Field monitoring of mammals and birds using infrared cameras in Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China

Abstract

To characterize the mammal and bird diversity and enrich the bio-inventory resources of Mayanghe, a national nature reserve in Guizhou Province, China, a year-around field monitoring study was conducted by means of camera-trapping via an installation scheme of a kilometer grid across the whole region, from July 2018 to August 2019. We identified up to 20 species of mammals (taxonomically belonging to 5 orders, 10 families, 18 genera) and 42 species of birds (7 orders, 18 families, 34 genera). Among them, 11 species were newly recorded in the nature reserve, and 2 species (Trachypithecus francoisi and Syrmaticus ellioti) are Class I, 7 species are Class II national protected animals including Viverra zibetha, Syrmaticus reevesii, etc. Based on the general relative abundance index (RAI) of photographed species, Muntiacus reevesi, Arctonyx collaris, and Sus scrofa were common mammals in this region, while Chrysolophus pictus and Bambusicola thoracicus were the most frequently photographed terrestrial birds. The time-period RAI revealed Muntiacus reevesi can keep active in the periods of 6:00-15:00 and 17:00-21:00 in this region. Arctonyx collaris preferred to be active in the early morning (5:00-6:00) and night (19:00-23:00), while Sus scrofa was most active from 6:00 to 7:00. Comparatively, pheasants frequently moved at noon or in the afternoon. Chrysolophus pictus had its highest activity peak from 12:00 tor s i t y S c i e n c e 220 生 物 多 样 性 Biodiversity Science 第 28 卷生物编目 13:00, and Bambusicola thoracicus had two activity periods, one from 14:00-15:00 and another from 16:00-17:00. Species richness measured by the average captured species per camera, indicated that mammals and birds were relatively abundant in the buffer zone, shrub, and coniferous-broad-leaved mixed forest, as well as in elevation ranges of 800-1,200 m. Our results are useful for understanding current biodiversity and promoting the conservation management in this region.