台灣黑熊棲息地利用及分布預測模式
Other Title
Habitat Use and Distribution Model of Formosan Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus formosanus)
Journal
特有生物研究
Journal Volume
11
Journal Issue
2
Start Page
1
End Page
20
ISSN
1561-3771
Date Issued
2009-07
Author(s)
Abstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary issues in the conservation and management of large carnivores. Successful wildlife management requires an understanding of animal habitat requirements and accurate prediction of its distribution. The Formosan black bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus), an endemic subspecies of Asiatic black bear (U. thibetanus) inhabiting Taiwan, is listed as a locally endangered species. Grid cells where Formosan black bears were detected differed significantly from the availability of habitats across the entire study area (＞100 m in elevation, excluding Taipei and Kaohsiung cities) in all seven environment variables measured, including elevation, slope, NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), naturalness, road density, and shortest distance to river and road (Mann-Whitney U test, p＜0.001). The results indicated that these variables affected where bears tended to live (a reflection of their choices as well as spatial differences in human-related mortality risks; chi-square test, p＜0.001). The genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction model predicted that bears occurred mainly along the Central Mountain Ranges, whereas few lived in the isolated Eastern Coastal Mountain Range. The geographic distribution of Formosan black bears appears to have declined, as compared to the distribution data recorded in 1990. Their habitat use was not only limited by food abundance and natural physical factors but also by human disturbance. The predictability of our model would be enhanced by improving the accuracy of bear presence-absence data and by incorporating more explanatory variables, such as types and locations of human activities (especially illegal hunting), food abundance, and various road networks.
Subjects
Taiwan
台灣
habitat selection
出現資料
亞洲黑熊
基因演算法
棲息地選擇
Asiatic black bear
genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction GARP
presence data
Publisher
特有生物研究保育中心
Type
journal article