Abstract:
With the integrated development of Wuyishan National Park, some newly added areas in the Jiangxi section lack systematic baseline data on wildlife resources. To characterize the mammal and bird resources of the newly added areas and compare them with those of the original area, a systematic camera-trapping survey of mammals and birds was conducted from March to October 2023. A total of 200 infrared camera traps were deployed, yielding 15662 camera-trap days and 10780 independent wildlife photographs. The survey recorded 21 species of medium- and large-sized mammals belonging to 6 orders and 13 families, and 13 bird species belonging to 4 orders and 6 families. Among these, four species were nationally protected Class I species and 13 were nationally protected Class II species, highlighting the important conservation value of the study area. The newly added areas recorded two nationally protected Class I species, black muntjac (
Muntiacus crinifrons) and Cabot′s tragopan (
Tragopan caboti). The original area supported 21 mammal species and 13 bird species, whereas the newly added areas supported 15 mammal species and 6 bird species. All species recorded in the newly added areas were also recorded in the original area, indicating a high degree of overlap in species composition between the two areas. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was higher in the original area (
H′=1.67) than in the newly added areas (
H′=1.38), and the Margalef richness index showed the same pattern (
D=3.68 and 2.50, respectively). These results indicate that the original area had relatively higher overall observed wildlife diversity and species richness. Relative abundance analysis showed that Reeves′s muntjac (
Muntiacus reevesi), Tibetan macaque (
Macaca thibetana), silver pheasant (
Lophura nycthemera), and wild boar (
Sus scrofa) had relatively high relative abundance. Levins′ niche breadth analysis further indicated that Tibetan macaque and silver pheasant had relatively broad ecological niches, suggesting a wider range of use of available environmental resources or habitats. Overall, this study established baseline information on mammal and bird diversity in the newly added areas. Although overall observed wildlife diversity was lower in the newly added areas than in the original area, the newly added areas still supported a relatively diverse wildlife community and had important conservation value, contributing to the maintenance of ecological integrity and biodiversity in Wuyishan National Park. These findings provide important baseline information for subsequent biodiversity monitoring, conservation planning, and scientific management of the newly added areas and the national park as a whole.