Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
2. College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Abstract
Although the population of Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) has increased, this species is still threatened by a variety of risk factors, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, grassland fencing, grazing conflict, the segmentation of different populations, and declines in population genetic diversity. In order to determine the potential suitable habitat of Przewalski’s gazelle and find a new suitable location for its conservation translocation, we used the MaxEnt model to predict the suitable habitats in Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, and the Ordos Plateau in Inner Mongolia and other regions with historical distribution records. On the basis of the MaxEnt model’s prediction of the potential suitable habitat of Przewalski’s gazelle, we used GAP analysis to determine the existing protection gaps and provide a new reference for the future protection of Przewalski’s gazelle. We found that altitude, temperature, vegetation type, and distance from roads were the main environmental factors affecting the geographical distribution of Przewalski’s gazelle. Most of the suitable habitat of Przewalski’s gazelle is confined around Qinghai Lake. GAP analysis revealed that most of the suitable habitats of Przewalski’s gazelle are not included in the established reserves, and Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve only covers a small area around Qinghai Lake. The whole reserve only accounts for 7.11% of the area of the suitable habitat for Przewalski’s gazelle and 15.79% of the area of the highly suitable habitat for Przewalski’s gazelle. We suggest that conservation translocation for Przewalski’s gazelle should be put on the agenda. It is necessary to consider reintroducing these gazelles into their potential suitable habitats as a feasible way of establishing new populations and saving this species.
Funder
Ministry of Science and Technology of China
China-Science & Technology Cooperation Project of Chinese and Russian Government
Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China
Subject
General Veterinary,Animal Science and Zoology
Reference49 articles.
1. Habitat fragmentation and biodiversity conservation: Key findings and future challenges;Wilson;Landsc. Ecol.,2016
2. Allen, G.M. (1940). Journal of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History.
3. Ungulates from Inner Mongolia;Zhao;J. Inn. Mong. Univ.,1960
4. Historical and current distribution of Przewalski’s gazelle;Jiang;Acta Theriol. Sin.,1995
5. Population structure of Przewalski’s gazelle in Qinghai Lake area;Jiang;Acta Zool. Sin.,2001