人造绳桥或拯救全球最珍稀灵长类 《科学报告》论文

论文标题：First use of artificial canopy bridge by the world’s most critically endangered primate the Hainan gibbonNomascus hainanus

期刊：Scientific reports

作者：Bosco Pui Lok Chan, Yik Fui Philip Loet.al

发表时间：2020/10/15

数字识别码：10.1038/s41598-020-72641-z

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作为世界上最极危的灵长类动物，海南长臂猿首次被拍到穿过一个人造绳桥，这个绳桥连接了它们林冠生境的巨大空隙。这项在《科学报告》上发表的研究

First use of articial canopy bridge by the world’s most critically endangered primate the Hainan gibbonNomascus hainanus显示，人造绳桥或有利于保育行动。

海南长臂猿只在中国海南岛的森林中被发现。在栖息地内，它们会在地面上的树木之间穿梭，而天然或人为的林冠空隙会将种群局限在特定区域内，限制它们的觅食繁殖机会，增加被捕食的风险。

海南长臂猿在绳桥安装176天后开始使用，雌性和年幼的长臂猿是忠实用户。

图片来源：香港嘉道理农场暨植物园

2015年，香港嘉道理农场暨植物园的陈辈乐和同事替海南长臂猿搭建了一个人造树冠桥，帮助它们在两个被自然滑坡形成的一个15米宽的浅沟隔开的生境之间移动。在职业爬树者的帮助下，登山级绳子被系在牢固的树上，另外安装的运动传感摄像头还能监测野生动物的使用情况。

安装后的176天，海南长臂猿第一次被拍到穿过了绳桥。在研究开展的470天里，共记录下长臂猿使用绳桥的208张照片和53个视频。记录了长臂猿在绳桥上攀爬的影像最多，其次是摆臂。长臂猿种群的九个成员都被拍到使用树冠桥，除了一只成年公猿。较大的幼猿不常使用绳桥，反而经常被拍到与成年公猿一起越过这一林隙。

研究表明了绳桥连接林冠间隙的用途和价值。作者总结称，虽然恢复天然林应是保育干预的首要目标，但人造树冠桥或能有效解决短期问题。

摘要：All gibbon species (Primates: Hylobatidae) are facing high extinction risk due to habitat loss and hunting. The Hainan gibbonNomascus hainanusis the world’s most critically endangered primate, and one of the priority conservation actions identified is to establish artificial canopy corridors to reconnect fragmented forests. The effectiveness of artificial canopy bridge as a conservation tool for wild gibbons has not been widely tested, and the results are rarely published. We constructed the first canopy bridge for Hainan gibbon in 2015 to facilitate passage at a natural landslide; mountaineering-grade ropes were tied to sturdy trees with the help of professional tree climbers and a camera trap was installed to monitor wildlife usage. Hainan gibbon started using the rope bridge after 176days, and usage frequency increased with time. All members in the gibbon group crossed the 15.8m rope bridge except adult male. Climbing was the predominant locomotor mode followed by brachiation. This study highlights the use and value of rope bridges to connect forest gaps for wild gibbons living in fragmented forests. While restoring natural forest corridors should be a priority conservation intervention, artificial canopy bridges may be a useful short-term solution.