Biodiv Sci ›› 2020, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (9): 1059-1066.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2020139

• Special Feature: Wildlife Camera-trapping Networks in China • Previous Articles     Next Articles

An introduction to Long-term Tiger-Leopard Observation Network based on camera traps in Northeast China

Tianming Wang1,2,3#, Limin Feng1,2,3#, Haitao Yang1,2,3, Lei Bao1,2,3, Hongfang Wang1,2,3, Jianping Ge1,2,3,*()   

  1. 1 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering, Beijing 100875
    2 National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory for Conservation Ecology in the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, Beijing 100875
    3 College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
  • Received:2020-04-06 Accepted:2020-07-01 Online:2020-09-20 Published:2020-11-06
  • Contact: Jianping Ge

Abstract:

The Long-term Tiger-Leopard Observation Network (TLON) is a camera trap based program that was established in 2006 by Beijing Normal University. TLON covers an area of more than 15,000 km 2 and is located in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forest in Northeast China. This area covers the Laoye Mountains, Zhangguangcai Mountains, and Wanda Mountains. The goals of TLON are to monitor the status of the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), ungulate prey, and other sympatric mammal species. Additionally, a goal for TLON is to study animal’s response to different environmental factors and human activity. As of June 2019, TLON has more than 785,000 video recordings that include recordings for 28 wild mammal species and 32 wild birds species that span 1,736,000 days of camera trapping. TLON has helped advance several fields of scientific research which include: surveying of wildlife diversity, studying population status of animals, understanding the distribution and threats for tigers and leopards, interactions between sympatric carnivore species, and mammal habitat use. TLON has also helped with monitoring, evaluation, and the management of biodiversity in the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park.

Key words: Amur tiger, Panthera tigris altaica, Amur leopard, Panthera pardus orientalis, species list, camera trapping, biodiversity monitoring