Spatial and Temporal Activity Patterns of Six Ungulate Species in the Anzihe Nature Reserve, Giant Panda National Park, China: A Camera-Trap Study

The study used camera traps (2946 trap days, 60 sites) to investigate the diversity, habitat use, and activity rhythms of six sympatric ungulates in a montane ecosystem of southwestern China: tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus), Chinese goral (Naemorhedus caudatus), Chinese serow (Naemorhedus griseus), sambar (Rusa unicolor), wild boar (Sus scrofa), and blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur). Relative abundance indices indicated that sambar were most frequent, while blue sheep and Chinese goral were least common. Species showed distinct elevational, slope, and vegetation preferences, suggesting spatial niche segregation. Kernel density estimates revealed predominantly diurnal activity, with bimodal patterns for tufted deer, sambar, and Chinese goral, and unimodal peaks for blue sheep, wild boar, and Chinese serow. Temporal overlap was highest between sambar and tufted deer, and lowest between tufted deer and blue sheep. These results demonstrate spatial and temporal partitioning as key mechanisms enabling ungulate coexistence and underscore the importance of conserving heterogeneous montane habitats.