Science-Based Conservation of Amur Tigers in the Russian Far East and Northeast China

Miquelle, Dale G.; Goodrich, John M.; Kerley, Linda L.; Pikunov, D.G.; Dunishenko, Y.M.; Aramiliev, Vladimir V.; Nikolaev, Igor; Смирнов, Е.; Salkina, Galina P.; Zhang, Endi; Seryodkin, Ivan V.; Carroll, Carlos; Gapanov, Victor V.; Fomenko, Pavel V.; Kostyria, A.V.; Мурзин, А.А.; Quigley, Howard; Hornocker, Maurice G.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-8155-1570-8.00032-3

Cited by 41 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This inherent paucity in genetic variation may have also precluded further genetic loss (Cornuet & Luikart 1996) despite a well‐documented 20th century bottleneck in population size. Second, it is possible that the severity of the 20th century demographic contraction may have been overestimated: while tiger numbers plummeted in Russia during the first half of the 20th century, a reservoir population of unknown size still existed in nearby China (Miquelle et al. 2009b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1; Miquelle & Pikunov 2003; DG Pikunov, unpublished). Because the small tiger population in Southwest Primorye represents the source population for recovery of tigers in nearby China (Miquelle et al. 2009b), such a disruption of gene flow could have severe repercussions on the genetic health of this recovering population and thus deserves further attention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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In situpopulation structure andex siturepresentation of the endangered Amur tiger

et al. 2009

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The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is a critically endangered felid that suffered a severe demographic contraction in the 1940s. In this study, we sampled 95 individuals collected throughout their native range to investigate questions relative to population genetic structure and demographic history. Additionally, we sampled targeted individuals from the North American ex situ population to assess the genetic representation found in captivity. Population genetic and Bayesian structure analyses clearly identified two populations separated by a development corridor in Russia. Despite their well-documented 20th century decline, we failed to find evidence of a recent population bottleneck, although genetic signatures of a historical contraction were detected. This disparity in signal may be due to several reasons, including historical paucity in population genetic variation associated with postglacial colonization and potential gene flow from a now extirpated Chinese population. Despite conflicting signatures of a bottleneck, our estimates of effective population size (N(e) = 27-35) and N(e)/N ratio (0.07-0.054) were substantially lower than the only other values reported for a wild tiger population. Lastly, the extent and distribution of genetic variation in captive and wild populations were similar, yet gene variants persisted ex situ that were lost in situ. Overall, our results indicate the need to secure ecological connectivity between the two Russian populations to minimize loss of genetic diversity and overall susceptibility to stochastic events, and support a previous study suggesting that the captive population may be a reservoir of gene variants lost in situ.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situpopulation structure andex siturepresentation of the endangered Amur tiger

et al. 2009

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“…The endangered Amur (or Siberian) tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and the critically endangered Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) both were at the brink of extinction in the late 1990s in Northeast China (Jutzeler et al 2010;Miquelle et al 2010a;Feng et al 2011), which was the central part of their historical distribution range before World War II Miquelle et al 2010b). Due mainly to habitat loss, landscape fragmentation, prey depletion, and poaching, the tiger population declined from more than 3000 to about 500 during the past century Miquelle et al 2010b;Tian et al 2011;Tian et al 2014), while the leopard population reportedly had only about 30 individuals (Pikunov et al 2009;Hebblewhite et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Amur tigers and leopards returning to China: direct evidence and a landscape conservation plan

et al. 2015

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Context The Amur tiger and leopard, once roaming over the Eurasian continent, are now endangered and confined to the Sikhote-Alin Mountains, Russia-a landscape that has been increasingly fragmented due to human activities. The ultimate fate of these big cats depends on whether they can resettle in their previous main historical range in NE China. Recent sightings of these animals along the China-Russia border have aroused new hope, but direct evidence is lacking.Objectives The main objectives of our study were (1) to determine the abundance and spatiotemporal patterns of tigers, leopards, and primary prey; (2) to investigate factors influencing the resettlement of the two big cats; and (3) to propose a landscape-scale conservation plan to secure the long-term sustainability of the Amur tiger and leopard. Methods We monitored the two felids, their prey, and human activities, with 380 camera-trap stations, for a total of 175,127 trap days and over an area of 6000 km 2 in NE China. We used the constraint line method to characterize cattle grazing and human influences on tigers, leopards, and their prey species.Tianming Wang and Limin Feng contributed equally to this work.

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“…In 2000 it was estimated that approximately 20 tigers live in northeast China (Yu et al 2000;Li et al 2001), and probably none in North Korea. No more than 500 tigers habituate the Far East of Russia (Miquelle et al 2010), and the population is divided into 2 subpopulations, with the larger subpopulation located in the Sikhote-Alin Mountains and the smaller subpopulation in southwest Primorye (Henry et al 2009;Sorokin et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Noninvasive genetics provides insights into the population size and genetic diversity of an Amur tiger population in China

Wang

et al. 2016

Integrative Zoology

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Understanding population size and genetic diversity is critical for effective conservation of endangered species. The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is the largest felid and a flagship species for wildlife conservation. Due to habitat loss and human activities, available habitat and population size are continuously shrinking. However, little is known about the true population size and genetic diversity of wild tiger populations in China. In this study, we collected 55 fecal samples and 1 hair sample to investigate the population size and genetic diversity of wild Amur tigers in Hunchun National Nature Reserve, Jilin Province, China. From the samples, we determined that 23 fecal samples and 1 hair sample were from 7 Amur tigers: 2 males, 4 females and 1 individual of unknown sex. Interestingly, 2 fecal samples that were presumed to be from tigers were from Amur leopards, highlighting the significant advantages of noninvasive genetics over traditional methods in studying rare and elusive animals. Analyses from this sample suggested that the genetic diversity of wild Amur tigers is much lower than that of Bengal tigers, consistent with previous findings. Furthermore, the genetic diversity of this Hunchun population in China was lower than that of the adjoining subpopulation in southwest Primorye Russia, likely due to sampling bias. Considering the small population size and relatively low genetic diversity, it is urgent to protect this endangered local subpopulation in China.

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Science-Based Conservation of Amur Tigers in the Russian Far East and Northeast China

Cited by 41 publications

References 7 publications

In situpopulation structure andex siturepresentation of the endangered Amur tiger

In situpopulation structure andex siturepresentation of the endangered Amur tiger

Amur tigers and leopards returning to China: direct evidence and a landscape conservation plan

Noninvasive genetics provides insights into the population size and genetic diversity of an Amur tiger population in China

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