Abstract:

Between October 2016 and September 2017, we deployed 28 infrared cameras (6,377 camera trapping days) to detect bird and mammal species in Weishan Qinghua Green Peafowl Nature Reserve. We obtained 1,692 effective images (mammals n = 563; birds n = 1,129). From these images, we identified 13 mammal species from 5 orders and 11 families and 58 bird species from 9 orders and 23 families. Among these, Syrmaticus humiae and Moschus berezovskii are listed as national first-class protected species, and Martes flavigula, Accipiter virgatus, Buteo japonicus, Chrysolophus amherstiae, Lophuar nycthemera, Otus lettia, Strix aluco are listed as national second-class protected species. Of the species identified, 1 species is evaluated as Critically Endangered (CR) and 3 species as Vulnerable (VU) in the Red List of China’s Vertebrate. One species is also listed in Appendix I and 7 other species are in Appendix II of CITES. We found that Garrulax pectoralis had the highest relative abundance (5.68 effective images per 100 trap-days), followed by Callosciurus erythraeus (2.81) and Muntiacus muntjak (1.68). Our results provided the first record of large and mid-sized mammals and terrestrial birds from this nature reserve, thereby providing primary baseline data of wildlife resources for future management of biodiversity.

Key words: wildlife biodiversity, infrared camera, species richness