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Conservation decision-making often relies on species’ distribution changes in response to anthropogenic disturbances but overlook their temporal responses. Filling the knowledge gap on the temporal shifts as elusive responses of wild animals to human activity is important because this may provide information for more proactive conservation planning. In this study, we used camera traps in a field survey technique to investigate the trade-offs between spatial and temporal responses of a mammal community to major human activities in Qinling Mountains, China. We focused on five most abundant mammalian species including giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), takin (Budorcas taxicolor), wild boar (Sus scrofa), tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus), and Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus), and examined the drivers of, and the trade-offs between the change of their spatial distributions and daily activity patterns in response to anthropogenic disturbances. We found that in response to human interferences, giant panda and takin mainly changed their distributions, while wild boar, tufted deer and Chinese goral altered their daily activity patterns, indicating the elusive responses of the latter species under anthropogenic stressors. In addition, anthropogenic stressors such as farming and tourism have more profound impacts on mammal communities than previously revealed by species distribution modeling only. For nature reserves that aim to conserve multiple species simultaneously, a more flexible, adaptive management framework is thus needed to capture the trade-offs between multiple species’ spatial and temporal responses to anthropogenic disturbance.

Nature reserves in China are undergoing adjustments in functional zoning. Currently, one urgent problem is determining how to delineate core conservation zones more scientifically and rationally. This case study focused on the Houhe National Nature Reserve, Wufeng County, Hubei Province, China, and was based on the distribution data of seven species (Moschus berezovskii, Elaphodus cephalophus, Muntiacus reevesi, Naemorhedus griseus, Capricornis sumatraensis, Prionailurus bengalensis, and Ursus thibetanus), vegetation types, meteorological factors, human disturbance, terrain, and hydrological variables. Species distributions were predicted through MaxEnt modeling, and MARXAN software was used for systematic conservation planning. The results showed that (1) for the MaxEnt model simulations of one critically endangered (CR) species and six vulnerable (VU) species in Houhe National Nature Reserve, the area under curve (AUC) values of seven species were all greater than 0.8, of which the AUC of M. berezovskii was 0.961, indicating a high modeling accuracy; (2) based on the analysis of the MaxEnt model, MARXAN was used to delineate the core conservation zone of Houhe National Nature Reserve. When the boundary length modifier was set as 100 and planning units as hexagons with a boundary length of 200 m, the priority conservation areas had the fewest fragments. Thus, using these parameters for conservation planning is more reasonable; and (3) among the four proposals obtained from the MARXAN analysis that were based on different conservation targets, those with a conservation target of 80% for CR species and 60% for VU species had the largest priority conservation areas. According to the principles of maintaining ecosystem integrity and habitat connectivity of species and ensuring consistent conservation management, we propose a new functional zoning plan for Houhe National Nature Reserve. In this plan, the core conservation zone will have an area of 5947.76 ha, which will be greater than the sum of the areas of the current buffer and core zones, whereas the area of the general control zone will be 4395.64 ha.

The Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) is a small goat-like animal, which is considered “vulnerable” due to its rapid decline in population in the wild. Captive breeding programs are necessary to prevent the extinction of Chinese gorals; however, reproduction in captivity reduces genetic diversity due to inbreeding. In 2020, a total of six wild Chinese gorals were introduced into a captive population of 73 individuals to improve the allelic gene pool. An assessment of captive gorals was conducted to trace and understand genetic diversity in the new captive state. Microsatellite genotyping and mitochondrial D -loop sequence analyses were performed to examine the genetic diversity and population structure. The results showed very low haplotype diversity, with a significant difference between He (0.477 ± 0.065) and Ho (0.196 ± 0.056), suggesting a high degree of inbreeding. This resulted in a limited ability to adapt to environmental change and low natural reproductive fitness, thus increasing the risk of population decline and eventual extinction. Management of captive breeding plans based on different subpopulations and haplotypes has been proposed to maximize genetic variability and enhance the success of future conservation plans.

Detailed information on the size and genetic structure of wildlife populations is critical for developing effective conservation strategies, especially for those species that have suffered population decline and fragmentation due to anthropogenic activities. In the present study, we used a non-invasive approach combining fecal pellet sampling with mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA microsatellite marker analysis to monitor and compare the population structure of the Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) in Beijing and northeast Inner Mongolia in China. Of the 307 fecal samples confirmed to be from N. griseus, 15 individuals (nine females and six males) were found in the Beijing population and 61 individuals (37 females and 24 males) were found in the Inner Mongolian population. Among these 76 individuals, we identified eight haplotypes and 13 nucleotide polymorphic sites from mtDNA and 45 alleles from 10 microsatellite loci. Spatially structured genetic variation and a significant level of genetic differentiation were observed between the two populations. In both populations, the sex ratios were skewed toward females, indicating high reproductive potential, which is crucial for population recovery and conservation of this patchily distributed vulnerable species. We suggest that managing the two populations as evolutionarily significant units with diverse genetic backgrounds could be an effective solution for present population recovery, with the possible relocation of individuals among different groups to help ensure future goral species prosperity.

Home range size estimation is a crucial basis for developing effective conservation strategies and provides important insights into animal behavior and ecology. This study aimed at analyzing the home range variations, the influence of altitude in habitat selection, and comparing three methods in home range estimation of Chinese gorals (Naemorhedus griseus) living at a cliff landscape. The results indicated that there were significant differences between the annual home range sizes of individual animals but there was no difference in their seasonal home range sizes based on GPS tracking data of five female Chinese gorals from February 2015 to September 2018. The monthly home ranges decreased dramatically in May, June and July due to birth-giving. Notable seasonal variations were found in the micro-habitats of the Chinese gorals, as reflected by the altitude they inhabit, with higher altitude habitats used in spring and lower altitude habitats used in winter. Additionally, the altitude of monthly habitats was lowest in January, which may indicate an adaptation to low air temperature. We also found differences between estimation methods, namely minimum convex polygon (MCP), kernel density estimation (KDE) and α-local convex hull (α-LoCoH), with seasonal home range sizes derived from α-LoCoH being substantially smaller than those derived from MCP and KDE. In conclusion, our findings filled the gaps in home range study for this endangered species and contributed to effective conservation strategies. Considerations shall have to be given to the variations in home range estimation caused by different methods when dealing with rugged habitats, so as to make sure that any interpretation concerning the habitat use of the targeted species made on basis of such results would be meaningful and valid.

The Late Pleistocene archeological site of Tham Lod Rockshelter has yielded a large number of animal remains associated with a rich lithic assemblage with a Hoabinian facies. The well-preserved collection of Caprinae dental material was analyzed and attributed to three Caprinae species. The morphological and metrical analysis allowed the identification of the Sumatran serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), the Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus), and the Himalayan goral (N. goral). To understand the relation between the Caprinae and the prehistoric hunter-gatherers, the paleodemography of the three species was reconstructed using age estimation at the death based on tooth wear. The mortality profile revealed that the Homo sapiens hunter-gatherers adopt a generalized subsistence strategy for these preys. This new data contribute to our knowledge on the mammalian biodiversity during the Late Pleistocene in Southeast Asia and add new information about the subsistence behavior of prehistoric hunter-gatherers in northern Thailand.

The Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) has been categorized as vulnerable species by the World Conservation Union and listed as a Class I protected species in China for its over-hunting for meat, fur and medicines. In order to provide efficient genetic resources for the conservation and preservation of the endangered species, the complete mitochondrial genome of this species was determined and analyzed. It is 16,446 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, one origin of replication on the light-strand (OL) and a control region. Most of the PCGs use ATG as the common initiation codon, while ND2, ATP6 and ND3 use ATA and ND5 uses ATC as the initiation codon. Most of them have TAA or TAG as the stop codon, except COIII, ND3 and ND4 use an incomplete stop codon T or TA and Cyt b uses an uncommon AGA. An ML tree involving 19 Caprinae species was constructed, which will contribute to phylogenetic studies of Caprinae and further conservation strategies for the Chinese goral.

Captive breeding programs for endangered species can increase population numbers for eventual reintroduction to the wild. Captive populations are typically small and isolated, which results in inbreeding and reduction of genetic variability, and may lead to an increased risk of extinction. The Omkoi Wildlife Breeding Center maintains the only Thai captive Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) population, and has plans to reintroduce individuals into natural isolated populations. Genetic variability was assessed within the captive population using microsatellite data. Although no bottleneck was observed, genetic variability was low (allelic richness = 7.091 ± 0.756, He = 0.455 ± 0.219; He < Ho) and 11 microsatellite loci were informative that likely reflect inbreeding. Estimates of small effective population size and limited numbers of founders, combined with wild-born individuals within subpopulations, tend to cause reduction of genetic variability over time in captive programs. This leads to low reproductive fitness and limited ability to adapt to environmental change, thereby increasing the risk of extinction. Management of captive populations as evolutionarily significant units with diverse genetic backgrounds offers an effective strategy for population recovery. Relocation of individuals among subpopulations, or introduction of newly captured wild individuals into the captive program will help to ensure the future security of Chinese goral. Implications for future conservation actions for the species are discussed herein.

Here, we present a camera trap survey at a Tibetan sacred mountain to ascertain the status and activity patterns of medium- to large-sized ground-dwelling mammalian fauna. We recorded 15 medium- to large-sized mammal species including 9 carnivores, 4 ungulates, 1 primate, and 1 rodent. Six of the species were categorized by IUCN as globally threatened. The results suggested that the sacred mountain was particularly important for alpine ungulates. The mean occupancy probabilities of blue sheep Pseudois nayaur, Chinese goral Naemorhedus griseus, Chinese serow Capricornis milneedwardsii, and alpine musk deer Moschus chrysogaster were 0.93, 0.91, 0.87, and 0.44 respectively. Domestic dog Canis familiaris also occurs widely across the mountain, with a mean occupancy of 0.60. Temporal activity patterns showed that alpine musk deer were mostly nocturnal, with most captures occurring at night. Chinese serow were active at all periods, with an activity peak at dawn. Blue sheep were strictly diurnal, without any captures at night. Although Chinese goral were predominantly diurnal, captures also frequently occurred at night. Our study not only unveiled a wildlife haven benefiting from religious beliefs about sacred mountains but also pointed to the critical situation of the fauna in the sacred site. The fauna in such sacred sites are diverse but poorly studied, and are subject to threats from domestic dogs, garbage pollution, and population isolation. Future conservation and management efforts in such areas should evaluate the population genetic diversity and assess the impact of non-lethal human disturbance on the wildlife communities.

Curvularia spp. are globally distributed saprophytic fungi, classified in the literature as dematiaceous, or darkly pigmented fungi. These fungi have been increasingly recognized as causing cutaneous, ocular, respiratory, and central nervous system infections in humans, but have been infrequently documented as pathogens in the veterinary literature. A 5-yr-old male Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) presented with bilateral fungal dermatitis of the pinnae, and subsequent pyogranulomatous rhinosinusitis. Clinical signs included epistaxis, mucosanguineous nasal discharge, and dyspnea. Sequential histologic examinations of cutaneous and nasal lesions revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation with extracellular and phagocytized nonpigmented yeasts. Fungal culture and polymerase chain reaction identified Curvularia sp. The absence of pigmentation in tissue in this case suggests that pigmentation may not be a consistent histologic finding for this fungus, emphasizing the importance of molecular identification to prevent misidentification. Despite intensive interventions in this goral, the disease progressed, and was ultimately fatal.

To date, there is no information on gonadal steroidogenic activity of female goral (Naemorhedus griseus), a threatened species of Thailand. Captive goral populations have been established to produce animals for ex situ conservation and reintroduction, but as yet none are self-sustaining. The objectives of the present study were to (1) determine the influence of season on ovarian steriodogenic function; and (2) examine the relationship between gonadal hormone excretion and sexual behaviors throughout the year. Fecal samples were collected 5 to 7 days/wk for 15 months from 8 adult females housed at Omkoi Wildlife Breeding Center in Thailand and analyzed for ovarian steroid metabolites using validated enzyme immunoassays. Observations of sexual behaviors and mating were conducted each morning for 30 min/session. Based on fecal estrogen and progestagen metabolite concentrations, the overall estrous cycle length was about 21 days, with a 2- to 3-day follicular phase and an 18- to 20-day luteal phase. Sexual behaviors, most notably tail-up, increased for 2 to 3 days during the time estrogens were elevated during mating. Fecal progestagens were elevated during luteal phases and increased further during gestation, which lasted approximately 7 months. The lactation period was 5 months, and females were anestrus for 2 to 5 of those months, with the exception of one that cycled continuously throughout. Two females conceived around 2 months postpartum and so were pregnant during lactation. Birth records over the past 21 years indicated young are born throughout the year. This combined with the hormonal data suggests that female gorals are not strongly seasonal, at least in captivity, although there was considerable variation among females in estrogen and progestagen patterns. In conclusion, fecal steroid metabolite monitoring is an effective means of assessing ovarian function in this species and will be a useful tool for breeding management and planned development of assisted reproductive techniques such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer.

There is no information on the endocrinology of Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus), a high priority species for captive breeding and reintroduction in Thailand. This study characterized fecal androgen and glucocorticoid metabolites in male goral at Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary to investigate seasonal relationships. Fecal samples were collected 3 days/week for 1 year from eight adult males. Mean androgen metabolite concentrations were greater (P0.05) during the rainy season (289.82±9.18ng/g) and winter (224.09±11.97ng/g) compared to the summer (195.48±8.23ng/g), and were related to breeding activity. A similar pattern was observed for glucocorticoid concentrations (22.10±0.72ng/g compared to 21.98±0.98ng/g compared to 15.30±0.48ng/g), respectively, and this resulted in a positive correlation between the two hormones (P0.05). There also were positive correlations between fecal androgen metabolite concentrations and temperature (P0.05) and day length (P0.05). In summary, this is the first study to assess endocrine function in male goral, and results showed seasonal variation in testicular and adrenal steroidogenic function, with greater activity in the rainy season and winter. Given that resources for captive male goral are consistent throughout the year, reproduction may be regulated primarily by photoperiod in this species.

The present study aimed to assess abundance indices and habitat associations of four sympatric ungulate species (alpine musk deer Moschus chrysogaster, tufted deer Elaphodus cephalophus, Chinese serow Capricornis milneedwardsii, and Chinese goral Naemorhedus griseus) in Baima Xueshan Nature Reserve of southwest China, using camera trapping and dung counts data. Camera traps were set along six dung transects in different habitats and explored habitat use of the sympatric ungulates using trapping rates. The results obtained revealed that Chinese serow showed a negative association with open canopy cover and low canopy cover. Alpine musk deer were associated with oak shrubs, oak forests and open canopy cover, while tufted deer avoided oak shrubs. Goral showed no significant associations with habitat variables. Alpine musk deer and tufted deer had considerable habitat overlap with Chinese serow. By finding a high correlation between indices, the study indicates that camera trapping may represent a valid index of relative abundance, matching results from other studies.

Detailed understanding of habitat associations of endangered species is essential for the development of sound conservation and habitat management plans. We assessed seasonal habitat requirement of a poorly known forest ungulate, Chinese goral Naemorhedus griseus, in Tangjiahe National Reserve, western China from December 2005 to November 2006. Transect surveys were conducted across the elevational range of the mountains to locate the droppings and traces left by the gorals as the indicators of their habitat use. The results showed that the species appeared at the sites with lower slope position and closer to road in winter than those in the two other seasons. At the same time, in summer, Chinese gorals were found at the stands with steep slope degree compared to in spring.

The coexistence mechanisms of sympatric species have attracted wide attention from ecologists. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), takin (Budorcas taxicolor) and goral (Naemorhedus griseus) are species which are being seriously endangered along to the Himalayan-Hengduan Mountains. To improve the understanding of mechanism of microhabitat separation and coexistence between the giant panda and the other two sympatric species, we investigated microhabitat characteristics at Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, Qingchuan County of Sichuan Province, China during 2013 by sampling 86 fecal-site plots for giant pandas, takins and gorals as well as 80 control plots. Our results suggested that each species has their own specific microhabitat selection pattern. Furthermore, the giant pandas more often selected microhabitats with gentler slope, more bamboo, lower tree canopy and a small herb shrub while the takins and gorals preferred the microhabitats with less bamboo, but more trees and shrubs. Thus, based on our findings, food resources, dietary requirements and energy expenditure are considered as the main ecological factors which caused the microhabitat separation among these three species. Because of the narrow dietary, the giant panda's specificity to its microhabitat is higher than that of the other two animals, which results in their segmentation. This study provides a scientific evidence that conservation efforts should be under way to protect the sympatric habitat, not only the suitable habitat for giant pandas but also that of takins and gorals, which can make a great improvement to the local biodiversity.

Naemorhedus griseus, vulnerable animal, has undergone a significant decline. Here, we analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome (16,554 bp in length) to supplement the database of N. griseus. The complete mtDNA of N. griseus contained 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes and 22 tRNA genes) and a non-coding region (D-loop). Additionally, a rep-origin (32 bp) exists which located between tRNAAsn and tRNACys.

Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) are a threatened species in Thailand and the focus of captive breeding for possible reintroduction. However, little is known of their biology or what factors in the captive environment affect welfare. Our objective was to determine the impact of gender, season, and management on goral adrenal activity. We hypothesized that differences in fecal glucocorticoid concentrations would be related to animal density. Fecal samples were collected 3 days/week for 1 year from 63 individuals (n = 32 males, 31 females) at two facilities that house the majority of goral in Thailand: Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary (Omkoi), an off-exhibit breeding center that houses goral in individual pens (16 pens; n = 8 males, 8 females) and in small family groups (8 pens; n = 8 males, 8 females); and the Chiang Mai Night Safari (NS), a zoo that maintains 31 goral (n = 17 males, 14 females) in one large pen. Glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations were higher in male than female goral at Omkoi throughout the year, and there was a seasonal effect on adrenal activity (p

Between August 2009 and April 2013, in the Guanyingshan Nature Reserve, Shaanxi Province, we 738 生 物 多 样 性 Biodiversity Science 第 22 卷 collected photo data on six ungulates (Budorcas taxicolor, Naemorhedus griseus, Elaphodus cephalophus, Capricornis milneedwardsii, Muntiacus reevesi and Moschus berezovskii) with 18 infrared cameras. Using the relative abundance index (RAI), we analyzed activity patterns and seasonal differences of these six species. The results show that: (1) their total RAI in the study area reaches 58.71%, the RAI of B. taxicolor was 28.02%, and it was 13.24% for N. griseus, 10.08% for E. cephalophus, 4.21% for C. milneedwardsii, 2.26% for M. reevesi, and 0.90% for M. berezovskii. (2) Monthly RAIs (MRAI) of six ungulates reflected seasonal activity patterns; B. taxicolor, N. griseus, E. cephalophus, C. milneedwardsii, M. reevesi exhibited similar activity patterns. These species were most active in summer, became inactive in autumn and winter, and then gradually increased activity in spring. M. berezovskii, on the other hand, was most active in winter and least active in summer. (3) The time-period relative abundance indices (TRAI) of the six ungulates reflect their daily activity patterns. B. taxicolor and N. griseus have similar daily activity patterns with an active peak at 06:00–20:00.The daily activity pattern of E. cephalophus, M. reevesi and M. berezovskii showed obvious crepuscular habits. C. milneedwardsii also has two peaks but at 02:00–06:00 and 20:00–22:00 implying nocturnal activities. (4) Comparative analyses of daily activity patterns among the four seasons showed that B. taxicolor displayed a different pattern in spring with an activity peak at 16:00–20:00. Compared with other seasons, N. gresius, E. cephalophus and C. milneedwardsii have different patterns in winter with either a delayed or advanced activity peak. In the case of M. reevesi, spring daily activity patterns showed two peaks at 00:00–10:00 and 18:00–20:00. Due to a paucity of captures, M. berezovskii showed different activity patterns in all four seasons. (5) Analysis of the nocturnality showed that C. milneedwardsii was obviously nocturnal with a nighttime relative abundance index (NRAI) of 65.81%. Our results help us to understand the activity patterns of these ungulates in Qinling, to monitor their population dynamics, and provide a theoretical basis and data support for the nature reserves to protect the ungulate animals more efficiently. Key word: activity patterns, camera trap, ungulates, relative abundance index (RAI), seasonal variation 红外相机技术是监测野生动物的有效方法, 可 以24 h无间断运行以收集动物的种类、数量和行为 等相关信息, 在国外应用已有较长的历史, 最早的 报道见于Champion(1927), Gysel等(1956)对其在野 生动物研究上的应用进行了介绍。在20世纪90年代 逐渐发展成熟, 现已广泛用于野生动物资源调查、 活动规律、种群数量与密度的研究,如利用该技术, 马世来和Harris(1996)对云南高黎贡地区的野生动 物资源进行了调查, 卢学理等(2005)对陕西长青自 然保护区大熊猫以及同域分布的野生动物资源调 查 , 余梁哥等 (2013) 对屏边县大围山倭蜂猴 (Nyticebus pygmaeus)、蜂猴(N. bengalensis)及同域分 布兽类资源进行了调查研究; Tape和Gustine(2014) 分析了北美驯鹿 (Rangifer caribou)和雷鸟 (Tetrao urogallus)的季节性迁移习性与纬度之间的关系 ; Karanth(1995)、Wallace等(2003)利用该技术分别对 孟加拉虎(Panthera tigris) 、美洲豹(Panthera onca) 的种群数量和密度进行了研究。这些成果对野生动

Three taxa within the subfamily Caprinae (Himalayan goral Naemorhedus goral, Chinese goral Naemorhedus griseus, and Sumatran serow Capricornis sumatraensis) live in the mountainous upland forests of Southeast Asia, where they are considered as vulnerable or near threatened species. Co-occurrences between these two recognized genera have been documented from some Pleistocene fossil sites in Thailand, suggesting more widely overlapping distribution in the past than today. However, diet and habitat preferences of these Pleistocene and present-day coexisting species have rarely been investigated so far. For the past three decades, stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses become more commonplace in ecological investigations, allowing us to explore the diets and habitats of ancient and extant animals as well as to reconstruct environmental conditions in the past. Here we reconstructed diets and habitats of these taxa from five fossil sites in Thailand during the past 400,000 years (from the Middle Pleistocene to the Early Holocene) and from some modern wildlife, using the isotopic analysis of carbonate in tooth enamel in order to test species co-occurrence patterns during the Pleistocene and to examine possible changes of their niche breadths over evolutionary time. Our carbon isotope analysis revealed remarkably different ecological patterns between Naemorhedus and Capricornis. The Pleistocene Sumatran serow has been a greater generalist than both the Himalayan and Chinese gorals that fed on pure C4 or mixed C3 and C4 plants restricted to an open landscape habitat, and than its extant population that occupies a closed-canopy forest. This suggests that the habitat contraction of the modern wildlife is likely due to the Holocene climate change and the human impacts on Thai ecosystems. In addition to the loss or reduction of grasslands after the latest Pleistocene when rainforests became dominant and besides the human hunting and predation pressure, the high interspecific competition likely contributed to the extirpation of Himalayan gorals in Thailand. Developing a strategic plan for the future biodiversity conservation, a long-term historical isotope approach we implemented allowed us to predict the contrasting habitat suitability, a lowland grassland, for these two threatened goral species as testified by their ecological persistence during the Pleistocene.