A Study of Population Size and Activity Patterns and Their Relationship to the Prey Species of the Eurasian Lynx Using a Camera Trapping Approach

A Study of Population Size and Activity Patterns and Their Relationship to the Prey Species of the Eurasian Lynx Using a Camera Trapping Approach

Revealing the behavioral relationships between predators and their prey is fundamental in understanding the community structure and ecosystem functions of such animals. This study aimed at detecting the population size and activity patterns of Eurasian lynx ( ) (along with its prey) by camera trappi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animals (Basel) Vol. 9; no. 11; p. 864
Main Authors: Tang, Xiaoming, Tang, Shupei, Li, Xiaoyu, Menghe, Dalai, Bao, Wuliji, Xiang, Changlin, Gao, Fuli, Bao, Weidong
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25-10-2019
MDPI
Subjects:
activity pattern
Activity patterns
Animal behavior
Animal traps
Biodiversity
Biodiversity conservation
camera trapping
Cameras
Cameras (Photography)
Cats
Community structure
Deer
Digital cameras
Digital imaging
Distribution
Ecosystems
Environmental aspects
Environmental management
Eurasian lynx
Lynx lynx
meso-carnivores
Nature
Nature reserves
Observations
Population
Population number
Population studies
Populations
Predators
Prey
prey community
Rhythm
Strategic planning (Business)
Time
Trapping
China
Inner Mongolia China
Lynx lynx
camera trapping
meso-carnivores
prey community
activity pattern
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Summary:Revealing the behavioral relationships between predators and their prey is fundamental in understanding the community structure and ecosystem functions of such animals. This study aimed at detecting the population size and activity patterns of Eurasian lynx ( ) (along with its prey) by camera trapping monitoring from 2014 to 2017 at the Saihanwula nature reserve in central Inner Mongolia. The total effective trapping days were 29,892 and 20 lynx were identified from 343 trapping photos based on the inner side patterns of their forelimbs. The daily activity rhythms of the lynx overlapped with those of different prey in different seasons. The yearly activity pattern of the lynx was influenced by its main prey's biology. In conclusion, this study reveals that the activity patterns of the top predator matched those of its prey in different time periods. Habitat management strategies promoting the restoration of prey communities would benefit the lynx in maintaining a stable community structure.
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Same contribution first author.
ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani9110864