Ismaili Rashid Rasool Rabbani, Peng Xiaoxu, Li Yibin, Ali Arshad, Ahmad Tariq, Rahman Anees Ur, Ahmad Shahid, Shi Kun
The Wildlife Institute, School of Ecology & Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Zhejiang Huadong Forestry Engineering Consulting and Design Corporation, Hangzhou 310019, China.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Jun 30;14(13):1938. doi: 10.3390/ani14131938.
Snow leopards () are elusive predators inhabiting high-altitude and mountainous rugged habitats. The current study was conducted in the Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve, Gansu Province, China, to assess the habitat suitability of snow leopards and identify key environmental factors inducing their distribution. Field data collected between 2019 and 2022 through scat sampling and camera trapping techniques provided insights into snow leopard habitat preferences. Spatial distribution and cluster analyses show distinct hotspots of high habitat suitability, mostly concentrated near mountainous landscapes. While altitude remains a critical determinant, with places above 3300 m showing increased habitat suitability, other factors such as soil type, human footprint, forest cover, prey availability, and human disturbance also play important roles. These variables influence ecological dynamics and are required to assess and manage snow leopard habitats. The MaxEnt model has helped us to better grasp these issues, particularly the enormous impact of human activities on habitat suitability. The current study highlights the importance of altitude in determining snow leopard habitat preferences and distribution patterns in the reserve. Furthermore, the study underscores the significance of considering elevation in conservation planning and management strategies for snow leopards, particularly in mountainous regions. By combining complete environmental data with innovative modeling tools, this study not only improves local conservation efforts but also serves as a model for similar wildlife conservation initiatives around the world. By understanding the environmental factors driving snow leopard distribution, conservation efforts can be more efficiently directed to ensure the long-term survival of this endangered species. This study provides valuable insights for evidence-based conservation efforts to safeguard the habitats of snow leopards amidst emerging anthropogenic pressure and environmental fluctuations.
雪豹（）是难以捉摸的食肉动物，栖息在高海拔和崎岖的山区栖息地。本研究在中国甘肃省盐池湾国家级自然保护区开展，旨在评估雪豹的栖息地适宜性，并确定影响其分布的关键环境因素。2019年至2022年期间，通过粪便采样和相机陷阱技术收集的实地数据，为了解雪豹的栖息地偏好提供了依据。空间分布和聚类分析显示出高栖息地适宜性的明显热点区域，大多集中在山区附近。虽然海拔仍然是一个关键决定因素，海拔3300米以上的地区栖息地适宜性增加，但土壤类型、人类足迹、森林覆盖、猎物可获得性和人类干扰等其他因素也起着重要作用。这些变量影响着生态动态，对于评估和管理雪豹栖息地至关重要。最大熵模型帮助我们更好地理解这些问题，尤其是人类活动对栖息地适宜性的巨大影响。本研究突出了海拔在确定保护区内雪豹栖息地偏好和分布模式方面的重要性。此外，该研究强调了在雪豹保护规划和管理策略中考虑海拔因素的重要性，特别是在山区。通过将完整的环境数据与创新的建模工具相结合，本研究不仅改善了当地的保护工作，也为全球类似的野生动物保护倡议提供了范例。通过了解驱动雪豹分布的环境因素，可以更有效地指导保护工作，以确保这种濒危物种的长期生存。本研究为在新出现的人为压力和环境波动中保护雪豹栖息地的循证保护工作提供了宝贵的见解。
