Abstract:
Habitat assessment is the basis for effective conservation and management of wildlife. The habitat suitability of Tibetan macaque (
Macaca thibetana) in Daxiangling Nature Reserve was evaluated and analyzed by using MaxEnt modelling based on the data of distribution points of Tibetan macaque and environmental variables obtained from background investigation and infrared camera monitoring carried out in the nature reserve from June 2017 to November 2019. The assessment result of the model was good. The results showed that altitude (69.59%) and aspect (19.08%) were the main factors influencing habitat selection of Tibetan macaque, and the cumulative contribution rate reached 88.67%. Suitable habitat areas were mainly distributed in most areas in the northwest of the researve and in the middle and upper areas in the southeast, with the total suitable habitat area of 312.77 km
2, accounting for 80.20% of the total reserve area. Tibetan macaque prefered to move at altitudes of 1 500~2 500 m (especially around 2 100 m) and on the northwest slope (sunny slope) of mountains. There was a certain degree of fragmentation in the suitable habitat of Tibetan macaque. In order to better protect the macaque resources in this region, it is necessary to strengthen the population protection, pay attention to the human disturbance at the edge of the habitat patches, and when conditions permit, appropriate artificial release can be carried out to promote gene exchange between populations.