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Tectonics geomorphology is one of the most important modern scientific disciplines. Quantitative analysis based on defined morphometric indices is an available and relatively low-cost and fast method that is used to understand the differences in the amount of tectonic activities in young landscapes. These indices are used as a basic identification tool to detect tectonic deformations or to estimate the relative variations of tectonic activity in a particular area. However, these studies are more sensitive in areas consisting of volcanic rocks, especially for the precise definition of sub-basin boundaries. The study area that consists of outcrops of volcanic rock and young deposits is located in the south of Salafchegan; on the border of Qom-Markazi provinces. Six morphometric indices were measured to determine neotectonic activity: Stream length gradient index (SL), Ratio of valley Floor width to valley height (Vf), hypsometric integral (Hi), drainage basin shape (Bs), drainage basin asymmetry (Af), and transverse topographic symmetry (T) for each sub-basins. After calculating the indices, averages of them, and the relative active tectonic index (Iat), the area was divided into four different tectonic zones based on activity ratio. In this categorazation, category 1 to 4 respectively represent the highest to lowest tectonic activity. It was also found that 2.86% of the basins are in category 2, 51.43% in category 3, class and 45.71% in category 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Information on species' niche differentiation will contribute to a greater understanding of the mechanisms of coexistence benefitting the conservation and management of ecological communities. The widespread reduction in apex predators and more restricted hunting management has con-tributed to an increase in the abundance of wild ungulates in the Qinling Mountains, presumably resulting in an intensifying interspecific competition pressure. However, the activity patterns of the species in this region are completely unknown due to difficulty in accessing the locations where they occur. Thus, we used camera trapping to systematically investigate spatial and temporal activity patterns of sympatric ungulates in the Qinling Mountains, where top predators are virtually absent. This intensive camera-trap survey elucidated much more detailed studies of spatial and temporal activity patterns in multiple sympatric wild ungulates under natural conditions. Further, our results provided detailed information of the spatial and temporal ecology of ungulate communities in forest ecosystems, which would be a guide to establishing conservation priorities as well as efficient management programs. Dramatic increases in populations of wild ungulates have brought a new ecological issue in the Qinling mountains. Information on species' niche differentiation will contribute to a greater understanding of the mechanisms of coexistence, so as to ultimately benefit the conservation and management of ecological communities. In this study, camera trapping was used to investigate spatial and temporal activity patterns of sympatric wild ungulates in the Qinling Mountains of China, where top predators were virtually absent. We obtained 15,584 independent detections of seven wild ungulate species during 93,606 camera-trap days from April 2014 to October 2017. Results showed that (i) the capture rate differed significantly across species, with the capture rate of reeve muntjac being significantly higher than that of other species; (ii) the wild boar had a higher occupancy rates (ψ = 0.888) than other six ungulates, and distance to settlements had a negative relationship with wild boar (β = −0.24 ± 0.17); (iii) the forest musk deer and mainland serow had low spatial overlaps with other five wild ungulates, while spatial overlap indices of any two given pairs of wild ungulates were relatively high; (iv) all wild ungulates species (expect wild boar) were mainly active during crepuscular and diurnal periods, and showed bimodal activity peaks at around 05:00–07:00 and 17:00–19:00; and finally, (v) all wild ungulates showed moderate to high temporal overlaps. The results provided detailed information of the spatial and temporal ecology of wild ungulate communities in forest ecosystems of China, which also would be a guide to establish conservation priorities as well as efficient management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dramatic increases in populations of wild ungulates have brought a new ecological issue in the Qinling mountains. Information on species’ niche differentiation will contribute to a greater understanding of the mechanisms of coexistence, so as to ultimately benefit the conservation and management of ecological communities. In this study, camera trapping was used to investigate spatial and temporal activity patterns of sympatric wild ungulates in the Qinling Mountains of China, where top predators were virtually absent. We obtained 15,584 independent detections of seven wild ungulate species during 93,606 camera-trap days from April 2014 to October 2017. Results showed that (i) the capture rate differed significantly across species, with the capture rate of reeve muntjac being significantly higher than that of other species; (ii) the wild boar had a higher occupancy rates (ψ = 0.888) than other six ungulates, and distance to settlements had a negative relationship with wild boar (β = −0.24 ± 0.17); (iii) the forest musk deer and mainland serow had low spatial overlaps with other five wild ungulates, while spatial overlap indices of any two given pairs of wild ungulates were relatively high; (iv) all wild ungulates species (expect wild boar) were mainly active during crepuscular and diurnal periods, and showed bimodal activity peaks at around 05:00–07:00 and 17:00–19:00; and finally, (v) all wild ungulates showed moderate to high temporal overlaps. The results provided detailed information of the spatial and temporal ecology of wild ungulate communities in forest ecosystems of China, which also would be a guide to establish conservation priorities as well as efficient management programs.