Population Density and Driving Factors of North China Leopards in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve
The North China leopard (<i>Panthera pardus japonesis</i>) is a rare leopard subspecies distributed only in China. In this study, we conducted camera-trap surveys of a North China Leopard population in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve, Shanxi Province, China. We estimated population abundanc...
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/429 |
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doaj-743051d8960343d097ef0ef6526286e72021-02-08T00:02:14ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-02-011142942910.3390/ani11020429Population Density and Driving Factors of North China Leopards in Tie Qiao Shan Nature ReserveMengyan Zhu0Muhammad Zaman1Meng Wang2Kasereka Vitekere3Jianzhang Ma4Guangshun Jiang5Feline Research Center of Chinese State Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaFeline Research Center of Chinese State Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaFeline Research Center of Chinese State Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaFeline Research Center of Chinese State Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaFeline Research Center of Chinese State Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaFeline Research Center of Chinese State Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaThe North China leopard (<i>Panthera pardus japonesis</i>) is a rare leopard subspecies distributed only in China. In this study, we conducted camera-trap surveys of a North China Leopard population in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve, Shanxi Province, China. We estimated population abundance and density distribution, and explored the effects of distribution of different prey populations, habitat, and anthropogenic factors on the spatial distribution of North China leopard density. Our results suggested that the North China leopard density was 4.23 individuals/100 km<sup>2</sup>, and that 17.98 individuals might live within the study area. The population density of the North China leopard increased with the distribution of wild boars, and, on the contrary, decreased with the distribution of roe deer. We found that habitat environmental factors and anthropogenic interference also significantly affected the population density and spatial distribution of the North China leopard. These insights informed us that in order to protect this predator, which is only distributed in China, we should adopt a comprehensive customized adaptive landscape protection strategy.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/429North China leopardcamera trappopulation sizeenvironmental factorsanthropogenic factors |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Mengyan Zhu Muhammad Zaman Meng Wang Kasereka Vitekere Jianzhang Ma Guangshun Jiang |
| spellingShingle |
Mengyan Zhu Muhammad Zaman Meng Wang Kasereka Vitekere Jianzhang Ma Guangshun Jiang Population Density and Driving Factors of North China Leopards in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve Animals North China leopard camera trap population size environmental factors anthropogenic factors |
| author_facet |
Mengyan Zhu Muhammad Zaman Meng Wang Kasereka Vitekere Jianzhang Ma Guangshun Jiang |
| author_sort |
Mengyan Zhu |
| title |
Population Density and Driving Factors of North China Leopards in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve |
| title_short |
Population Density and Driving Factors of North China Leopards in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve |
| title_full |
Population Density and Driving Factors of North China Leopards in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve |
| title_fullStr |
Population Density and Driving Factors of North China Leopards in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Population Density and Driving Factors of North China Leopards in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve |
| title_sort |
population density and driving factors of north china leopards in tie qiao shan nature reserve |
| publisher |
MDPI AG |
| series |
Animals |
| issn |
2076-2615 |
| publishDate |
2021-02-01 |
| description |
The North China leopard (<i>Panthera pardus japonesis</i>) is a rare leopard subspecies distributed only in China. In this study, we conducted camera-trap surveys of a North China Leopard population in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve, Shanxi Province, China. We estimated population abundance and density distribution, and explored the effects of distribution of different prey populations, habitat, and anthropogenic factors on the spatial distribution of North China leopard density. Our results suggested that the North China leopard density was 4.23 individuals/100 km<sup>2</sup>, and that 17.98 individuals might live within the study area. The population density of the North China leopard increased with the distribution of wild boars, and, on the contrary, decreased with the distribution of roe deer. We found that habitat environmental factors and anthropogenic interference also significantly affected the population density and spatial distribution of the North China leopard. These insights informed us that in order to protect this predator, which is only distributed in China, we should adopt a comprehensive customized adaptive landscape protection strategy. |
| topic |
North China leopard camera trap population size environmental factors anthropogenic factors |
| url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/429 |
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