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Zhang, C.; Zhang, M.; Stott, P.
Does prey density limit Amur tiger _Panthera tigris altaica _recovery in northeastern China?
2013  Wildlife Biology (19): 452-461

A residual population of Amur tigers _Panthera tigris altaica_ probably survives in the eastern WandaMountains (EWM) in China, where the main prey species are red deer _Cervus elaphus_, eastern roe deer C_apreolus pygargus_ and wild boar _Sus scrofa ussuricus_.We used 53 snow sample plots each containing about 29 km of transects to detect ungulate presence and determined their total density in EWM in 2002 to be 87.9 6 8.9 kg km-2. We then applied these data to three published models that predict the relationship between tiger density and prey biomass density to obtain three estimates of tiger carrying capacity in EWM. Existing estimates of tiger density suggest that tigers were below carrying capacity estimates. Relationships between prey density and tiger density from 15 studies indicate a threshold prey biomass of 195 kg km-2 (CI: 33-433), below which a tiger population cannot be sustained. We therefore concluded that the EWMpopulation of tigers is in peril. We compared densities between the years 2002 and 2008 using comparable data and found that the EWM populations of the three ungulate prey species all experienced decreases of 40-45%, apparently due to intense poaching. This rapid decline in prey density and pervasive threats to tigers and their prey in the EWM demands immediate and effective protection of ungulate and tiger populations from poaching if tigers are to persist and recover.

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