Abstract:

Aims: We aim to investigate the diversity and abundance of large mammals and birds in Baihe National Nature Reserve and surrounding areas in Sichuan Province.

Methods: We divided the reserve into 1 km × 1 km grids using the Geographical Information System. We selected 110 grids according to habitat type and placed one camera-trapping per grid. We collected data from camera-trappings every 3-6 months from November 2018 to September 2019.

Results: The surveys produced a total of 19,748 camera-days of data, including 55,858 pictures and videos, and 6,856 independent detections. We recorded 17 mammal species belonging to 4 orders and 12 families, as well as 33 bird species belonging to 5 orders and 12 families. Among the detected species, 5 species are listed as first-class National Protected Wildlife (Rhinopithecus roxellana, Moschus berezovskii, Budorcas tibetanus, Tetraophasis obscurus, and Lophophorus lhuysii), and 15 species are listed as second-class National Protected Wildlife (including Ursus thibetanus,Martes flavigula,Naemorhedus griseus, and others). Combined, these species accounted for 40.0% of the total recorded species. Two species are listed as Endangered (EN), five as Vulnerable (VU), and two as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List, together accounting for 18.0% of the total recorded species. Moreover, Moschus berezovskii is also listed as Critically Endangered in the Red List of China’s Vertebrates. The five mammals with the highest relative abundance index wereElaphodus cephalophus, Arctonyx collaris, Sciurotamias davidianus, Sus scrofa, and Rhinopithecus roxellana. The five birds with the highest relative abundance index were Tragopan temminckii, Urocissa erythrorhyncha, Myophonus caeruleus, Pucrasia macrolopha, and Trochalopteron elliotii.

Conclusion: Our results show that the Baihe National Nature Reserve has high species diversity and many rare and endangered species. As the main protected species, the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey is abundant and widely distributed in the reserve. In addition, we detected some human and livestock disturbance in the reserve. We suggest that to preserve the high diversity and abundance of important mammal and bird species that the protected area should strengthen management and increase public awareness of the reserve.

Key words: camera-trapping technology, mammal and bird diversity, biodiversity inventory, relative abundance index (RAI), Baihe National Nature Reserve