Abstract
Geopolitical borderlands are politically sensitive areas and biodiversity hotspots, strictly controlled by the government and military. How to ensure political security, while protecting the biodiversity in borderlands is a problem for ecologists and governments. In this study, the nest site selection of the wild boar Sus scrofa was a case study in the Sino-Russia borderland to understand the survival strategy of wild life under anthropogenic pressure. We investigated (a) how the spatial distribution of anthropogenic pressure and wild boar nests in the borderland and (b) how anthropogenic pressure and the border influence on the wild boars’ nest site selection. The Getis-Ord Gi* analysis was used to analyze the distribution patterns of wild boar nest sites and anthropogenic pressures in the borderland, the Structural Equation Models was used to explore the influence of border, roads, settlements, agricultural land, grassland and anthropogenic pressure on wild boars’ nest site selection. The results indicated that wild boar nest sites are close to the border, roads and agricultural land and away from settlements and grassland. Regardless of the combination of anthropogenic pressure, wild boars make the most advantageous choice and prefer to be closer to the borderland. We speculated that military control played a vital role in borderlands for animal protection under anthropogenic pressure. Wild boars benefit from the prohibition of anthropogenic persecution due to military control. Compared with existing measures, we suggest a different protection/wildlife management strategy, what we need to do may be to prohibit anthropogenic persecution rather than perform other human interventions to protect animals. However, for a species with trouble potential, we need to base our conservation strategies on the recovery of top predators, and play the community control role of top predators to avoid the occurrence of trouble.
Highlights
Most borderlands, which are politically sensitive areas under strict military control, overlap with biodiversity hotspot (Macdonald et al, 2020), contain important ecosystems, and provide critical habitats for endangered species
We first quantified the different types of anthropogenic pressure in the study area and explored (a) how is the spatial distribution of anthropogenic pressure and wild boar nests in the borderland and (b) how anthropogenic pressure and the border influence on the wild boars’ nest site selection? we discussed the significance of prohibition of anthropogenic persecution in military control borderland areas for wildlife protection and management
The Euclidean distance between the wild boar nest site and the borderline was calculated as a borderland effect indicator, and agricultural land, grassland, roads and settlements were calculated as anthropogenic pressure indicators
Summary
Most borderlands, which are politically sensitive areas under strict military control, overlap with biodiversity hotspot (Macdonald et al, 2020), contain important ecosystems, and provide critical habitats for endangered species. As anthropogenic pressure continues to increase in magnitude, instances and extent (Venter et al, 2016; Watson et al, 2016; Halpern et al, 2019), the impact of anthropogenic pressure on animal behaviors become a hot spot in conservation biology and wildlife management in recent years (Gaynor et al, 2018; Samia et al, 2019; Suraci et al, 2019). Previous studies have speculated that due to the tightened military controls at the borderlands, which limit public access, borderlands have developed habitats with low anthropogenic disturbance and improved habitat suitability (Vitkalova et al, 2018). These zones can have importance as corridors, connecting different patches (Hosseini et al, 2019). We first quantified the different types of anthropogenic pressure in the study area and explored (a) how is the spatial distribution of anthropogenic pressure and wild boar nests in the borderland and (b) how anthropogenic pressure and the border influence on the wild boars’ nest site selection? we discussed the significance of prohibition of anthropogenic persecution in military control borderland areas for wildlife protection and management
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call