SummaryThe endangered Green Peafowl Pavo muticus is one of the most threatened vertebrate species in South-East Asia and has undergone a rapid decline in both distribution and population density. The remaining populations are mostly limited to protected areas where an understanding of their ecological requirements is required to ensure that conservation management is effective. To clarify this, we investigated their population status and ecological requirements in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, western Thailand. Line transect surveys across five sections of the Sanctuary revealed variation in population density, apparently linked to recent levels of human activity and management. Comparison of encounter rates along transects with those recorded in similar surveys conducted 21 years previously showed an increase in numbers in most of the peripheral areas of the sanctuary whilst numbers in the core area have remained stable. Using camera trapping and radio tracking to investigate habitat selection all year round, our results showed that the Green Peafowl preferred areas with an open understorey but a high percentage cover of ground vegetation. During the breeding season they preferred to cluster near streams to establish a display site, whilst in the non-breeding season they ranged more widely but still preferred areas of open understorey and high ground cover. We present some evidence of temporary avoidance of areas recently frequented by large predators (tiger and common leopard). Our results suggest that increased patrols to control hunting help to allow Green Peafowl populations to recover. We suggest that measures that allow recovery of populations of species such as Green Peafowl will ultimately enhance large predator conservation through increasing their prey base.

No abstract

No abstract

Incubation is an energetically demanding phase of avian reproduction. Single-sex incubators are often faced with a direct conflict between incubation and foraging. We report an unusual incubation behavior of the Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus), with long recesses of females and embryonic hypothermia, at Laojunshan National Nature Reserve, southwest China. The Sichuan Partridge is a globally endangered species that inhabits subtropical evergreen and deciduous broadleaf forests at 1100-2250 m a.s.l. Female Sichuan Partridges incubated eggs alone, and typically took one long incubation recess of 4.5 ± 1.2 h (mean ± SD) day -1 . They left the nests at 7:36 a.m. (±50 min) and returned at 12:06 p.m. (±70 min). Nest attentiveness was 81.2 ± 5.2% of the entire incubation period. Females prolonged the recess duration and decreased nest attentiveness significantly in response to high disturbance risk and bad weather. Although eggs experienced *4.2 h below 26°C (the physiological zero temperature) for each recess, the total hatching rate was 88.4%, suggesting that embryonic hypothermia had minimal negative effect on the hatching rate. For Sichuan Partridge, the ability to withstand embryonic hypothermia may be an adaptation to cold montane environments.

The green peafowl Pavo muticus is a highly threatened galliform species that was historically distributed widely across South-east Asia. Evidence shows a recent population decline and range contraction for this species, linked with habitat degradation and over-exploitation. This study aimed to determine the current known distribution across mainland South-east Asia and investigate potential habitat that could host remaining viable populations and contribute to the long-term survival of the species. We used locations from historical and recent records and habitat variables from a geographical information system database to model the probability of occurrence and classify key localities according to their relative importance for the species. Our results showed that the green peafowl probably occurs in less than % of its historical range across mainland South-east Asia and that remaining locations are fragmented. Four confirmed and two potential stronghold populations were identified for the species, based on the localities with high capacity to contribute to its long-term survival in large contiguous patches. These were in central Myanmar, western and northern Thailand, eastern Cambodia/south-central Viet Nam and northern Cambodia/southern Lao. Threats vary amongst countries, with continued habitat loss and degradation in many areas and hunting particularly acute in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao. Most of the remaining populations are in protected areas but the protection level varies widely. We propose conservation actions for each stronghold population, in accordance with the nature of the threats and protection level in each area, to prevent the local extinction of this species.