Population Density and Driving Factors of North China Leopards in Tie Qiao Shan Nature Reserve.

Mengyan Zhu,Kasereka Vitekere,Guangshun Jiang,Jianzhang Ma,Meng Wang,Muhammad Zaman

doi:10.3390/ani11020429

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe North China leopard is a subspecies of leopard distributed in China, but little is known about its population status. This study selected the most active areas of North China leopards to determine the population density and distribution of North China leopards. We found that different prey had different effects on the density distribution of North China leopards. Environmental factors and human factors are also important factors affecting the population density distribution of North China leopards. These results provided an effective basis for the protection of North China leopard population and management evaluation of the reserve. It also provided effective methods for the protection and management of other endangered species.The North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonesis) 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 km2, 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.

Highlights

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a solitary, reclusive species of big cat
There have not been extensive studies on the population, density, distribution, endangered status, and habitat quality of North China leopards [4], which severely restricts the effective development of its population and habitat protection and management
The recapturing model estimates that the population density of

Summary

Introduction

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a solitary, reclusive species of big cat. It is the most widespread felid, extending across much of Africa, as well as in Asia, from the MiddleEast to the Pacific Ocean [1]. The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a solitary, reclusive species of big cat. It is the most widespread felid, extending across much of Africa, as well as in Asia, from the Middle. Leopards are facing global habitat fragmentation and loss of suitable habitat [3]. The North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonesis) is the only leopard subspecies distributed only in China. The North China leopard is the flagship species of the forest ecosystem in North China and a symbol of ecological environmental quality. There have not been extensive studies on the population, density, distribution, endangered status, and habitat quality of North China leopards [4], which severely restricts the effective development of its population and habitat protection and management

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