Distribution of the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and variations in its coat morphology in China
Abstract Of the 12 wild felid species found in China, Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is one of the least studied species. This medium‐sized cat with a prominently polymorphic coat was once distributed across much of southern China, but is believed to have experienced severe decline and ran...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10900 |
| _version_ | 1797290932193722368 |
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| author | Fei Duan Shuyi Zhu Yuan Wang Dazhao Song Xiaoli Shen Sheng Li |
| author_facet | Fei Duan Shuyi Zhu Yuan Wang Dazhao Song Xiaoli Shen Sheng Li |
| author_sort | Fei Duan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Of the 12 wild felid species found in China, Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is one of the least studied species. This medium‐sized cat with a prominently polymorphic coat was once distributed across much of southern China, but is believed to have experienced severe decline and range contraction during the past decades, primarily due to anthropogenic pressures. A lack of knowledge of its current distribution, ecology, and natural history has greatly hindered the implementation of conservation and management actions for this species. In this study, for the first time, we compiled the state‐wide occurrence records (N = 409), mainly from the camera‐trapping surveys, of Asiatic golden cats from 2008 to 2019, and predicted its distribution across the country through species distribution modeling using random forest algorithm. The results showed that the predicted habitats were mainly located in southwest China and suggested a rather low probability of possible current distribution across its vast historic range in central, eastern, and southern China. We divided its current range into four geographic regions (i.e., Qinling Mountains, Hengduan Mountains, East Himalayas, and southern Yunnan region) and considered the cats in each region as a regional population within the country. From the 287 camera‐trapping detections with photographs and/or videos collected across all populations, we identified six coat morphs and determined their occurrence percentages: common golden (47.4%), spotted (20.9%), red (13.6%), dark cinnamon (10.1%), melanistic (7.0%), and gray (1.0%). The complexity of coat morph composition within regional populations showed an increasing gradient from northeast to southwest. Among the four regional populations, the East Himalayas hosted the highest abundance and coat variation with all six morphs recorded. Our study results update the current distribution and coat morphology variations of this elusive cat in China and provide important knowledge to guide future research and conservation planning for this threatened species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:29:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee3c0254b9954c85b2f1438b8e9301ea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:29:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee3c0254b9954c85b2f1438b8e9301ea2024-02-29T08:56:39ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-02-01142n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10900Distribution of the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and variations in its coat morphology in ChinaFei Duan0Shuyi Zhu1Yuan Wang2Dazhao Song3Xiaoli Shen4Sheng Li5National Natural History Museum of China Beijing ChinaSchool of Life Sciences & Institute of Ecology Peking University Beijing ChinaResearch Institute of Natural Protected Area Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing ChinaChinese Felid Conservation Alliance Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaSchool of Life Sciences & Institute of Ecology Peking University Beijing ChinaAbstract Of the 12 wild felid species found in China, Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is one of the least studied species. This medium‐sized cat with a prominently polymorphic coat was once distributed across much of southern China, but is believed to have experienced severe decline and range contraction during the past decades, primarily due to anthropogenic pressures. A lack of knowledge of its current distribution, ecology, and natural history has greatly hindered the implementation of conservation and management actions for this species. In this study, for the first time, we compiled the state‐wide occurrence records (N = 409), mainly from the camera‐trapping surveys, of Asiatic golden cats from 2008 to 2019, and predicted its distribution across the country through species distribution modeling using random forest algorithm. The results showed that the predicted habitats were mainly located in southwest China and suggested a rather low probability of possible current distribution across its vast historic range in central, eastern, and southern China. We divided its current range into four geographic regions (i.e., Qinling Mountains, Hengduan Mountains, East Himalayas, and southern Yunnan region) and considered the cats in each region as a regional population within the country. From the 287 camera‐trapping detections with photographs and/or videos collected across all populations, we identified six coat morphs and determined their occurrence percentages: common golden (47.4%), spotted (20.9%), red (13.6%), dark cinnamon (10.1%), melanistic (7.0%), and gray (1.0%). The complexity of coat morph composition within regional populations showed an increasing gradient from northeast to southwest. Among the four regional populations, the East Himalayas hosted the highest abundance and coat variation with all six morphs recorded. Our study results update the current distribution and coat morphology variations of this elusive cat in China and provide important knowledge to guide future research and conservation planning for this threatened species.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10900camera‐trappingCatopuma temminckiicoat morphrange mapsmall catsspecies distribution model |
| spellingShingle | Fei Duan Shuyi Zhu Yuan Wang Dazhao Song Xiaoli Shen Sheng Li Distribution of the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and variations in its coat morphology in China Ecology and Evolution camera‐trapping Catopuma temminckii coat morph range map small cats species distribution model |
| title | Distribution of the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and variations in its coat morphology in China |
| title_full | Distribution of the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and variations in its coat morphology in China |
| title_fullStr | Distribution of the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and variations in its coat morphology in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution of the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and variations in its coat morphology in China |
| title_short | Distribution of the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) and variations in its coat morphology in China |
| title_sort | distribution of the asiatic golden cat catopuma temminckii and variations in its coat morphology in china |
| topic | camera‐trapping Catopuma temminckii coat morph range map small cats species distribution model |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10900 |
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