城市森林是城市生物多样性的核心区域, 然而城市森林兽类的生态策略及其对人类活动响应的研究仍然不足。本研究基于红外相机监测技术, 于2019年10月至2024年4月对重庆中心城区城市森林兽类多样性开展调查, 共设置29个监测位点, 布设45台红外相机, 累计有效相机工作日5,814 d, 每个位点平均运行200.48 ± 20.5 d。使用兽类形态、生活史和生态学特征构建功能性状空间。使用核密度分析评价了人类活动与野猪(Sus scrofa)、小麂(Muntiacus reevesi)、花面狸(Paguma larvata)、黄鼬(Mustela sibirica)和红腿长吻松鼠(Dremomys pyrrhomerus)日活动节律的重叠度, 并进一步研究了常见兽类对人类活动的时间响应。监测周期内共记录到兽类13种, 隶属3目7科, 其中国家一级重点保护野生动物有小灵猫(Viverricula indica); 国家二级重点保护野生动物有豹猫(Prionailurus bengalensis)。研究发现, 具有中等体型、中等扩散能力和杂食性生态策略的物种在功能性状空间聚集, 表明其适应策略的相似性。而占据功能性状空间边缘的物种更易受人类活动影响, 野猪在无人类直接活动的区域昼间活动频率显著增加。小麂在家猫(Felis catus)活动的区域活动窗口压缩, 在有家犬(Canis lupus familiaris)活动的区域通过时间偏移策略来调整其活动节律。家猫、家犬与兽类活动的时间重叠度高于徒步、采集等直接人类活动。结果表明, 兽类对人类活动的响应呈现复杂性, 家猫、家犬等间接人类影响更显著。研究结果可为城市生物多样性保护和管理提供科学支持。

Aims: Urban forests serve as key reservoirs of biodiversity within cities. Yet, the ecological strategies of urban mammals and their responses to human activity remain understudied. This study aimed to: (1) document mammal species composition in the urban forests of Chongqing central urban area; (2) analyze the functional traits structuring mammal communities; and (3) assess how native mammals respond to direct human presence and to free-roaming domestic cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris).

Methods: From October 2019 to April 2024, we deployed 45 infrared camera traps across 29 sites in Chongqing central urban area, accumulating 5,814 effective camera days (mean ± SD: 200.48 ± 20.5 days per site). Functional traits— body size, dispersal, diet, life history, and habitat breadth—were used to construct a two-dimensional functional trait space. We applied kernel density estimation to analyze diel activity patterns and evaluated the temporal overlap between human activity (including domestic cats and dogs) and five wildlife species: wild boar (Sus scrofa), Reeves’ muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), and red-hipped squirrel. We further used Wilcoxon rank-sum tests to assess differences in species richness between sites with and without direct human activity.

Results: We recorded 13 mammal species from 3 orders and 7 families. This includes the Class-I nationally protected animal small Indian civet (Viverricula indica) and the Class-II nationally protected animal leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). Species with moderate body size, intermediate dispersal ability, and omnivorous diets clustered near the center of functional trait space, indicating convergence in adaptive strategies. In contrast, species at the periphery of trait space were more sensitive to human disturbance. For instance, wild boar displayed more diurnal activity in areas without direct human presence, while reeves’ muntjac exhibited compressed activity windows in areas frequented by cats, and temporal shifts in response to dog activity. Notably, domestic cats and dogs showed higher temporal overlap with native mammals than did direct human activity.

Conclusion: Mammalian responses to human activity in urban forests are complex. Indirect anthropogenic pressures— especially those mediated by domestic cats and dogs—may pose greater risks to native wildlife than low-intensity human recreation. These findings provide important insights for urban biodiversity conservation and management.