红外触发相机技术在山区动物调查中的应用

近年来,红外触发相机凭借各种优势,在野生动物种类与数量调查中得到越来越多的应用.2012年6月～ 2013年3月,在安西极旱荒漠国家级自然保护区山区的水源及兽径处放置20部红外触发相机,以检验该技术在山区动物种类调查中的应用效果.监测期间共获得独立照片732张,经辨认,共拍摄到25种野生动物,隶属2纲,10目,15科,25属.哺乳类拍摄率最高的3种是北山羊（Capra ibex）、岩羊（Pseudois nayaur）及中亚兔（Lepus capensis）;鸟类拍摄率最高的3种为红嘴山鸦（Pyrrhocorx pyrrhocorax）、岩鸽（Columba rupestris rupestris）和石鸡（Alectoris chukar）.与传统样线法相比较,红外相机在大型兽类、行踪隐秘的猫科动物及夜间活动的动物调查中具有明显优势.但在鸟类调查中适用性不高,许多鸟类,特别是小型鸟类难以辨识.调查中同时发现,荒漠地区野生动物多聚集在水源地附近,但水源地同时放牧干扰较为严重,建议设立单独的牲畜饮水地,以减少对野生动物的干扰.     

美国专家考察华南虎

２００１年７月１３日至１７日，美国“老虎与犀牛基金”华南虎调查资助项目部成员（华南虎保护项目的建议者）杰夫·蒙特弗利和美国野生动物宣传作家格里·布拉宁远涉重洋到中国湖南壶瓶山考察华南虎。 两位美国专家在北京林业大学生物学院硕士研究生黄祥云（兼翻译）、中国环境科学学会自然保护分会理事、壶瓶山国家自然保护区保护科副科长廖先圣等有关工作人员的陪同下，顶烈日、冒醋暑，先后考察了顶坪山、新厂、泉坪、金山等华南虎频繁出没的核心保护区。当美国专家听了顶坪山农民王遵银、王安秀等人令年３月２９日和５月１６日在华南…     

黑龙江穆棱东北红豆杉自然保护区兽类多样性及东北虎猎物资源

为了深入了解黑龙江穆棱东北红豆杉国家级自然保护区兽类组成及东北虎(Panthera tigris altaica)猎物资源现状,于2016—2018年在保护区内布设40个红外相机监测点和7个大样方调查兽类多样性和分析东北虎主要猎物资源。相机监测累计照相日12250个,共获得有效独立照片1139张,从中鉴定出野生兽类4目8科17种,其中国家一级重点保护动物有东北虎和东北豹(Panthera pardus orientalis)。样方调查记录到兽类足迹261条,足迹识别出兽类4目7科10种,其中包括国家一级重点保护动物东北豹1种,东北虎主要猎物野猪(Sus scrofa)、马鹿(Cervus elaphus)、西伯利亚狍(Capreolus pygargus)和梅花鹿(Cervus nippon)4种。兽类物种相对丰富度分析表明,相对丰富度最高的是西伯利亚狍和狗獾(Meles leucurus),赤狐(Vulpes vulpes)和东北豹最低。猎物资源分析表明,保护区内分布有西伯利亚狍681只,野猪510只,马鹿35只,梅花鹿27只,4种动物的生物量分别为西伯利亚狍生物量为20210.94 kg,野猪生物量为64735.00 kg,马鹿生物量为6023.25 kg,梅花鹿生物量为1635.00 kg,保护区东北虎可捕食的主要猎物生物量为92604.19 kg。研究表明,保护区内兽类种类虽然较多,但东北虎、东北豹、梅花鹿和马鹿数据仍然较少,需要重点加强保护。     

浅谈野生虎生态学研究

虎在生态系统中处在食物链的顶端，是自然保护中的旗舰物种，具有重要的生态价值和科学价值。目前，虎的分布范围及数量已经明显减少，成为最受威胁的大型猫科动物之一。针对虎的这种濒危状况，虎的研究得到了极大关注，尤其是野生虎的生态学研究。本文综述了野生虎生态学的研究，从野生虎生态学的研究历史出发，作者认为野生虎的保护应该做到以下几点：减少人为干扰；保护好现有虎栖息地，对现有虎种群实行异质种群管理；建立新的保护区，扩大虎的栖息地；设法扩大虎猎物种群的数量。     

运用红外相机技术首次记录白化豪猪

宝天曼以古老繁茂的原始森林及丰富独特的野生动植物资源在同纬度居全国之首位,素有“天然的物种基因库”“中州绿色明珠”之美誉。为促进河南内乡宝天曼国家级自然保护区野生动物资源保护与管理,本研究于2015年4月在内乡宝天曼国家级自然保护区开始利用红外相机技术对区内陆生大中型兽类和地面活动鸟类进行了监测。2022年9月4日,于内乡宝天曼保护区葛条爬林区红外相机中拍摄到白化豪猪,根据所获得的野生个体影像资料信息确定为成年豪猪个体,这为河南省白化动物研究增添新的证据,对了解白化豪猪物种在区域的分布、栖息环境、行为等调查奠定基础,完善了内乡宝天曼保护区野生动物资源本底资料,对野生动物长期监测研究和自然保护区管理提供了参考数据。     

我国老虎及其栖息地保护面临的挑战与对策

虎(Panthera tigris)是全球生物多样性保护的旗舰物种和保护伞物种,在维持健康自然生态系统功能中占据不可替代的重要地位,虎种群的有效保护和可持续生存对中国乃至全球生态安全具有深远意义。我国现分布有印支虎(P.t.corbetti)、孟加拉虎(P.t.tigris)、华南虎(P.t.amoyensis)和东北虎(P.t.altaica)4个虎亚种,其中最有希望恢复野生种群的就是东北虎。虎的保护也面临着巨大的挑战,包括虎种群数量和分布区的动态变化不清;适宜栖息地面积不断缩小退化、扩散通道受阻;缺乏针对虎生态景观系统保护的实施规划及国家财政建设资金的保障;人虎冲突严重;虎生态保护与管理科学研究薄弱等。鉴于此,本文从两个方面提出了虎及其栖息地保护的对策。(1)在栖息地景观保护与恢复方面:推进虎保护区网络的建设,增大其栖息地的受保护面积,形成保护区群;同时构建廊道,使保护区群网络化;建立跨国生态廊道,实现景观水平的保护,并且加大虎猎物种群及其栖息地恢复力度。(2)在虎种群保护与恢复方面:启动虎种群专项调查与常态监测;推进虎的野化放归;设立"老虎生态保护特区";修改完善相关法律法规,探索和完善适应新时期新常态的虎保护模式。     

用PCR方法对虎DNA进行特异性检测

为了能在野外调查中和野生动物执法检查、打击虎产品走私工作中对发现的可疑虎残余物或虎产品等样品进行快速，准确的鉴定，东北林业大学野生动物资源学院近日建立了可以对虎线粒体ＤＮＡ进行特异性扩增的ＰＣＲ方法。 虎线粒体ＤＮＡ细胞色素Ｂ（Ｃｔｙｂ）段由１１４０个碱基组成，通过用Ｗｄｎａｓｉｓ软件比较１０只苏门达腊虎、１５只东北虎、７只孟加拉虎、３只印支虎及５只华南虎Ｃｔｙｂ的碱荃序列，寻找到它在Ｃｔｙｂ段的保守区域，再与猞猁、雪豹、狮、豹猫、金钱豹、云豹、猎豹及家猫等多种猫科动物和梅花鹿，黑麂、赤鹿、獐、…     

九万山国家级自然保护区鸟兽多样性红外相机监测初报

2020年8月—2021年7月,在广西九万山国家级自然保护区核心区、缓冲区和实验区共布设50台红外相机,对区内的野生动物资源进行连续监测。研究期间共记录到兽类17种（4目10科）和鸟类19种（5目10科）,其中国家二级重点保护野生动物12种。兽类中,相对多度指数前5位的依次是小泡巨鼠（Leopoldamys edwardsi）、赤麂（Muntiacus vaginalis）、野猪（Sus scrofa）、红腿长吻松鼠（Dremomys pyrrhomerus）和鼬獾（Melogale moschata）;鸟类中,相对多度指数前3位的依次是白鹇（Lophura nycthemera）、虎斑地鸫（Zoothera aurea）和白眉山鹧鸪（Arborophila gingica）。核心区、缓冲区和实验区中的兽类、鸟类物种数以及鸟兽物种总数均不存在显著性差异;物种多样性指数中,仅鸟兽物种多样性指数间存在显著差异,核心区显著高于实验区和缓冲区。鼬獾为夜行性动物,赤麂、野猪、褐胸噪鹛（Garrulax maesi）、白鹇和白眉山鹧鸪为昼行性动物。监测结果初步掌握了九万山国家级自然保护区内鸟兽物种...     

人为干扰对卧龙国家级自然保护区地栖鸟兽多样性的影响

利用2017年4月—2018年4月卧龙国家级自然保护区红外相机数据进行空间关联性分析,探讨人为干扰对野生地栖鸟兽的影响。数据显示：保护区内有4种人为活动,包括村民进山,放牧家养黄牛、家养山羊和家养牦牛。村民和家养黄牛与低海拔网络（LAN）的野生地栖鸟兽,家养牦牛与高海拔网络（HAN）的野生地栖鸟兽产生了空间关联,家养山羊与野生地栖鸟兽没有空间关联。分析发现：（1）人为干扰对野生地栖鸟兽多样性有较大影响。（2）村民与野猪（Sus scrofa）、红腹锦鸡（Chrysolophus pictus）存在资源竞争关系。（3）黄牛与野猪、红腹锦鸡、藏酋猴（Macaca thibetana）竞争相同资源。（4）牦牛与赤狐（Vulpes vulpes）、血雉（Ithaginis cruentus）、岩羊（Pseudois nayaur）、绿尾虹雉（Lophophorus lhuysii）、喜马拉雅旱獭（Marmota himalayana）、红喉雉鹑（Tetraophasis obscurus）存在食物和生境资源竞争关系。基于此,建议保护区管理部门严格限制村民进山和放牧活动。     

“世界最神秘的鸟”海南虎斑鳽现身贵州雷公山

2008年4月24日,记者从黔东南州雷公山自然保护区获悉,经贵州省科学院野生动物鸟类学专家李筑眉教授鉴定,该保护区最近发现的一只“神秘鸟”为我国特有鸟种——海南虎斑鳽（jiān）。李教授称,发现这种鸟,不仅是雷公山国家级自然保护区的一个新记录,也是贵州鸟类的新记录。这一发现对当地气候环境和物种考察极具意义。     

Density and carrying capacity in the forgotten tigerland: Tigers in the understudied Nepalese Churia

While there are numerous wildlife ecology studies in lowland areas of Nepal, there are no in‐depth studies of the hilly Churia habitat even though it comprises 7642 km² of potential wildlife habitat across the Terai Arc. We investigated tiger, leopard and prey densities across this understudied habitat. Our camera trapping survey covered 536 km² of Churia and surrounding areas within Chitwan National Park (CNP). We used 161 trapping locations and accumulated 2097 trap‐nights in a 60‐day survey period during the winter season of 2010–2011. In addition, we walked 136 km over 81 different line transects using distance sampling to estimate prey density. We photographed 31 individual tigers, 28 individual leopards and 25 other mammalian species. Spatial capture–recapture methods resulted in lower density estimates for tigers, ranging from 2.3 to 2.9 tigers per 100 km², than for leopards, which ranged from 3.3 to 5.1 leopards per 100 km². In addition, leopard densities were higher in the core of the Churia compared to surrounding areas. We estimated 62.7 prey animals per 100 km² with forest ungulate prey (sambar, chital, barking deer and wild pig), accounting for 47% of the total. Based on prey availability, Churia habitat within CNP could potentially support 5.86 tigers per 100 km² but our density estimates were lower, perhaps indicating that the tiger population is below carrying capacity. Our results demonstrate that Churia habitat should not be ignored in conservation initiatives, but rather management efforts should focus on reducing human disturbance to support higher predator numbers.     

Noninvasive genetics provides insights into the population size and genetic diversity of an Amur tiger population in China

Understanding population size and genetic diversity is critical for effective conservation of endangered species. The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is the largest felid and a flagship species for wildlife conservation. Due to habitat loss and human activities, available habitat and population size are continuously shrinking. However, little is known about the true population size and genetic diversity of wild tiger populations in China. In this study, we collected 55 fecal samples and 1 hair sample to investigate the population size and genetic diversity of wild Amur tigers in Hunchun National Nature Reserve, Jilin Province, China. From the samples, we determined that 23 fecal samples and 1 hair sample were from 7 Amur tigers: 2 males, 4 females and 1 individual of unknown sex. Interestingly, 2 fecal samples that were presumed to be from tigers were from Amur leopards, highlighting the significant advantages of noninvasive genetics over traditional methods in studying rare and elusive animals. Analyses from this sample suggested that the genetic diversity of wild Amur tigers is much lower than that of Bengal tigers, consistent with previous findings. Furthermore, the genetic diversity of this Hunchun population in China was lower than that of the adjoining subpopulation in southwest Primorye Russia, likely due to sampling bias. Considering the small population size and relatively low genetic diversity, it is urgent to protect this endangered local subpopulation in China.     

Free-ranging livestock altered the spatiotemporal behavior of the endangered North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) and its prey and intensified human–leopard conflicts

Widespread distribution of livestock in the natural habitats of large carnivores may negatively impact carnivore populations by reducing wild prey availability and increasing human–carnivore conflicts. In this study, we used camera-trapping data collected in the temperate forests of the Taihang Mountains in North China during 2016–2019 to examine whether and how free-ranging cattle affected habitat use and Diel activity patterns of the endangered North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) and its 2 wild prey species, Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Residents were also interviewed to record livestock depredation events by leopards during 2015–2019. We found that roe deer spatially avoided sites frequented by cattle, but wild boar did not. In the growing seasons, leopards shared habitats with cattle and tended to increase their diurnal activities where cattle were present. All 3 study species exhibited fine-scale spatial-temporal segregation to cattle. Leopards selectively preyed on calves over adult cattle and livestock depredation frequency was positively correlated with the detection rates of cattle and wild prey, but not that of leopard. These findings not only show that through behavioral adaption large carnivores and their ungulate prey may persist under livestock disturbance, but also highlight how important proper livestock management is for conserving North Chinese leopards in this region. To enhance livestock management and mitigate human–leopard conflicts, we recommend specific actions, such as better guarding of free-ranging cattle or adoption of a captive farming system.     

华南虎源血巴尔通体的PCR检测

为了快速准确检测华南虎感染的血巴尔通体种类,我们根据已发表的猫血巴尔通体的16S rRNA基因序列,利用软件Primer Premier 5.0设计2对特异性引物,以华南虎源血巴尔通体基因组DNA进行PCR检测。2对引物分别扩增出1452 bp和170 bp的rDNA序列,1452 bp序列与GenBank~（TM）发表的3种猫血巴尔通体序列相似性分别为99.3%、91.7%和79.5%,而170 bp序列与序列AM748929的相似性为100%。实验结果表明华南虎感染的血巴尔通体为大型猫血巴尔通体,实验建立的PCR检测方法为华南虎血巴尔通体病的诊断及分子流行病学的调查提供了新的手段。     

A comparison of food habits and prey preferences of Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) at the southwest Primorskii Krai in Russia and Hunchun in China

A small, isolated Amur tiger population ranges across the southwest Primorskii Krai region in Russia and Hunchun region in China. Many individuals, with “dual nationality,” cross the border frequently. Formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger food requirements in both countries. While the diets of tigers ranging in Russia is clearly understood, little is known of the tigers' feeding habits in China.. We used scat analysis combined with data on the abundance of 4 prey species to examine Amur tiger diet and prey preferences in Hunchun. We examined 53 tiger scat samples from 2011 to 2016 and found that tigers preyed on 12 species (11 species in winter), 4 of which were domestic animals with 33.58% biomass contribution; this was the first record of Amur tigers eating lynx in this area. Tigers showed a strong preference for wild boar (Jacobs index: +0.849), which were also the most frequently consumed prey, and a strong avoidance of roe deer (Jacobs index: ?0.693). On the Russian side, domestic animals (just dog) were rarely found in tiger scat, and tigers did not show strong avoidance of roe deer, but of sika deer. We also found red deer footprints during winter surveys and that tigers ate red deer on the Chinese side, while there was no record of red deer feeding on the Russian side. Reducing or eliminating human disturbance, such as grazing, is essential to recovering tiger prey and habitat in this area and the Sino‐Russian joint ungulate annual survey is indispensable for prey estimates of this small, isolated Amur tiger population.     

Individual automatic detection and identification of big cats with the combination of different body parts

The development of facial recognition technology has become an increasingly powerful tool in wild animal individual recognition. In this paper, we develop an automatic detection and recognition method with the combinations of body features of big cats based on the deep convolutional neural network (CNN). We collected dataset including 12 244 images from 47 individual Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) at the Siberian Tiger Park by mobile phones and digital camera and 1940 images and videos of 12 individual wild Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) by infrared cameras. First, the single shot multibox detector algorithm is used to perform the automatic detection process of feature regions in each image. For the different feature regions of the image, like face stripe or spots, CNNs and multi-layer perceptron models were applied to automatically identify tiger and leopard individuals, independently. Our results show that the identification accuracy of Amur tiger can reach up to 93.27% for face front, 93.33% for right body stripe, and 93.46% for left body stripe. Furthermore, the combination of right face, left body stripe, and right body stripe achieves the highest accuracy rate, up to 95.55%. Consequently, the combination of different body parts can improve the individual identification accuracy. However, it is not the higher the number of body parts, the higher the accuracy rate. The combination model with 3 body parts has the highest accuracy. The identification accuracy of Amur leopard can reach up to 86.90% for face front, 89.13% for left body spots, and 88.33% for right body spots. The accuracy of different body parts combination is lower than the independent part. For wild Amur leopard, the combination of face with body spot part is not helpful for the improvement of identification accuracy. The most effective identification part is still the independent left or right body spot part. It can be applied in long-term monitoring of big cats, including big data analysis for animal behavior, and be helpful for the individual identification of other wildlife species.     

Monitoring tigers with confidence

With only 5% of the world's wild tigers (Panthera tigris Linnaeus, 1758) remaining since the last century, conservationists urgently need to know whether or not the management strategies currently being employed are effectively protecting these tigers. This knowledge is contingent on the ability to reliably monitor tiger populations, or subsets, over space and time. In the this paper, we focus on the 2 seminal methodologies (camera trap and occupancy surveys) that have enabled the monitoring of tiger populations with greater confidence. Specifically, we: (i) describe their statistical theory and application in the field; (ii) discuss issues associated with their survey designs and state variable modeling; and, (iii) discuss their future directions. These methods have had an unprecedented influence on increasing statistical rigor within tiger surveys and, also, surveys of other carnivore species. Nevertheless, only 2 published camera trap studies have gone beyond single baseline assessments and actually monitored population trends. For low density tiger populations (e.g. <1 adult tiger/100 km²) obtaining sufficient precision for state variable estimates from camera trapping remains a challenge because of insufficient detection probabilities and/or sample sizes. Occupancy surveys have overcome this problem by redefining the sampling unit (e.g. grid cells and not individual tigers). Current research is focusing on developing spatially explicit capture-mark-recapture models and estimating abundance indices from landscape-scale occupancy surveys, as well as the use of genetic information for identifying and monitoring tigers. The widespread application of these monitoring methods in the field now enables complementary studies on the impact of the different threats to tiger populations and their response to varying management intervention.     

Historic distribution and recent loss of tigers in China

Historical records can provide important evidence of changes in distributions of wildlife species. Here we discuss the distribution of the tiger (Panthera tigris Linnaeus, 1758) over the past 2000 years in China based on 2635 historical records. We also compare tiger distributions outlined in these records with ecosystem type maps. Throughout this time period, tigers maintained a broad distribution across 7 biomes (from forests to deserts). However, in recent decades the range has been significantly condensed. Today, only 2 populations remain, neither of which is independently viable. Tigers have completely disappeared from the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of central China, a region that was traditionally their most important biome in China. The continued presence of wild tigers in China is highly dependent on significant conservation measures.     

虎人工繁育种群病毒性传染病的流行病学与防制现状

虎作为中国国家Ⅰ级保护的珍稀濒危野生动物,具有重要的科研、观赏和社会价值。近年来,我国对虎的保护工作取得了重要进展,但是疫病,尤其是病毒性传染病仍然威胁着虎的生存质量和种群数量。为此,本文总结了临床上感染虎的猫泛白细胞减少症、犬瘟热、流感、猫传染性鼻气管炎、猫杯状病毒感染和犬副流感等重要病毒性传染病的流行情况和防治现状,以期为虎的传染病防护工作提供疫病的本底信息和参考依据。