Wild Water Research Articles

Neu5Gc binding loss of subtype H7 influenza A virus facilitates adaptation to gallinaceous poultry following transmission from waterbirds.

Between 2013 and 2018, the novel A/Anhui/1/2013 (AH/13)-lineage H7N9 virus caused at least five waves of outbreaks in humans, totaling 1,567 confirmed human cases in China. Surveillance data indicated a disproportionate distribution of poultry infected with this AH/13-lineage virus, and laboratory experiments demonstrated that this virus can efficiently spread among chickens but not among Pekin ducks. The underlying mechanism of this selective transmission remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated the absence of Neu5Gc expression in chickens across all respiratory and gastrointestinal tissues. However, Neu5Gc expression varied among different duck species and even within the tissues of the same species. The AH/13-lineage viruses exclusively bind to acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), in contrast to wild waterbird H7 viruses that bind both Neu5Ac and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). The level of Neu5Gc expression influences H7 virus replication and facilitates adaptive mutations in these viruses. In summary, our findings highlight the critical role of Neu5Gc in affecting the host range and interspecies transmission dynamics of H7 viruses among avian species.IMPORTANCEMigratory waterfowl, gulls, and shorebirds are natural reservoirs for influenza A viruses (IAVs) that can occasionally spill over to domestic poultry, and ultimately humans. This study showed wild-type H7 IAVs from waterbirds initially bind to glycan receptors terminated with N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) or N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). However, after enzootic transmission in chickens, the viruses exclusively bind to Neu5Ac. The absence of Neu5Gc expression in gallinaceous poultry, particularly chickens, exerts selective pressure, shaping IAV populations, and promoting the acquisition of adaptive amino acid substitutions in the hemagglutinin protein. This results in the loss of Neu5Gc binding and an increase in virus transmissibility in gallinaceous poultry, particularly chickens. Consequently, the transmission capability of these poultry-adapted H7 IAVs in wild water birds decreases. Timely intervention, such as stamping out, may help reduce virus adaptation to domestic chicken populations and lower the risk of enzootic outbreaks, including those caused by IAVs exhibiting high pathogenicity.

Farmers’ Perceived Impact of High-Dikes on Rice and Wild Fish Yields, Water Quality, and Use of Fertilizers in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Farmers’ Perceived Impact of High-Dikes on Rice and Wild Fish Yields, Water Quality, and Use of Fertilizers in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Protection motivation theory in predicting intentional behaviors regards schistosomiasis: a WeChat-based qualitative study.

Modifications of behavior can help reduce the risk of transmission by disrupting the parasite life cycle. Behavior intension is a necessary intermediate step in behavior change. This study aimed to explore protection motivation theory (PMT) in predicting likelihood of engagement in protective behavior against infection with Schistosoma. In China, a questionnaire for data collection was sent to users who followed the WeChat public account from June 2 to 6, 2023. Factors affecting intentional behavior of participants were analyzed using stepwise regression analysis and structural equation modeling. A total of 2,243 valid questionnaires were collected, with a mean age of 30 ± 8.4 years. Approximately 1,395 (62.2%) participants reported that they had been exposed to wild waters in daily work and life. About 51.0 and 50.7% of respondents reported never having been exposed to wild water in the last 3 and 6 months, respectively. Results indicated that prior knowledge of schistosomiasis was associated with the 7 PMT subconstructs, which then influenced future preventative behaviors. Behavior intentionis a complicated and indispensable part of behavior change that is influenced by professional knowledge, socio-economic status, and personal characteristics. The effective dissemination of knowledge regards schistosomiasis should be strengthened to emphasize the effectiveness of protective measures against infection and severe disease.

A lightweight network model designed for alligator gar detection

When using advanced detection algorithms to monitor alligator gar in real-time in wild waters, the efficiency of existing detection algorithms is subject to certain limitations due to turbid water quality, poor underwater lighting conditions, and obstruction by other objects. In order to solve this problem, we developed a lightweight real-time detection network model called ARD-Net, from the perspective of reducing the amount of calculation and obtaining more feature map patterns. We introduced a cross-domain grid matching strategy to accelerate network convergence, and combined the involution operator and dual-channel attention mechanism to build a more lightweight feature extractor and multi-scale detection reasoning network module to enhance the network’s response to different semantics. Compared with the yoloV5 baseline model, our method performs equivalently in terms of detection accuracy, but the model is smaller, the detection speed is increased by 1.48 times, When compared with the latest State-of-the-Art (SOTA) method, YOLOv8, our method demonstrates clear advantages in both detection efficiency and model size,and has good real-time performance. Additionally, we created a dataset of alligator gar images for training.

Helminth community of Nectomys squamipes naturally infected by Schistosoma mansoni in an endemic area in Brazil: A comparison of 22 years apart

The municipality of Sumidouro in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, is considered an area with low endemicity of Schistosoma mansoni. In this municipality, the wild water rat Nectomys squamipes is a wild reservoir of S. mansoni. A helminth community survey was carried out on N. squamipes populations in Sumidouro from 1997 to 1999. In the present study, we compared the helminth fauna and the helminth community structure of N. squamipes with a recent survey after a 22-year time interval, considering that the prevalence of S. mansoni infection in humans remained stable and that the area showed the same environmental characteristics. Seventy-three host specimens of N. squamipes collected between 1997 and 1999 and 21 specimens collected in 2021 were analyzed in this study. Seven helminth species were found in each collection period. The nematode Syphacia evaginata was recorded for the first time in N. squamipes in 2021. Syphacia venteli was the most abundant species in both periods and the most prevalent in 2021. During the period from 1997 to 1999, the most prevalent species was Hassalstrongylus epsilon. Significant differences in prevalence and abundance in relation to host sex were observed only for S. mansoni in 1997–1999. Significant differences in the abundance of the helminth species over time were observed only in Physaloptera bispiculata. Hassalstrongylus epsilon, S. venteli and S. mansoni were the dominant species in both periods. Litomosoides chagasfilhoi, Echinostoma paraensei paraensei and P. bispiculata became dominant, codominant and subordinate, respectively, over time. In conclusion, the helminth community of N. squamipes remained stable, with similar species richness, prevalence and abundance values and low beta-diversity over time. The occurrence of S. mansoni in the water rat has remained stable for decades, highlighting its importance for schistosomiasis control.

Microplastic pollution in the surface waters, sediments, and wild crabs of mangrove ecosystems of East Java, Indonesia

East Java's mangrove ecosystems are exceptionally susceptible to contamination by anthropogenic activities and degradable marine debris, including plastic. This study aimed to investigate the shapes and distribution of microplastics (MPs) in sediment, water, and wild crabs, as well as the correlation. Wild crabs, sediment, and water originated from ten distinct mangrove ecosystems dispersed throughout northern and southern East Java. The MPs were extracted using digestion and density separation methods. The research identified six discrete shapes of MPs in sediment and water: fiber, fragment, foam, film, pellet, and microbead. The identified MPs were distributed in varying concentrations across various sites. Fibers were prevalent in the majority of water, ranging from 2.5 to 24.90 particles. L−1, with the exception of Gedangan (GD) and Dubibir (DB), whose proportion was relatively low. For the sediments, the seven sites contained a greater proportion of fragments ranging from 1.53 to 1.69 particles. g−1 dw as compared to surface waters. Additionally, each wild crab contained 48 particles identified in the gills and digestive tracts (GIT). Fiber constituted more than 60 % of the total MPs, making it the most prevalent shape in the wild crabs. However, this variety was not preferred. Correlation analysis revealed connections between MPs found in sediment and their presence in crab gills and GIT (p < 0.01). This highlights the potential hazards of biomagnification in East Java's mangrove ecosystems. Factor analysis revealed the influential factors that contribute to pollution in the marine protected areas, emphasizing the intricate nature of coastal contamination. This work enhances comprehension of the distribution and consequences of MPs in mangrove ecosystems, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive efforts to mitigate their effects.

First report of Ophidascaris spp. (Class: Nematode) Infection in Wild-Caught Javanese Keelback Water Snake (Fowlea melanzostus) in Banyuwangi District

The javanese keelback water snake (Fowlea melanzostus) is a semi-aquatic reptile that often found in Indonesia and endemic to Java island. Water tiger snakes are usually kept as exotic pets. Wild caught javanese keelback water snakes have risks of spreading several disease agents that can be zoonotic, which is nematodiasis caused by Ophidascaris spp. This study aims to determine the prevalence level of Ophidascaris spp. infections in javanese keelback water snakes from Banyuwangi district. This study used a descriptive method with accidental sampling. The total sample in this study was 33 wild-caught javanese keelback water snakes. The identification method used is snake samples that have been collected are then euthanized and necropsied to check for nematode infections in the subcutan, muscular, and visceral part. The result showed that 28 samples were positive for nematode infection and 5 samples were negative with a prevalence rate of 84.84%. The nematodes that have been identified come from the genus Ophidascaris spp. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the incidence of nematode transmission in other wild caught snakes in Indonesia.

First Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in Montenegro

Abstract Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly infectious viral disease that affects birds, including wild water birds and poultry. The emergence and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains, such as H5N1, have raised concerns due to their potential to cause severe outbreaks and cross the species barrier, leading to human infections and global public health emergencies. In this study, we report the first case of HPAI H5N1 detection in Montenegro. Twenty-six carcasses of dalmatian pelicans were found in Skadar Lake, Montenegro, and the H5N1 subtype was confirmed through molecular testing in the samples from pelicans. The whole influenza genome was sequenced and belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b was determined.

KARAKTERISTIK HABITAT IKAN CUPANG LIAR (WILD BETTA) ENDEMIK SEBAGAI DASAR PENGEMBANGAN POTENSI BUDIDAYA DI KABUPATEN LABUHANBATU RAYA

Wild betta fish has high economic value as one of the ornamental fish commodities in Indonesia. The potential for cultivation development so far has not been maximized so that it still relies on the results of capture from nature. The main key to the development of wild fish farming is actually dependent on food conversion and water quality. Water quality management must adjust to its habitat in nature, however, the study of the physical chemical parameters of wild betta fish waters endemic to Sumatra has not been widely reported. Studies related to habitat characteristics can be used as the basis for aquaculture management in the future. This study aims to analyze the condition of the physical parameters of aquatic chemistry in the natural habitat of wild betta fish in the Regency Labuhanbatu Selatan, Labuhanbatu, and Labuhanbatu Utara. This research is exlorative by observing physical and chemical factors carried out insitu and exitu. The research data is analyzed quantitatively, presented discriptively and discussed based on relevant literature. The results of the main component analysis (Principal Component Analysis) show the main characteristic parameters of wild betta fish habitat in the form of: BOD, COD, DO, conductivity, temperature, and pH. Based on the results of UPGMA analysis, the percentage of similarity of stations 1 and 2 (90.5%) while station 3 (83.6%). It was concluded that the key parameters for wild betta fish farming activities are BOD, COD, DO, conductivity, temperature, and pH and these parameters need to be measured continuously.

Origin of domesticated water chestnuts (Trapa bispinosa Roxb.) and genetic variation in wild water chestnuts.

The water chestnut Trapa bispinosa Roxb. has been domesticated in China and has been reported as the only domesticated species of this genus. To understand the origin of T. bispinosa and its evolution pathway, we compared the genetic similarity and seed morphology of domesticated water chestnut T. bispinosa with three wild species T. natans, T. incisa, and T. japonica along with archeological seed samples from the Tianluoshan site (approximately 7000-6300 cal BP) in China. The largest seed size was observed only in the domesticated species, whereas other wild species showed smaller size including T. natans L. genetically close to the domesticated type, and T. incisa was the smallest in size. The volumes of the seed capsule and endosperm were measured using X ray CT scans, showing the ratios of total volumes between T. bispinosa and wild species ranged from 4.2 to 4.5. The ratios of endosperm volume ranged from 3.3 to 3.7. Both measurements showed domesticated species have larger seed volume. Genome size was indirectly estimated by flow cytometry. Domesticated species with larger seed size was estimated as diploid, as were the wild species except for tetraploid species T. japonica. Domesticated species clearly showed the largest edible organs, but it was not a result of ploidy level changes. Maternal lineages traced using complete whole chloroplast sequences, suggested that T. natans is the closest to T. bispinosa, both of which are close to T. japonica. The result was confirmed by PCR genotyping with chloroplast insertion/deletion (cpINDEL) markers developed in the study. T. incisa showed distinct plastid types within the species, and T. japonica showed a unique plastid genotype. Our study concludes the largest volumes for the edible endosperm have been accomplished through nearly 6000 years of artificial selection, but the domestication did not involve ploidy level changes.

Evaluating the potential for reintroducing the endangered wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in Kanha National Park, central India

Reintroducing megafauna to their historic range is an effective strategy to halt their extinctions and restore ecosystems. Wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is an endangered megaherbivore that is lost from 95% of its range. About 90% of its global population (less than 4000) resides within India, in two isolated populations: northeast and central India. The central Indian population is on the verge of extinction and warrants urgent conservation interventions. We assess the potential and provide a strategy for reintroducing buffaloes in Kanha National Park, India. Habitat suitability using the global occurrence of buffalo revealed low‐lying grasslands with least human pressure found in Kanha (390 km2) to be suitable. Within this suitable range, we evaluated vegetation composition, forage biomass, and potential carrying capacity. Multidimensional ordination classified these suitable sites into moist and dry grassland clusters. Moist grasslands were found to better suit reintroduction due to lower grazing pressure, higher productivity, and availability of perennial water sources. Distinct matriarchal clades of swamp and river buffalo were observed. Within the river buffalo clade, Indian wild buffaloes formed a distinct cluster with close proximity between northeast and central Indian samples, suggesting northeast buffaloes could be sourced for a founding population in Kanha. Following IUCN guidelines, we discuss the reintroduction strategy that could sustain approximately 200 buffaloes in the area and subsequently expand to other suitable habitats in central India. If implemented as proposed, recovery of this lost ecosystem engineer will help to restore grasslands, and swamp habitats, as well as contribute to its global conservation efforts.

Evaluating the suppression of Hydrilla verticillata by manual removal and planting natives for small-scale restoration efforts in a spring-fed river

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is an invasive aquatic macrophyte found on every continent except Antarctica. Due to the high number of federally listed species in the San Marcos River, Texas, management options for hydrilla are limited. We examined the ability of the two native macrophytes to suppress hydrilla in plots where 0 to 100% hydrilla was removed. In plots where 100% hydrilla was removed, Texas wild rice exhibited equal or greater coverage to hydrilla. Hydrilla was present in 100% of the plots at the end of the study, regardless of percent removal, while Texas wild rice (Zizania texana) and water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia) were present in 50 and 42% of the plots, respectively. While the overall survival percentage in plots was 50% for Texas wild rice, the mean root and shoot dry weights were significantly greater than hydrilla which occurred in all plots. However, hydrilla coverage was among the highest in plots where 100% of the hydrilla was removed at the start of the study, indicating its ability to quickly invade disturbed sites. The study results indicate morphological differences with hydrilla allocating greater biomass into its shoots while Texas wild rice allocates equal amounts of biomass into its shoots and roots.

Occupancy model to unveil wildlife utilization at Yeongyang-gun wind farm management road, Korea

Wind power is a rapidly growing renewable energy sector that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides sustainable energy. However, environmental destruction in wind power plant areas, particularly in wind farms within forests, is an emerging issue. This study aimed to analyze the impact of wind-farm roads on terrestrial animals in forested areas. A camera trap survey was conducted to investigate the impact of road management on wildlife behavior. We installed 52 cameras along roads connecting wind turbines for three months (1st October to 30th December 2021) on the Yeongyang-gun wind farm in South Korea and evaluated animal occupancy and detection probabilities using an occupancy model. Factors related to terrain and vegetation were used to estimate the occupancy probability (station use). The detection analysis included the presence or absence of guardrails, wind turbines, shrublands, and retaining walls. Additional variables included camera type, number of camera-operating days, and survey time. During the survey period, seven terrestrial mammals (roe deer, wild boar, water deer, raccoon dogs, badgers, leopards, cats, and martens) were captured using cameras. Based on camera trap records, roe deer was the most dominant species, followed by wild boars, raccoon dogs, and water deer, with fewer badgers and martens. The presence of forests in the road area was a significant factor for most species in terms of use probability, and camera type was significant for detection probability. Detecting animals along roads shows that roads are passageways for wildlife, affecting animal behavior during vehicle movement and can cause habitat disconnection. Our results demonstrate that wind farms are indirectly linked to wildlife distribution and welfare. Effective management policies for mitigating wildlife disruption can support sustainable ecosystems and biodiversity. The results of this study can serve as a reference for supporting wildlife conservation, terrestrial ecosystems, and environmental impact assessments.

Reproductive Behavior of Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Chitwan National Park, Nepal

The Asiatic wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee Kerr), an endangered species featured on the IUCN Red List, is distributed across Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand. This investigation delves into the reproductive and certain social behaviors exhibited by Bubalus arnee across distinct habitats and herd types within Nepal’s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) and Chitwan National Park (CNP) during the premonsoon and postmonsoon spans of 2018. The data were amassed through direct observations employing focal animal sampling, continuous sampling, and scan sampling methodologies. Eight primary behavioral activities were noted: chasing, courtship, grazing, mating, mowing, sniffing, urination, and wallowing. We carefully structured the gathered data and input it into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to facilitate analysis. For a more comprehensive visualization of reproductive behavior, we utilized the ggplot2 package within R-studio, enabling the creation of informative graphical depictions. During the premonsoon phase, Bull A exhibited six reproductive behaviors in KTWR. Notably, sniffing was the most frequently observed behavior, recorded six times (37.5%) daily, succeeded by fighting and urination with four (25%) and three (18.35%) daily observations, respectively. Chasing, mating, and courtship were each observed once (6.25%) daily. In contrast, during both seasons, Bulls B, M, and J were not observed partaking in mating activities. When analyzing the postmonsoon reproductive behavior of the observed B. arnee in KTWR and CNP, a notable distinction emerged. In KTWR, there were four more instances of sniffing behavior compared to CNP. In addition, courtship behavior was slightly more frequent in KTWR, occurring three times, whereas it was observed only twice in CNP. Similarly, urination activity was recorded twice as often in KTWR as compared to CNP. As a suggestion for future research, exploring the specific factors influencing the observed variations in reproductive behaviors and habitat preferences of Bubalus arnee could provide valuable insights into the conservation and management of these endangered species.

Circulation of abnormal isolates of H13 subtype influenza virus among wild water birds

The ecology, epidemiology and evolution of avian influenza A viruses in wild birds is still poorly understood due to the extreme complexity caused by the multiple host species of the virus, which are difficult to study during the annual cycle of host development and possible infection by several virus subtypes. A key component is understanding the genetic relationships of individual avian influenza subtypes, which makes it possible to track the origin of new isolates or changes in the causes of their pathogenicity. The purpose of our research was to study the circulation of avian influenza subtypes atypical for wild waterfowl, conduct research into their genetic structure, and search for related viruses to determine the origin of Ukrainian isolates. According to the results of the research, an isolate of avian influenza A with hemagglutinin H13 subtype was isolated from atypical hosts for this species — representatives of the order Anseriformes (the common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna). When conducting a phylogenetic analysis of the regions of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes, their similarity to the isolates isolated from common martins in the Netherlands was proven to be 97.8% and 98.24%, respectively, and further down the degree of homology

Habitat Selection: Autumn and Winter Behavioral Preferences of Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis) in Northeast China

The wild water deer (Hydropotes inermis) population has declined rapidly over recent decades and has reached an endangered status in China. Therefore, it is important to understand their habitat selection to effectively protect both existing and emerging populations. This paper used the data of 11 habitat factors in Baishan Musk Deer National Nature Reserve in the autumn and winter from 2018 to 2019 to conduct a habitat selection study of water deer by resource selection function analysis. The results indicated that in both the autumn and winter, water deer preferred grasslands at sunny and middle slopes, dominated by Artemisia carvifolia and A. argyi, respectively. In addition, the resource selection function showed that the height of dominant herbage, hiding cover, distance from water, and distance to human settlements greatly contribute to the habitat selection of water deer in the cold season. The correct prediction rate of the resource selection function model exceeded 80%, highlighting its suitability for predicting the habitat selection of water deer. The outcomes of this study provide an effective scientific basis for the conservation and restoration of water deer, and valuable enlightenment for implementing a sustainable development strategy in northeast China.

Investigation on Situation of Habitat and Allocation of Time Budget of Wild Water Buffalo Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Investigation on Situation of Habitat and Allocation of Time Budget of Wild Water Buffalo Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Wildlife restoration in Nepal: tracking the conservation translocations in the country

Negative consequences of human impacts on biodiversity are undisputable and inadequate efforts in managing biodiversity have been realized across the globe. The present biodiversity crisis, including burgeoning effects of climate change, therefore, has warranted restoration actions in place. Conservation translocation, one of the effective measures of restoration, involves the individuals of species deliberate movement from one habitat to another, particularly animal species. Nepal has been practicing the conservation translocations for more than four decades. However, details of conservation translocation events and outcomes are not well documented. This article aims to explore the status and issues of conservation translocation in Nepal. For the purpose, we reviewed seven protected area management plans and nine species conservation action plans available in public domain along with related peer reviewed journal articles. We documented the conservation translocation of Blackbuck, Gharials, Swamp deer, Greater One Horned Rhino, Elongated tortoise, Narrow Headed Soft Shell Turtle, Wild Water Buffalo and Vulture. Adoption of feeble adaptive management framework and ad hoc approach of wildlife translocation has left many rooms for improvement in the translocation strategies of Nepal. This is largely exemplified by the improvement required in Vulture Breeding Center, Swamp deer and Wild water buffalo translocations to Chitwan National Park, and Blackbuck translocation to Bardia National Park. For many species, data and information are limited to evaluate the wildlife restoration outcomes independently.

Using Dummy Locations to Conceal Whereabouts of Mobile Users in Location-Based Services

Location-based services are extremely popular in these days. Mobile users use the services such as GPS and Google Maps almost every day to assist their daily activities like finding a restaurant or looking for an apartment. However, in order to use the services, users have to share their location information with the service providers. This requirement may hold back the service adaptation since users may not like to share their locations with others. One common method to preserve user privacy is to send a couple of dummy locations along with the true location to the service providers, so the provider would not be able to tell which location is true. This method is simple and effective, but it also has some drawbacks that make the privacy safeguarding fragile. If the dummy locations are not carefully planned, they may land on wild fields or water and could be easily perceived as fake. This research investigates the flaws of using dummy locations to uphold user privacy from both the users’ and service providers’ points of view, and proposes innovative methods to close the loopholes, so more users will be willing to use location-based services.

Distribution update of water deer (Hydropotes inermis) and prediction of their potential distribution in Northeast China

Human interventions have a great potential of spatially cornering and limiting species, therefore investigating the species distribution is one of the most crucial issues for managing wildlife populations and suggesting robust conservation strategies. Water deer (Hydropotes inermis) are widespread in China throughout history and are endemic to East Asia. However, they disappeared from Northeast China for years. We rediscovered the water deer in a previous study in Jilin Province, China. Then, we conducted further research in Northeast China to determine their distribution status, supplying fundamental data for the recovery and expansion of their population. An interview survey, line transect survey and infrared camera monitoring were carried out in some counties/cities in Northeast China from June to December 2021. The results showed that the water deer were distributed in Wuchang city of Heilongjiang Province, Changbai Korean Autonomous County, Baishan Municipal District, Ji’an city, Hunchun city, Huadian city, Antu County and Helong County of Jilin Province, Benxi Manchu Autonomous County, Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, Fengcheng city and Donggang city of Liaoning Province. The ensemble species distribution model constructed by sdm within the TSS of various models that were set as weight revealed that the potential distribution area of the water deer in the study area was 8764.66 km2 (28.77% of the study area). Combining recent studies concerning the distribution of water deer and the current study, we updated the distribution of wild water deer in Northeast China, which is vital for their conservation worldwide.