Diversity Of Wild Mammals And Spatial And Temporal Distribution Differences In Liancheng National Natural Reserve Of Gansu Province

Wildlife variety is crucial to biodiversity,contributing to energy flow and material cycle in ecosystem.As the increase of human activities in natural division,however,wild animals are increasingly threatened,which could have a direct and long-time effect on the distribution,reproduction and survival of wildlife.That means the monitoring of wildlife diversity,background investigation of wildlife resources in natural reserves,the following for wildlife's population quantity and dynamic,distribution and routine activities,and the discussion about the influence of man-made interference for wildlife diversity and spatial and temporal distribution could reflect the diversity of wild animals and dynamic changes of spatial and temporal distribution in the natural reserve and could also provide basic information for regional planning and protection in the reserve.This study monitors wildlife resources for 26 months through 60 infrared cameras installed in Liancheng National Natural Reserve in Gansu Province in July 2017.The study calculates diversity index of wild mammals based on data of infrared cameras,analyses spatial and temporal distribution differences of wild mammals before and after grazing prohibition by using site occupancy model and overlap index of daily activities,and pinpoints the major factors affecting spatial and temporal distribution of wild mammals.The results are divided into the following 5 parts:1.According to findings of infrared cameras,a total of 63 species of birds and wild mammals were found between 2017 to 2019,of which 15 species of wild mammals belonging to 9 families and 4 orders.4 species of class A wildlife under national protection were found: Cervus nippon,Moschus chrysogaster,Moschus berezovskii and Bonasa sewerzowi;5 species of class ? wildlife under national protection were monitored: Cervus elaphus,Felis bieti,Martes flavigula,Ithaginiscruentus and Crossoptilon auritum.The mammal getting the most photography is Capreolus pygargus(RAI = 121.87),and the bird with the highest photographing rate is Crossoptilon auritum(RAI = 18.49).2.Results of seasonal variation of spatial distribution show that Vulpes vulpes and Capreolus pygargus have high site occupancy rate and could be explored easier throughout the year,as dominant species in the reserve.Capreolus pygargus is far more easily found in summer that may be related to its population advantages and reproduction habits.The distribution range and activity frequency of Marmota himalayana and Arctonyx collaris have reduced significantly in fall and winter with distinctive seasonal variation that may be related to their hibernation behaviors.3.This study conducts a single-seasonal site occupancy model analyse for Vulpes vulpes,Capreolus pygargus,Marmota himalayana and Arctonyx collaris with adequate amount,and the results indicate that actual and estimated site occupancy rate of 4 wild mammals are greater than 0.5 while the rate they are found of site occupancy model is less than 0.5.The environmental and human factors have no significant effect on site occupancy rate of wild animals based on the optimal model combination.The exploration of Vulpes vulpes has a negative correlation with human capture and the distance with the nearest settlement and a positive correlation with the capture of livestock.The exploration of Arctonyx collaris is greatly affected by slope.As the slope increases,the detection rate decreases.Temporal distribution model shows that another three wild mammals,except for Vulpes vulpes,have lesser activity time and frequency at the site disturbed frequently by livestock,and Capreolus pygargus and Arctonyx collaris have more activities at night.All animals but Marmota himalayana have more activities at night but less during the day at the site with more human activities.4.This study analyses the distribution variation of 4 wild mammals in summer through multi-seasonal site occupancy model and results show that from 2017 to 2019,the site occupancy rate of Capreolus pygargus is increasing in summer while that of Vulpes vulpes,Marmota himalayana and Arctonyx collaris is decreasing;the exploration of Capreolus pygargus and Arctonyx collaris in this season is raising.The weighted values of the model with the distance with the nearest settlement is the highest,followed by the altitude.That means the distance with the nearest residential area and altitude are the main factors that affect annual variation of wild mammals' spatial distribution.Analysis of daily activity patterns shows that as the decrease ofthe number of domestic animals in the survey sites,with the exception of Marmota himalayana,the daily activity patterns of wild mammals and livestock have increasingly overlapping.5.The number of livestock in the reserve has been reducing significantly from2017 to 2019 while the relative abundance index of wild mammals has been increasing.The alpha diversity index of wild mammals has a downward trend that may have two reasons: firstly,it is related to long-term livestock production.The number of domestic animals is decreasing,but the long-term avoidance behavior of wild mammals will not change immediately,nor will the number of species rise again in the short term.Secondly,it may be linked with the interspecific rejection caused by the significant increase of Capreolus pygargus and other dominant species.In summary,with the exception of Capreolus pygargus,the spatial distribution of wild mammal species with hibernation habits has significant seasonal differences.Human disturbance factors such as livestock and human activities have important effects on the spatial and temporal distribution changes of wild mammals.Moreover,the implementation of the prohibiting-graze policy has increased the number of wild mammals populations,but the level of diversity has fluctuated,which may be related to the mutation of inter-species relations within the community.This study recommends to strengthen management of the reserve in spring and summer to control the intensity of human interference;and establish a long-term monitoring mechanism to focus on the restoration of wildlife diversity after the grazing ban.