Abstract:

From May 2017 to May 2018, we used camera traps to investigate the ground-dwelling bird and mammal species in the Sichuan Baishuihe National Nature Reserve, China. From footage of over 3,832 camera trap days from 24 camera trap stations, we identified 535 independent wildlife images, including 17 mammal species belonging to 10 families and 4 orders and 10 bird species belonging to 4 families and 2 orders. Five of these species are listed as Class I Nationally Protected Wildlife, and 8 species are listed as Class II. Hystrix hodgsoni, Turdus mupinensis and Trochalopteron affine were newly recorded in the nature reserve, and Ailuropoda melanoleuca was first recorded after the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake. For mammals, the number of independent images of Paguma larvata, Martes flavigula and Naemorhedus griseus accounted for 50.2%, and for birds, that of Ithaginis cruentus and Tragopan temminckii accounted for 91.6%. Our study provides important baseline information for the management and conservation of wildlife in the Baishuihe National Nature Reserve.

Key words: Baishuihe, infrared camera, relative abundance index