Behavioral responses of blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) to nonlethal human recreational disturbance

Abstract

Nonlethal human recreational activities have been confirmed to have negative effect on wild animals in a number of ways, including changes in behaviors, avoidance of suitable habitats and declines in breeding success. Studies on the anti-disturbance mechanism of wild animals to human disturbance can provide valuable knowledge to the management of wild animals and the evolutionary mechanisms of behavioral adaptation to their habitats. To evaluate how blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) would react to nonlethal human recreational disturbance, we studied their anti-disturbance strategy towards human disturbance in Suyukou National Forest Park (SNFP), Helan Mountains, Yinchuan of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Using multinomial logistic regression models (MLRMs), we sought to answer two questions: (1) which kind of human recreational behavior would evoke the most serious anti-disturbance behaviors in blue sheep; and (2) how would various ecological factors influence the anti-disturbance strategy of blue sheep to human recreational disturbance? We collected 10 habitat and population variables and evaluated three kinds of reaction of blue sheep-no response, vigilance and flight. A total of 921 observations qualified to enter MLRMs. We found that habitat type (HT), gender (GEN), head direction (HD), visibility index (VI), and disturbance source (DS) were the five variables that significantly influenced the intensity of reactions of blue sheep. Blue sheep were more alert to tourists than to vehicles, and roads were the habitat type that caused the most intensive reaction of alertness where human disturbance was the highest. Females were more vigilant than males. Blue sheep might feel safer when staying in open habitat, and taking a front head direction provided them with the highest vigilance. Based on these results, we present suggestions to SNFP for the management of ecotourism and blue sheep conservation.

Landscape use and co-occurrence pattern of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its prey species in the fragile ecosystem of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh

“…This model explains that the occupancy probability of blue sheep was positively influenced by variables DW (β = 0.99±0.76), SLP (β = 0.65±0.44) and negatively influenced by variable LULC 16 (β = -0.05±0.06), which had a positive association with snow leopard ( S3 Table ). Our hypothesis is endorsed by the previous studies, which suggest water sources with open vegetation are the main habitat for drinking and foraging for the blue sheep, while it uses steep slopes in the mountains for resting and bedding [ 63 , 64 ].…”

In the shadows of snow leopards and the Himalayas: density and habitat selection of blue sheep in Manang, Nepal

“…Moreover, local people generally have positive attitudes toward blue sheep (Oli et al., 1994). In these conditions, blue sheep may habituate to humans as shown in areas with a large number of pilgrims and tourists (Bhardwaj et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2013), but may still remain vigilant at the expense of their foraging and resting time budgets (Jiang et al., 2013).…”

Red deer behavioural response to hiking activity: a study using camera traps

“…The interaction between wildlife and recreationists can cause different levels of behavioural response in wildlife, which can be classified as no response, vigilance, or flight, and this order of response usually corresponds with an increase in the intensity of the stimulus (Jiang et al., 2013). Among ungulates and vertebrates, vigilance behaviour is often characterised by an animal's head position, where a raised position allows the detection of a predator by scanning the surroundings (Hopewell et al., 2005).…”