Winter habitat use of snow leopards in Tomur National Nature Reserve of Xinjiang,Northwest China  

作　　者：Feng XU Ming MA WeiKang YANG David BLANK YiQun WU Thomas MCCARTHY Bariusha MUNKHTSOG 

机构地区：[1]Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China [2]Department of Environment and Life Sciences, Weinan Teachers University, Weinan 714000, China [3]International Snow Leopard Trust, Seattle WA 98103, USA [4]Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 51, BZD, Mongolia

出　　处：《Journal of Arid Land》2012年第2期191-195,共5页干旱区科学（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the Science Supporting Project of the National Ministry of Science and Technology(2008BA C39B04);the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30470262 and 30970340);the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of China(2010DFA92720);the Chinese Academy of Sciences Visiting Professorships for Senior International Scientists(2009Z2-5)

摘　　要：Snow leopards are one of the least known large cats, the population of which has dramatically de- creased. Their habitat loss was considered the main reason for the decline during the last decade, but their habitat preferences are still not well known. In this paper, we studied the winter habitat preferences of snow leopards in the Tomur National Nature Reserve （TNNR） in Northwest China during 2004-2005. We used sign surveys and tran- sects to study the winter habitat selection of snow leopards. The results indicated that snow leopards showed a preference for habitat variabilities in slope aspect, vegetation cover, dominant topographical features, landform ruggedness and grazing status. We found that prey availability and dominant topographical features were the most important factors that determined the winter habitat selection of snow leopards. Our results supported the idea that the habitat preferences of snow leopards are a tradeoff between suitable habitat features and avoidance of potential human interactions.Snow leopards are one of the least known large cats, the population of which has dramatically de- creased. Their habitat loss was considered the main reason for the decline during the last decade, but their habitat preferences are still not well known. In this paper, we studied the winter habitat preferences of snow leopards in the Tomur National Nature Reserve （TNNR） in Northwest China during 2004-2005. We used sign surveys and tran- sects to study the winter habitat selection of snow leopards. The results indicated that snow leopards showed a preference for habitat variabilities in slope aspect, vegetation cover, dominant topographical features, landform ruggedness and grazing status. We found that prey availability and dominant topographical features were the most important factors that determined the winter habitat selection of snow leopards. Our results supported the idea that the habitat preferences of snow leopards are a tradeoff between suitable habitat features and avoidance of potential human interactions.

关 键 词：snow leopard Panthera uncia sign survey habitat preferences Tomur National Nature Reserve 

分 类 号：Q958.12[生物学—动物学] S759.9[农业科学—森林经理学]