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Seasonal Altitudinal Movements of Golden Takin in the Qinling Mountains of China
Author(s) -
ZENG ZHIGAO,
SKIDMORE ANDREW K.,
SONG YANLING,
WANG TIEJUN,
GONG HUISHENG
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2007-197
Subject(s) - ungulate , altitude (triangle) , geography , range (aeronautics) , montane ecology , china , nature reserve , spring (device) , ecology , phenology , mountain range (options) , wildlife refuge , habitat , physical geography , biology , archaeology , mechanical engineering , materials science , geometry , mathematics , financial economics , engineering , economics , composite material
We studied seasonal movements of golden takin ( Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi ), a large, social, forest‐dwelling ungulate, by radiotracking and field surveys during 1995–1996 and 2002–2005 at Foping National Nature Reserve on the southern slope of the Qinling Mountains, China. Takins inhabited forests and subalpine meadows at an altitudinal range from 1,360 m to 2,890 m. Our results showed that golden takins had a complicated seasonal movement pattern and underwent altitudinal migration 4 times each year. Takins occupied a high‐altitude range during summer, stayed at low‐altitude ranges for short periods during spring and autumn, and resided at an intermediate‐altitude range during winter. Changes in plant phenology may have caused seasonal movements. Reserves for takin conservation should incorporate lower altitude habitats than those takins use in spring and autumn, and seasonal movements by takins should be protected from disturbance by human activities. (JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 72(3):611–617; 2008)