Filling a longstanding knowledge gap: Population size and conservation status of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Yunnan

We presented the result of a systematic survey on the population size and distribution of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province of China. A total of 15–18 individuals of H. tianxing in 5–6 gibbon groups and one solitary gibbon wer...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jian-Huan Yang, Xiang-Yuan Huang, Shen-Heng Jin, Bosco Pui Lok Chan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-12-01
Series:Global Ecology and Conservation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198942030888X
_version_ 1830485038791131136
author Jian-Huan Yang
Xiang-Yuan Huang
Shen-Heng Jin
Bosco Pui Lok Chan
author_facet Jian-Huan Yang
Xiang-Yuan Huang
Shen-Heng Jin
Bosco Pui Lok Chan
author_sort Jian-Huan Yang
collection DOAJ
description We presented the result of a systematic survey on the population size and distribution of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province of China. A total of 15–18 individuals of H. tianxing in 5–6 gibbon groups and one solitary gibbon were recorded during the survey conducted in November 2019. The mean group size was 2.8 individuals (range 2–4) with a population density of 0.32–0.39 groups/km2. All groups contained an adult pair, and one or two immatures were observed in all but two. Mean dawn time was 07:21 h during the survey, and most vocalizations were produced between 1.0 and 2.5 h after dawn (75% of total song bouts), with an average song bout duration of 22.5 min (n = 12). Our result revealed that the Houqiao subpopulation of H. tianxing is of high conservation significance, since it is one of the largest subpopulations for the species in China and occurs in an unprotected area. The Houqiao forest is subjected to frequent human disturbance and the thriving agroforestry activity is degrading the forest integrity. Immediate conservation interventions are needed to safeguard the future of this important gibbon subpopulation. Discussions on the major threats to the species and relevant conservation recommendations are provided.
first_indexed 2024-12-21T18:19:29Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3b17ef5ba77f4237af9a4976c81783fa
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2351-9894
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-21T18:19:29Z
publishDate 2020-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Global Ecology and Conservation
spelling doaj.art-3b17ef5ba77f4237af9a4976c81783fa2022-12-21T18:54:35ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942020-12-0124e01347Filling a longstanding knowledge gap: Population size and conservation status of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, YunnanJian-Huan Yang0Xiang-Yuan Huang1Shen-Heng Jin2Bosco Pui Lok Chan3Kadoorie Conservation China Department, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Tai Po, Hong Kong, ChinaGaoligongshan National Nature Reserve (Tengchong Bureau), Tengchong, Yunnan, 679100, ChinaHouqiao Forestry Working Station, Tengchong, Yunnan, 679100, ChinaKadoorie Conservation China Department, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China; Corresponding author.We presented the result of a systematic survey on the population size and distribution of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province of China. A total of 15–18 individuals of H. tianxing in 5–6 gibbon groups and one solitary gibbon were recorded during the survey conducted in November 2019. The mean group size was 2.8 individuals (range 2–4) with a population density of 0.32–0.39 groups/km2. All groups contained an adult pair, and one or two immatures were observed in all but two. Mean dawn time was 07:21 h during the survey, and most vocalizations were produced between 1.0 and 2.5 h after dawn (75% of total song bouts), with an average song bout duration of 22.5 min (n = 12). Our result revealed that the Houqiao subpopulation of H. tianxing is of high conservation significance, since it is one of the largest subpopulations for the species in China and occurs in an unprotected area. The Houqiao forest is subjected to frequent human disturbance and the thriving agroforestry activity is degrading the forest integrity. Immediate conservation interventions are needed to safeguard the future of this important gibbon subpopulation. Discussions on the major threats to the species and relevant conservation recommendations are provided.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198942030888XChinaConservationForest degradationPopulation surveyPrimate vocalizationsSkywalker hoolock gibbon
spellingShingle Jian-Huan Yang
Xiang-Yuan Huang
Shen-Heng Jin
Bosco Pui Lok Chan
Filling a longstanding knowledge gap: Population size and conservation status of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Yunnan
Global Ecology and Conservation
China
Conservation
Forest degradation
Population survey
Primate vocalizations
Skywalker hoolock gibbon
title Filling a longstanding knowledge gap: Population size and conservation status of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Yunnan
title_full Filling a longstanding knowledge gap: Population size and conservation status of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Yunnan
title_fullStr Filling a longstanding knowledge gap: Population size and conservation status of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Yunnan
title_full_unstemmed Filling a longstanding knowledge gap: Population size and conservation status of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Yunnan
title_short Filling a longstanding knowledge gap: Population size and conservation status of the Endangered Gaoligong hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Houqiao Town, Yunnan
title_sort filling a longstanding knowledge gap population size and conservation status of the endangered gaoligong hoolock gibbon hoolock tianxing in houqiao town yunnan
topic China
Conservation
Forest degradation
Population survey
Primate vocalizations
Skywalker hoolock gibbon
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198942030888X
work_keys_str_mv AT jianhuanyang fillingalongstandingknowledgegappopulationsizeandconservationstatusoftheendangeredgaoligonghoolockgibbonhoolocktianxinginhouqiaotownyunnan
AT xiangyuanhuang fillingalongstandingknowledgegappopulationsizeandconservationstatusoftheendangeredgaoligonghoolockgibbonhoolocktianxinginhouqiaotownyunnan
AT shenhengjin fillingalongstandingknowledgegappopulationsizeandconservationstatusoftheendangeredgaoligonghoolockgibbonhoolocktianxinginhouqiaotownyunnan
AT boscopuilokchan fillingalongstandingknowledgegappopulationsizeandconservationstatusoftheendangeredgaoligonghoolockgibbonhoolocktianxinginhouqiaotownyunnan