Abstract:

Camera-tapping is one of the most efficient tools for surveying terrestrial mammals and birds. Between October 2017 and October 2018, we placed 167 infrared-triggered cameras to investigate the biodiversity of wild mammals and birds in Daxiangling Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province. A total of 3,317 independent wildlife photographs were collected with an extensive survey effort of 6,738 camera-days. These included 2,673 photographs of 23 mammal species belonging to 5 orders and 14 families, and 644 photographs of 33 bird species from 5 orders and 11 families. Among these, 3 species including Ailuropoda melanoleuca, Budorcas tibetanus, Moschus berezovskii are listed as national first-class protected wild animals, and 10 species including Macaca thibetana, Ursus thibetanus, Ailurus fulgens, Martes flavigula, Capricornis milneedwardsi, Cervus equinus, Ithaginis cruentus, Chrysolophus amherstiae, Lophura nycthemera, Tragopan temminckii are listed as national second-class protected wild animals in China. Of the species identified, Moschus berezovskii is Critically Endangered (CR), 9 species are Vulnerable (VU), and 10 species are Near Threatened (NT) in the Red List of China’s Vertebrates. Among the recorded species, 2 species are listed as Endangered (EN), 5 species are listed as Vulnerable (VU), 3 species are listed as Threatened (NT) by the IUCN Red List. Four species are also listed in Appendix I and six other species are in Appendix II of the CITES regulations. Petaurista xanthotis, Cervus equinus, Dendrocopos darjellensis, Nucifraga caryocatactes, Turdus obscurus, Brachypteryx montana and Trochalopteron formosum are new record species in Daxiangling Nature Reserve. We found that Elaphodus cephalophus (RAI = 125.26) had the highest relative abundance, followed by Macaca thibetana (RAI = 64.71) and Tragopan temminckii (RAI = 43.34). This study provides basic information on the species composition and relative abundance of large and mid-sized mammals and terrestrial birds in Daxiangling Nature Reserve; it will also provide information and references to wildlife management and protection.

Key words: infrared-triggered camera, Daxiangling Nature Reserve, species diversity, relative abundance index