Habitat Modelling of the Amur Leopard and Siberian Tiger for Future Reintroduction. Using Conservation Priority Setting, Ecological Corridors and Carrying Capacities
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Billy Gardener MSc by Res 2020
8.54 MB, PDF document
- Master of Science by Research (MScRes), Siberian tiger, Amur Leopard, Habitat modelling, Conservation, Ecology
Research areas
Abstract
Both the Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris) and the Amur leopard (Panthera Pardus) are under threat by increasing anthropogenic induced impacts. These have reduced both populations to only a fraction of their former numbers and distributions. Many know believe that reintroductions may represent the best way to save these sympatric predators from extinction. Using known locations of both species, along with what we considered to be the three key drivers of their habitat selection, prey presence, human impact and competition, suitability models were computed. These determined potential suitable habitat for each species, being the first to include the entirety of both species’ historic distributions. Regions were revealed, for each of the species, that could act as an area for reintroduction and conservation prioritizing. A total of 29,666km2 of suitable habitat was identified for the Siberian tiger, split into 25 areas (Further split into 4 regions). 22,116km2 of suitable habitat was discovered for the Amur leopard, which would take their range to over 34,000km2. For the Amur leopard, 18 areas were identified, which were further split into 4 regions. Each of these regions was then critically analysed using conservation prioritizing, the key drivers and suitability values leaving a single respective region for each of the Siberian tiger and Amur leopard. A region of 9,149km2 stretching across the Jilin-DPR Korea border, was selected as that of highest suitability for the Amur leopard. Carrying capacity estimates for the region suggests this will increase the Amur leopard population by 89 breeding adults, which almost doubles the wild population. For the Siberian tiger 13,967km2 of suitable habitat was identified across the Primorski Krai-Heilongjiang border with carrying capacity estimating habitat for 50 breeding adult Siberian tigers. Least-cost path analysis was used to find potential corridors between each of these suggested areas and the current wild populations, preventing fragmentation of these reintroduced populations. To limit the anthropogenic impacts that have previously, and currently, damaged wild populations, conversations with local people and educating them about the importance of these predators for biodiversity will help to make these reintroductions a success. This suitability model and following discussions add to the growing reintroduction planning process and offers new insight for suitable regions. These continuing efforts are vital for successfully reintroducing the Amur leopard and Siberian tiger.
Details
Original language | English |
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Award date | 1 Jun 2020 |