Integrating Land-Cover Dynamics and Management Records for Recovery Monitoring of Hainan Eld's Deer in Datian National Nature Reserve.
- 1School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Abstract
Datian National Nature Reserve is a principal conservation site for the endangered Hainan Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii hainanus). We integrated annual 10 m land-cover maps (2017-2025) as well as the statutory reserve redline, management fence, external ring and reserve management records to examine how these complementary sources can support recovery monitoring at the protected-area scale. Inside the redline, the combined area of trees, grass and shrub/scrub declined during 2017-2021 and partially recovered during 2021-2025. An exploratory land-cover screening index changed from 0.675 to 0.666 and then to 0.667, showing modest variation under the specified rule-based scoring scheme. External rings contained higher proportions of crops and built area and were treated as surrounding land-use context rather than a measured edge-effect gradient. Available annual monitoring counts fluctuated between 336 and 425 individuals, and two releases added 93 deer after the respective annual surveys. Probable python predation accounted for 68.3% of recorded deaths during 2020-2025; attributions were based on available carcass evidence and field observations. Systematic occurrence records and spatially complete locations for releases and mortality events were unavailable, so fine-scale habitat selection, release-site suitability and mortality hotspots could not be assessed. This assessment provides a practical baseline for recovery monitoring, whereas assessing habitat use and demographic processes requires dedicated field data.
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BibTeX
@article{chen2026integrating,
title = {{Integrating Land-Cover Dynamics and Management Records for Recovery Monitoring of Hainan Eld's Deer in Datian National Nature Reserve.}},
author = {Tianao Chen and Chenxingyu Duan and Chuan Chen and Xiaoxian Liu and Yiting Zheng and Xiaofeng Luan},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/ani16193086},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42883055},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Integrating Land-Cover Dynamics and Management Records for Recovery Monitoring of Hainan Eld's Deer in Datian National Nature Reserve.
AU - Tianao Chen
AU - Chenxingyu Duan
AU - Chuan Chen
AU - Xiaoxian Liu
AU - Yiting Zheng
AU - Xiaofeng Luan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
DO - 10.3390/ani16193086
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42883055
AB - Datian National Nature Reserve is a principal conservation site for the endangered Hainan Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii hainanus). We integrated annual 10 m land-cover maps (2017-2025) as well as the statutory reserve redline, management fence, external ring and reserve management records to examine how these complementary sources can support recovery monitoring at the protected-area scale. Inside the redline, the combined area of trees, grass and shrub/scrub declined during 2017-2021 and partially recovered during 2021-2025. An exploratory land-cover screening index changed from 0.675 to 0.666 and then to 0.667, showing modest variation under the specified rule-based scoring scheme. External rings contained higher proportions of crops and built area and were treated as surrounding land-use context rather than a measured edge-effect gradient. Available annual monitoring counts fluctuated between 336 and 425 individuals, and two releases added 93 deer after the respective annual surveys. Probable python predation accounted for 68.3% of recorded deaths during 2020-2025; attributions were based on available carcass evidence and field observations. Systematic occurrence records and spatially complete locations for releases and mortality events were unavailable, so fine-scale habitat selection, release-site suitability and mortality hotspots could not be assessed. This assessment provides a practical baseline for recovery monitoring, whereas assessing habitat use and demographic processes requires dedicated field data.
SN - 2076-2615
ER -