Abstract
Here, we assessed the spatiotemporal distribution of the poorly studied Mishmi takin Budorcas taxicolor to gain a preliminary understanding of the spatiotemporal ecology of the species. We used presence data from line transects and camera-trap surveys combined with a presence-only species distribution model to identify the key factors relevant to takin distribution. Distance to residential site was the main contributing factor to the model predicting habitat suitability for takin. Mishmi takin appeared to prefer habitats far away from residential locations. Our predicted suitable habitats for takin were highly fragmented and were constrained in narrow ranges of remote mountain areas. A circular distribution curve fitted to camera events indicated that grouped takin were more active during the day and less active at night compared to solitary takin. Differences in activity patterns between takin in groups and solitaries might relate to sexual segregation and calve attendance. Our information on the distribution and habitat characteristics of the species will assist habitat management and our prediction map could guide future field surveys for locating a long-term monitoring program.
Funding source: Biodiversity Conservation Programme of the Yunnan Provincial Environmental Protection Department
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2014
Funding source: National Natural Science Foundation of China
Funding source: Biodiversity Survey, Monitoring and Assessment
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2019HB2096001006
Acknowledgments
We are very grateful to William V. Bleisch for his valuable comments to improve the manuscript. We thank the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve Management Office for their kind support. We are also grateful to Jianglin Zhang, Shizhong Li, Song Wang, Min Zhang, and Xinguo Mu for assistance in the field.
Author contribution: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: The study was funded by the Biodiversity Survey, Monitoring and Assessment (#2019HB2096001006), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (#31601874), and the Biodiversity Conservation Programme of the Yunnan Provincial Environmental Protection Department (2014).
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
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Supplementary Material
Supplementary material to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2019-0114.
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