Evaluation Of Suitability Of The Sichuan Snub-nosed Monkey(Rhinopithecus Roxellanae) In Shennongjia, Hubei Province

Habitat loss and fragmentation are the major causes of biodiversity loss. Fragmentation impedes the connection between habitat patches, and increases the proportion of patch edges, meanwhile the sensitivity of populations to disturbance increasing. As the result, gene flow between populations is difficult to connect in a disrupted network of connectivity. And populations are faced with a high risk of extinction owing to their small and isolated habitat patches.Sichuan snub-nosed monkey, about 25000, is an endangered species endemic to China. Protection and restoration of this rare species could reserve germplasm for biodiversity. In this study, based on existing research results and the use of landscape ecology, using current vegetation map and patrolling data, the influence of landscape features and human activities on distribution of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys in Shennongjia were analyzed by Arcgis and Fragstats software and related measurement methods. The purpose of the investigation is to clarify the spatial distribution characteristic of suitable habitat, and to identify the key protected areas for providing reference of landscape management to other endangered species. The main contents include:(1) Based on the existing research and characteristics of monkey distribution, the disturbance of agricultural land and road were evaluated and analyzed; (2) Index of the class and landscape level were calculated to quantitative analysis of landscape characteristics; (3) According to the relationship between vegetation type, patch characteristics and agricultural disturbance and the distribution of the frequency of monkeys using a Poisson regression, Sichuan snub-nosed monkey of Shennongjia distribution model was built; (4) Habitat suitability of Sichuan snub-nosed monkey of Shennongjia is evaluated by model results and suitability of roads, connectivity of suitable class is also evaluated. Rational landscape management measures for such special populations could be quantitatively identify the priority restored patches, and could be conducive to determine the location of habitat corridors. They are not only provide the basis of theory of the core of the ecological restoration projects and corridor construction foundation for the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey, but also provide the basis for accurate positioning of the project ecological restoration area.The main conclusions of the study are as follows:(1) Based on the composition and distribution of human disturbance analysis showed that: just 55.9% of the Shennongjia Nature Reserve area was not affected by the disturbance of road, which divide the distribution area of monkeys into two parts and has become the main obstacle to disperse. Agricultural land had a threshold 2000m which have an impact on the monkey, the area not affected in reserve was 46.2% and concentrated around the reserve, influence of the monkey distribution subject to road disturbance more than the agricultural disturbance.(2) Combine of vegetation types, agricultural land disturbance, landscape pattern characteristics based on patch scales to establish Shennongjia snub-nosed monkey distribution model showed that:vegetation type, agricultural land disturbance and landscape pattern have a significant impact on the distribution of the monkeys. Shennongjia snub-nosed monkey prefer to the area without disturbance of agricultural land, but with cold temperate coniferous forest, cold temperate coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, temperate coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, and patches which has large area, simple shape and conducive to the use of different habitat types.(3) The landscape index of patch type level of each vegetation show that although the area of cold temperate coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest and temperate coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest which monkeys living in had a larger proportion, but scattered distribution, low continuity, a high degree of fragmentation.(4) According to the overlay of model results and road, and connectivity analysis, the suitable, sub-suitable, unsuitable area was accounted for 21.69%,33.13%, and 45.18%, respectively. Monkeys’ migration and diffusion is difficult due to poor structure and functional connectivity.