背景:重新引入代表了保护濒危野生动物的有效策略,然而,它可能会无意中影响本地生态系统。这项调查评估了将濒临灭绝的普氏马匹重新引入卡拉迈利自然保护区(KNR)的沙漠草原生态系统的影响,特别是它对蜱的空间分布的影响。在普氏尔斯基马分布的25平方公里的核心区域中,我们在不同的栖息地建立了441个蜱采样点,包括水源,驴小径,和草原,记录马粪便及性状,分析蜱的发生率。此外,我们收集了669种马的新鲜粪便数据。为了评估这些粪便和蜱之间的空间动力学,我们使用了固定核估计(FKE)等方法,莫兰I空间自相关指数,和广义线性模型(GLM)。
结果:在核心区采集的蜱的优势种是成虫风孔菌(91.36%)。它们的发生率较高,靠近驴径(65.99%)和水源(55.81%),特别是在有普氏马匹新鲜粪便的地区。这三个危险区域,根据FKE的定义,与普氏马匹的分布表现出显著的重叠和正相关,在高风险中,各自的重叠率为90.25%,中风险33.79%,低风险地区为23.09%。Moran的I分析揭示了这些地区普氏马匹新鲜粪便的聚集趋势。GLM证实,积雪草的分布与马新鲜粪便的存在呈正相关,与水源和驴径的接近程度呈负相关。
结论:这项研究揭示了荒漠草原上普氏马匹与亚洲草本之间的强空间相关性,强调在野生动物再引进中需要考虑种间相互作用。这些发现对于制定有效的野生动物保护策略和维持生态平衡至关重要。
BACKGROUND: Reintroduction represents an effective strategy for the conservation of endangered wildlife, yet it might inadvertently impact the native ecosystems. This investigation assesses the impact of reintroducing endangered Przewalski\'s
horses into the desert grassland ecosystem of the Kalamaili Nature Reserve (KNR), particularly its effect on the spatial distribution of ticks. In a 25 km2 core area of Przewalski\'s horse distribution, we set up 441 tick sampling sites across diverse habitats, including water sources, donkey trails, and grasslands, recording horse feces and characteristics to analyze the occurrence rate of ticks. Additionally, we gathered the data of 669 fresh feces of
horses. To evaluate the spatial dynamics between these feces and ticks, we used methods such as Fixed Kernel Estimation (FKE), Moran\'s I spatial autocorrelation index, and Generalized Linear Models (GLM).
RESULTS: The dominant species of ticks collected in the core area were adult Hyalomma asiaticum (91.36%). Their occurrence rate was higher near donkey trails (65.99%) and water sources (55.81%), particularly in areas with the fresh feces of Przewalski\'s horses. The ticks\' three risk areas, as defined by FKE, showed significant overlap and positive correlation with the distribution of Przewalski\'s
horses, with respective overlap rates being 90.25% in high risk, 33.79% in medium risk, and 23.09% in low risk areas. Moran\'s I analysis revealed a clustering trend of the fresh feces of Przewalski\'s
horses in these areas. The GLM confirmed a positive correlation between the distribution of H. asiaticum and the presence of horse fresh feces, alongside a negative correlation with the proximity to water sources and donkey trails.
CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the strong spatial correlation between Przewalski\'s
horses and H. asiaticum in desert grasslands, underlining the need to consider interspecific interactions in wildlife reintroductions. The findings are crucial for shaping effective strategies of wildlife conservation and maintaining ecological balance.