Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation
ABSTRACT Globally, urban expansion has led to habitat fragmentation and altered resource availability, thus posing significant challenges for wildlife. The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a critically endangered species experiencing population decline due to illegal trade and habitat degrad...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70726 |
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| author | Asmit Subba Ganesh Tamang Sony Lama Jash Hang Limbu Nabin Basnet Randall C. Kyes Laxman Khanal |
| author_facet | Asmit Subba Ganesh Tamang Sony Lama Jash Hang Limbu Nabin Basnet Randall C. Kyes Laxman Khanal |
| author_sort | Asmit Subba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Globally, urban expansion has led to habitat fragmentation and altered resource availability, thus posing significant challenges for wildlife. The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a critically endangered species experiencing population decline due to illegal trade and habitat degradation. This study analyzed variables affecting habitat occupancy of Chinese pangolins using a single‐season occupancy model across 134 study grids (600 m × 600 m) in peri‐urban areas of Dharan Sub‐Metropolitan City, eastern Nepal. We identified termite mounds as a significant key factor (top model with AICwt = 1) in the detection probability of Chinese pangolin burrows (βTermite mounds = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.89). Additionally, the Human Disturbance Index (HDI) emerged as the key variable for habitat use occupancy (AIC = 231.96, AICwt = 0.309), indicating a significant negative impact (βHDI = −6.555, 95% CI = −11.324 to −1.7723). We observed a mean HDI of 0.475 ± 0.04 in the grids where Chinese pangolins were detected, with higher HDI values correlating with reduced Chinese pangolin occupancy. For the long‐term conservation of Chinese pangolins in urban landscapes, it is crucial to reduce anthropogenic activities and implement conservation measures to protect suitable habitats with abundant termite mounds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c4df332cd4e64261be5b30677a8cf6d2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-c4df332cd4e64261be5b30677a8cf6d22025-08-20T02:00:48ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-12-011412n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70726Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for ConservationAsmit Subba0Ganesh Tamang1Sony Lama2Jash Hang Limbu3Nabin Basnet4Randall C. Kyes5Laxman Khanal6Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University Kathmandu NepalCentral Campus of Technology Tribhuvan University Dharan NepalSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation Beijing Forestry University Beijing ChinaCollege of Fisheries and Life Science Shanghai Ocean University Shanghai ChinaCentral Department of Botany, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University Kathmandu NepalDepartments of Psychology, Global Health, and Anthropology, Center for Global Field Study, and Washington National Primate Research Center University of Washington Seattle Washington USACentral Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University Kathmandu NepalABSTRACT Globally, urban expansion has led to habitat fragmentation and altered resource availability, thus posing significant challenges for wildlife. The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a critically endangered species experiencing population decline due to illegal trade and habitat degradation. This study analyzed variables affecting habitat occupancy of Chinese pangolins using a single‐season occupancy model across 134 study grids (600 m × 600 m) in peri‐urban areas of Dharan Sub‐Metropolitan City, eastern Nepal. We identified termite mounds as a significant key factor (top model with AICwt = 1) in the detection probability of Chinese pangolin burrows (βTermite mounds = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.89). Additionally, the Human Disturbance Index (HDI) emerged as the key variable for habitat use occupancy (AIC = 231.96, AICwt = 0.309), indicating a significant negative impact (βHDI = −6.555, 95% CI = −11.324 to −1.7723). We observed a mean HDI of 0.475 ± 0.04 in the grids where Chinese pangolins were detected, with higher HDI values correlating with reduced Chinese pangolin occupancy. For the long‐term conservation of Chinese pangolins in urban landscapes, it is crucial to reduce anthropogenic activities and implement conservation measures to protect suitable habitats with abundant termite mounds.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70726anthropogenic threatsChinese pangolinoccupancytermite moundsurban landscape |
| spellingShingle | Asmit Subba Ganesh Tamang Sony Lama Jash Hang Limbu Nabin Basnet Randall C. Kyes Laxman Khanal Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation Ecology and Evolution anthropogenic threats Chinese pangolin occupancy termite mounds urban landscape |
| title | Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation |
| title_full | Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation |
| title_fullStr | Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation |
| title_short | Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation |
| title_sort | habitat occupancy of the critically endangered chinese pangolin manis pentadactyla under human disturbance in an urban environment implications for conservation |
| topic | anthropogenic threats Chinese pangolin occupancy termite mounds urban landscape |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70726 |
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