Effects Of Human Disturbance On Amur Tigers, Prey And Vegetation In Hunchun Nature Reserve In Northeastern China

In order to understand the influence and relative contribution of human disturbance on Amur tigers (Panthera tigris.altaica), prey and vegetation. We used questionnaires to survey pastures locations in Hunchun Nature Reserve (HNR) and then 32 transect lines to survey based on the stratified sampling methods during August and September of 2013. At the same time,512 tree survey quadrats (lOmX 10m) and 2560 shrub plots (2m X 2m) were conducted. We used the Generalized Additive Models, Generalized Liner Models and Structural Equation Models to explore the effects of 4 kinds of human disturbance (grazing, ginseng planting, cement roads and asphalt roads) on vegetation, prey and Amur tigers. We then used Hierarchical Partitioning Models to quantify the contributions of four main kinds of human disturbance. Our results suggested that:(1) Based on our questionnaire survey,63 pastures were located in or around HNR and 3066 cows were recorded. Of these, there were 42 pastures with an area of 355 km2 within HNR making up 32.9% of the total reserve area; 19 pastures were completely or partially located in the core zone, accounting for 53.3% of the core zone area. The average cow density was 11 cows per km2(2) Human disturbances in HNR have already spread into every hierarchy of the Amur tiger food chain and formed a bottom-up effect on Amur tigers.(3) Ginseng planting and grazing activities have more contribution rates on vegetation (81%). Ginseng planting and grazing activities can reduce the number of shoots preferred by ungulate significantly, and then influence the Amur tiger presence by affecting the presence of roe deers.(4) Cement roads and asphalt roads have more contributions rates on the prey distribution. Cement and asphalt roads have significant negative effects on the presence of sika deer. Cement roads have significant negative effects on the presence of roe deer. Roads can influence the Amur tiger presence by effect the appearance probabilities of prey.(5) Grazing activities, cement roads and asphalt roads are the main disturbances on Amur tigers, and gensing planting’s potential threatens to Amur tigers can not be ignored.(6) Compared with the Generalized Liner Models and Structural Equation Models, Generalized Additive Models have more detection abilities and can reflect the nonlinear and non-monotonic relationships between the ecological parameters.