Study on Bird and Mammal Diversity in the Daxueshan Area of Xiaheishan Provincial Nature Reserve Based on Ground and Canopy-level Camera Traps
[Objective]This study aims to investigate the biodiversity of birds and animals in the Daxueshan area of the Xiaoheishan Provincial Nature Reserve in Yunnan Province,from the perspective of vertical layers in forest.It analyzed the community composition of birds and animals in the forest canopy layer and ground layer and explored the application of the camera trap combining the canopy and ground layers.[Methods]From November 2021 to July 2022,a total of 40 camera traps were placed at both forest canopy layer(23)and ground layer(17)to monitor bird and animal diversity within the elevation range of 2000～3000 m.[Results]A total of 42 species of birds and mammals were recorded,including 20 birds(belonging to 4 orders and 12 families)and 22 mammals(belonging to 5 orders and 12 families).The birds with higher relative abundance index(RAI)from all camera traps were Lophura nycthemera(RAI=1.121)and Tarsiger rufilatus(1.007),and the animals with higher RAI were Trachypithecus melamera(12.873),Atherurus macrourus(7.212),Petaurista yunnanensis(5.605),Callosciurus erythraeus(3.570),Dremomys pernyi(2.282),Muntiacus vaginalis(1.974),Belomys pearsonii(1.460),and Macaca arctoides(1.430).The survey recorded one national first-class protected wild animal(T.melamera)and 16 national second-class protected wild animals,such as the Nisaetus nipalensis,Strix nivicolum,L.nycthemera,M.arctoides,M.assamensis,and Ursus thibetanus.The canopy layer captured 23 species(5 birds and 18 mammals),while the ground layer captured 36 species(18 birds and 18 mammals).t-test results showed a significant difference in the number of bird and mammal species captured between the canopy and ground layers(P=0.006),but no significant difference in the independent photos of birds and mammals(P=0.910).The Jaccard similarity index for bird communities between the canopy and ground layers was 0.15,indicating very low similarity;for mammal communities,it was 0.61,indicating moderate similarity.The T.melamera had the highest RAI among all species in the canopy layer(RAI=11.745),significantly higher than that in the ground layer(RAI=1.128).The species with the highest RAI on the ground was the A.macrouru(RAI=7.212).[Conclusion]The Daxueshan area has a high diversity of birds and mammals,similar to the level of biodiversity in the southern section of the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve.T.melamera is a dominant and flagship species in this area,and we recommend to strengthen its protection and investigations.The species monitoring efficiency in the ground layer is higher than that in the canopy layer,and the species compositions captured in these two layers are significantly different.We recommend that future animal monitoring and research in forests using infrared cameras should encompass both the canopy and ground layers,to comprehensively reflect the biodiversity levels and distribution characteristics.
Xiaoheishan Provincial Nature ReserveDaxueshan areabiodiversity of birds and mammalscamera-trappingcanopyground
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