of ZhuangHang,1 sett in XiDu,2 setts in ZhangYun). (2) During march to June in 2009,5 setts in JiaDing, SongJiang, JinShan, FengXian district were destroyed, and the bagders disappeared.4. This study investigated the selection of setts of badgers by using line transects and distinguish of setts in the areas of the TianMa mountain in SongJiang district, eastern She-Shan, western She-Shan, Heng-Shan, XiaoKun-Shan etc. In our investigation,28 randomly set transects were stetted, and between two sampling lines is 15 and 20 meters, sample line average 22.4 km. The investigation provided 20 ecological factors in 107 used sites and 107 control plots. Results show that:(1) Comparing with the ecological factors in used sites and control plots, the height of tree in used sites is highly significantly difference from control plots(P=0.017<0.05); the cover of shrub in used sites is highly significantly difference from control plots(P=0.026<0.05); and the height, bottom stem,density of bamboo is highly significantly difference from control plots(P=0.002,0.000,0.000<0.01).Results show that:(1) Comparing with the continuous ecological factors in used sites and control plots, the height of tree in used sites is significantly difference from control plots(P=0.017<0.05); the cover of shrub in used sites is significantly difference from control plots(P=0.026<0.05); and the height, bottom stem, density of bamboo in used sites is highly significantly difference from control plots(P=0.002,0.000, 0.000<0.01). (2) Comparing with the discrete ecological factor s in used sites and control plots, the crown density and slope positions in used sites is significantly difference from control plots (crown density:χ2=6.998, df=3, P=0.021<0.05; slope positions:χ2=10.81, df=3, P=0.039<0.05). The water distant in used sites is highly significantly difference from control plots (χ2=15.71, df=2, P=0.002<0.01). the analysis results found that badgers prefer high bottom stem, high density of bamboo environment and choose nearby water, low crown density of tree and high cover of shrub in high slope position of coverage. The habitat of badgers is multi-dimensional habitat suitability; it is the reflection of ecological demand on food, water and concealment conditions.5. This study investigated the variables of habitat factors on badgers'setts by using analysis of principal component in the areas of the TianMa Mountain in SongJiang district, eastern She-Shan, western She-Shan, Heng-Shan, XiaoKun-Shan etc. As the results show, the rates of value on six main characteristics have been more than 80%, and these characteristics can reveal habitant characteristics of badgers'setts. (1) The bottom stem and bamboo density are the first main component, can be defined as "the vegetation factors". (2) Water distance is the second principal components, can be defined as "water factor". (3) The trees crown density is the third main component, can be defined as "trees factor". (4) The slope positions is the forth principal components, can be named "terrain factors". (5) The shrubs coverage and bamboo height are the fifth main component, can be defined as "shrubs factor". (6) The slopes and human interference distance are the sixth main components, can be named "terrain factors". The results show that the six main composition factors of the badgers'setts satisfy the stability, food, water and concealment to demand respectively.6 This study investigated the characters of setts and make sure the setts of badgers by using distinguish of setts in the areas of the TianMa Mountain in SongJiang district, eastern She-Shan, western She-Shan, Heng-Shan, XiaoKun-Shan etc. As results show, (1) The setts direction:the most direction of setts are northeast and north towards; followed by the ventilate setts which have upside direction; and the least direction of setts are southeast and southwest towards. (2) the area of setts, quantity of setts:the average area of setts is 47.59m2, the average quantity of setts is 11. (3) The size of setts:the average size of setts is 20.9±1.5 cm×22.7±2.8cm. The size of ventilate setts, lord and temporary setts existed significant difference (P<0.05). But the size of lord and temporary setts are not significant difference (P>0.05). (4) The usage of setts:high availability (n=49), occasionally (n=34) and abandoned (n=41),the total number of the setts occupied 21.78%,15.11% and 18.22% respectively. (5) Concealed conditions: poor (n=11), general (n=108) and good (n=106), the total number of the setts occupied 4.89%,48% and 47.11% respectively. The results show that the more human interference, more setts were digged by badger, and the area of setts and quantity of setts also can increase by the time. It can be concluded an adaptive evolution of badgers.7.The four seasons temperature of 10 setts (lord setts:7, temporary setts:3) of badgers in two habitats were recorded using by Jing-Chuang DS-1. As results shown:(1) Compare the temperature of surrounding environment with lord setts and temporary setts, the significant difference existed (P<0.001), but compared with ventilate setts, there is no significant difference (P>0.05). (2) Compare the temperature of lord setts with temporary setts, there is no significant difference (Mann - Whitney U - inspection, P spring=0.215> 0.05,P summer=0.467>0.05, P autumn=0.384> 0.05,P winter=0.237> 0.05). Comparing the average, the highest and lowest temperatures between the lord setts and temporary setts, there were no significant difference (p>0.05). (3) The poor temperature of different type of setts were compared, the changes of poor temperature in temporary and the Lord setts is small (1-3℃), but the changes of poor temperature in ventilate setts and surrounding environment is big (1-6℃). (4) Comparing poor temperature in different season, poor temperature in summer is maximum 10.102℃. And the temporary setts in winter is minimum(1.564℃).The results show that the change of temperatures in setts of badgers is less than surrounding environment, so we conclude that the setts can withstand climate for its temperature change. In addition, although temporary and ventilation setts have different structure and function, but both of two setts were necessary.8.The activity rhythms of badgers were observed using by infrared camera system. As results shown:(1) The ealist average emergence time occurs in autumn, the latist average emergence time occurs in winter, and the time is delayed 3 hours. The ealist average return time occurs in winter, the latist average return time occurs in autumn, and the time is delayed 2 hours. (2) The peak exists in the frequency of emergence and return time of badgers, the peak of emergence time is 19:00-22:00, and the peak of return time is 2:00-4:00. (3) the average time of night activity is about 350.7min. The average time of night activity in autumn is longest, and the average time of night activity in winter is shortest. As the results shown, the main influence factors of the activity were seasonal factors, badgers can adjust activity rules to their own needs in different season.9. The time budget and behaviour of captivity badgers were observed using automatic induction cameras and infrared imaging system in ShenYa ecological park of FengXian district. As results shown:(1) The activity of captivity badgers are more active in night, and the frequency curve asummed as "M" type. The peak of activity is 21:30-23:00 (feeding) and 1:30-23:00 (digging). (2) The feeding in night occupy (40.15±9.17)%, followed by digging (32.24±8.52)% and other behavior (13.47±4.07)%, moving (12.36±2.41)%, warning (at least 4.15±1.23)%. (3) The badgers take more time on feeding, moving, digging and other behiours in sunny day, but take more time on alarming in rainy day. The time budget and behaviour of captivity badgers were interferenced by environmental conditions.