Impacts of road disturbance on Artiodactyla: A case study from Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve, China

doi:10.17520/biods.2026050

Abstract

Abstract:

Background & Aims: The expansion of road networks, while enhancing public mobility, exerts discernible impacts on wildlife behavior. However, the correlation between wildlife characteristics and the road effect zone remains poorly explored. The Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve is traversed by Provincial Road S287, and the core area is divided into two parts. As linear infrastructures, roads potentially impose disturbances on wildlife, particularly artiodactyl species.

Methods: In this study, we used infrared cameras within a 3 km buffer on each side of Provincial Road S287 in the Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve from January 2020 to July 2025. Based on data from 388 camera traps, we analyzed the road effect zones of six artiodactyl species using generalized linear models. Furthermore, correlation analysis was used to explore the associations of the road effect zone with body weight and the diurnal-nocturnal index.

Results: All six artiodactyl species exhibited dual road effect zone thresholds, with interspecific variation. The tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) had near- and far- road effect zone thresholds at 600 m and 1,700 m; the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) at 1,300 m and 1,700 m; the Chinese serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii), Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus), and forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) at 1,400 m and 1,800 m; and the wild boar (Sus scrofa) at 900 m and 1,300 m. The correlation analysis revealed that the diurnal-nocturnal index was negatively correlated with both zone thresholds (r_s = –0.893, P < 0.05; r_s = –0.939, P < 0.05), suggesting greater road tolerance in diurnal species; body weight showed no significant relationship with the road effect zone.

Conclusion: Road tolerance varies among artiodactyl species, and the diurnal-nocturnal index is a key indicator of this trait. These results offer scientific insights for the optimization of existing road management and wildlife protection within nature reserves.

Key words: road disturbance, Artiodactyla, camera trap, Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve

Meng Zhang, Rongjun Cao, Gongfang Wang, Qiongjiu Zou, Linting Wu, Weichang Fu, Youbing Zhou, Gangzhi Peng. Impacts of road disturbance on Artiodactyla: A case study from Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve, China[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2026, 34(6): 26050.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2026050

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2026/V34/I6/26050

Figures/Tables 4

Fig. 1 Location of camera trap sites in the study area of Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve

Table 1 Camera trap detection records of six artiodactyl species in Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve (2020.01-2025.07)

物种 Species	独立有效事件总数 Total no. of valid independent events	拍摄到的位点数 No. of detected sites	位点比例 Site proportion (%)	相对多度指数 Relative abundance index (RAI)
野猪 Sus scrofa	3,201	262	81.619	5.648
毛冠鹿 Elaphodus cephalophus	2,140	191	59.501	5.396
小麂 Muntiacus reevesi	12,015	249	77.570	22.500
中华鬣羚 Capricornis milneedwardsii	1,322	194	60.436	3.129
中华斑羚 Naemorhedus griseus	927	152	47.352	2.727
林麝 Moschus berezovskii	829	161	50.155	2.379

Fig. 2 Changes in the relative abundance index (RAI) of six artiodactyl species with distance from roads in Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve, based on two-breakpoint generalized linear model (GML). The shaded areas represent the 95% confidence intervals, and the red dashed lines indicate the locations of the breakpoints. (a) Capricornis milneedwardsii; (b) Naemorhedus griseus; (c) Moschus berezovskii; (d) Elaphodus cephalophus; (e) Muntiacus reevesi; (f) Sus scrofa.

Fig. 3 Spearman correlation analysis between species traits and road effect zones. Blue circles represent body weight data, and yellow circles represent diurnal-nocturnal index data. The blue line represents the correlation analysis between body weight and the road effect zone, while the yellow line represents the correlation analysis between the diurnal-nocturnal index and the road effect zone. The diurnal-nocturnal index of Capricornis milneedwardsii is represented by a triangle (identical to that of Moschus berezovskii, both being 0.32).

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