The Spatial Relationship Between Two Sympatric Pheasant Species and Various Human Disturbance Activities

Abstract

Establishing and managing nature reserves to mitigate wildlife habitat loss and fragmentation is challenging, particularly in the face of increasing human activity. To understand how wildlife coexists in environments affected by anthropogenic disturbances, we conducted a 19-month survey examining the Reeves's pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) and Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) in the Anhui Tianma National Nature Reserve, China. Previous studies of large terrestrial birds focused primarily on livestock impacts, with less attention given to other human activities. We used occupancy models and performed daytime activity rhythm analysis based on camera trap data to examine the spatiotemporal responses of these species to human activities, livestock, and domestic dogs. The results showed that human disturbance activities within the reserve impact the distribution patterns of Reeves's pheasant and Koklass pheasant, but the effect was not significant. In high-disturbance environments, both species adjusted their activity times to avoid direct or indirect interactions with humans, livestock, and dogs. These findings provide insights for replanning core and creation of buffer zones within the reserve and have broader implications for conservation strategies in similar habitats. Our study suggests that well-designed conservation objectives can balance species protection with sustainable human presence.

Keywords: activity rhythm; anthropogenic disturbances; coexistence mechanisms; sympatric distribution.

Figure 1

Sample area of Anhui Tianma National Nature Reserve.

Figure 2

Differences in diurnal activity rhythms of the two pheasant species under different disturbance intensities. The red solid line represents Reeves’s pheasant, and the blue solid line represents the Koklass pheasant; (a) indicates high-disturbance areas, and (b) indicates low-disturbance areas. The shaded area represents the degree of overlap. Δ, overlap index.

Figure 3

Differences in the diurnal activity rhythms between two pheasant species and human disturbance activities (including livestock, humans, and dogs). Solid curves represent the two pheasant species, while dashed curves represent human disturbances. The shaded area represents the degree of overlap. Δ, overlap index.