RESUMO
Clarifying the distribution pattern and overlapping relationship of sympatric relative species in the spatio-temporal niche is important for our understanding of the behavioral relationship between species and the integrated management of multi-species habitats. Based on the infrared camera monitoring data from 2012 to 2021, we investigted the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of the national secondary-class key protected animals Naemorhedus griseus and Capricornis milneedwardsii in the Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province. We analyzed the distribution of N. griseuss and C. milneedwardsiis in the reserve using the MaxEnt model, based on 72 and 108 occurrence data of the two species, respectively, obtained by infrared cameras from 2016 to 2021, combined with 12 environmental factors potentially affecting their spatial distribution. Then, based on 1312 occurrence data of N. griseus and 1889 occurrence data of C. milneedwardsii collected by infrared camera from 2012 to 2021, we estimated their daily activity rhythms by using the kernel density estimation to understand the distribution pattern and overlap of the two species in the temporal niche. The results showed that the area of suitable habitats for N. griseus and C. milneedwardsii was 731.95 km2 and 1220.46 km2, respectively. The overlapping area was 697.17 km2. The main environmental factors had similar effects on the habitat selection of the two species. The daily activity of both species peaked in the early morning and evening. The utilization of the interval and intensity of the morning and evening time periods were different for the two species. The morning and evening activity peaks of C. milneedwardsii were earlier and later, respectively, than that of N. griseus. C. milneedwardsii had a higher utilization intensity during the nocturnal period. In general, high degree of spatial overlap and low degree of overlap in the temporal niche dimension contribute to the long-term coexistence of the two species.
Assuntos
Análise Espacial , Animais , ChinaRESUMO
Clarifying the distribution pattern and overlapping relationship of sympatric relative species in the spatio-temporal niche is of great significance to the basic theory of community ecology and integrated management of multi-species habitats in the same landscape. In this study, based on a 9-year dataset (2012-2021) from 493 camera-trap sites in the Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve, we analyzed the habitat distributions and activity patterns of tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) and sambar (Rusa unicolor). (1) Combined with 235 and 153 valid presence sites of tufted deer and sambar, the MaxEnt model was used to analyze the distribution of the two species based on 11 ecological factors. The distribution areas of the two species were 1038.40 km2 and 692.67 km2, respectively, with an overlapping area of 656.67 km2. Additionally, the overlap indexes Schoener's D (D) and Hellinger's-based I (I) were 0.703 and 0.930, respectively. (2) Based on 10,437 and 5203 independent captures of tufted deer and sambar, their daily activity rhythms were calculated by using the kernel density estimation. The results showed that the daily activity peak in the two species appeared at dawn and dusk; however, the activity peak in tufted deer at dawn and dusk was later and earlier than sambar, respectively. Our findings revealed the spatio-temporal niche relationship between tufted deer and sambar, contributing to a further understanding of the coexistence mechanism and providing scientific information for effective wild animal conservation in the reserve and other areas in the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.