10、Population Estimate on Snow Leopard Accor ...
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According to World Wildlife Funds investigation, there are more than 80 species are in the concern of extinction. [WWF, Endangered Species] Scientists have been worried that the species extinction may cause the significant damage on stability of ecosystem: groups of mutual organisms and their physical habitat. [ets, Ecosystem and Stability] Imbalance ecosystem will cause the alteration of biotic and abiotic elements in the ecosystem. Snow leopard, as one of the endanger species, is facing the issue of extinction. Snow leopard is a perilous predator, the extinction of snow leopard may cause the population explodes of many prey species, which would lead to the imbalance of the ecosystem. [ets, Ecosystem and Stability]] To prevent the extinction of snow leopard, scientists had used complete count to enumerate snow leopard’s population. Knowing snow leopard’s population allow scientists to better comprehend snow leopard’s habits and characteristics and helped scientists create tactics to protect snow leopard from extinction.
In the research, the complete count had been used in snow leopard population estimate. Complete counts, as its name, is the enumeration of all individuals that make up the population. [Karl, Complete Population Count] Complete count is a preferable method to count for snow leopard’s population: there are little sampling error and high accuracy because the whole population group has been census. [Karl, Complete Population Count]
To calculate snow leopard population by using complete count, it started by using the pilot survey to ascertain snow leopard presence and abundance in a specific area. Probable snow leopard activity centers and habitat areas were identified according to the pilot survey investigations, a formal survey blueprint for these areas was established. 1 to 3 camera trap stations had been set up in each 4x4 kilometer square survey grid, on the foundation of sign encounter rates, with camera traps station placed 2 to 4 km away. The camera took 3 pictures per second. This setting and photographing intervals allowed scientists to assured that each snow leopard appear in the survey areas had a feasible opportunity of being recorded. Each snow leopard has unique spot pattern, dorsal surface of the tail and lower limbs, this characteristic allows scientists positively identify individual snow leopard. The recording lasted for 3 months. After the survey, analysts identified the snow leopard by looking at the spot pattern and dorsal surface area from all photograph taken by cameras. Summing up all snow leopard in that particular area. The result was the total population of snow leopard in that area. [Farrington,Population status and Distribution of Snow Leopards]
Using camera trap to accomplish a complete count of the population of snow leopard allowing scientists to know the population of snow leopard, however, the process of estimating the population of snow leopard had negative economical impact base on the overspending of completing the population estimation.
In June 2016, World Wildlife Fund estimated snow leopard’s population in Wangchuck Centennial National Park, Bhutan. The population estimate involved 87 camera traps stations in the whole area. [Farrington,Population status and Distribution of Snow Leopards] During the research, the type of camera traps WWF used was Reconyx HC500 HyperFire camera. This type of camera has well wind resistance and adaption in temperature differences. However, the cost of the camera is 450 dollar. [Trialcam, Reconyx HC500 Hyperfine] Although one camera did not cost much, but multiple the cost with the total number of the camera, nearly 40 thousand dollars was spent on buying the camera. Including the cost of paying field staff and hiring the helicopter, the total cost is more than 100 thousand dollars. 75% of the income of World Wildlife Fund comes from the donation, government grants and in-kind donation. [WWF, Finical Info] It is a waste of money to spend more than 100 thousand dollars on snow leopard population estimate, especially the previous snow leopard population estimate took part in 2008, which is 8 years ago. The more advisability idea is input 100 thousand dollar into an existing vulnerable animal protection grogram rather input 100 thousand dollars into population estimate that already took part in a few years ago.
Although the cost of estimate population had negative economical impact, knowing the population of snow leopard had positive social impacts by motivate governments to eliminate the illegal trade on snow leopard, and aware the rareness of snow leopard. For decades, the illegal smuggle on snow leopard fur and teeth haven\'t been stop. The intact snow leopard fur worth 0.5 million RMB in 2005. [Yi, Panthera Utica] The high profit of hunting snow leopard engaged many of the hunters to hunt for snow leopard. The government took little action on stopping illegal trade of snow leopard because the government believed it is okay for hunters to hunt for snow leopard, the population changes of snow leopard is negligible. However, knowing the population of snow leopard warned the governments that the snow leopard is under the concern of extinction. The government took action on protecting the snow leopard, including punishing the illegal snow leopard hunters and traders. In August 2014, three snow leopard hunters sentenced to a 7 years fixed-term imprisonments and 10 thousands RMB as fine. [Haoduo, 2 Illegal Snow Leopard Traders Have Been Arrested] The population estimate on snow leopard makes the government more vigilant on snow leopard population declining, and took further actions on protecting snow leopard from extinction. In long turn, the impact of population estimate did not only impact on snow leopard’s protection, it also stabilizes the ecosystem by controlling the predators species of snow leopard. [ets, Ecosystem and Stability]
In conclusion, by estimate snow leopard’s population, scientists could better comprehend snow leopard’s habits and characteristics and helped scientists create tactics to protect snow leopard from extinction. It is possible that the loss of one major specie would dramatically change the entire ecosystem. If the snow leopard is extinct, then many of the predator species population are going to explode, the loss is not possible to compensate. Scientists had used complete count to count for snow leopard population by using camera trap, and analyzing the dorsal surface of the tail and lower limbs to identify single snow leopard and sum up the total snow leopard population.
However, the population estimate has negative economical impact by spending too much during the population estimate process. It would be a waste of money to spent 100 thousand dollar only estimating population of snow leopard. As well as the negative economical impact took part, the population estimate has positive social implication by aware the danger situation that snow leopard is facing, and governments took measure on protecting the snow leopards. Although the process of estimate population would spend much money, but the influence of the result, is far beyond than the cost of the process. The governments took measures and further protect snow leopard when they aware of the snow leopard is facing the issue of extinction, the protection not only protected snow leopard, but also stabilized the predator species, and whole ecosystem in long turn. [ets, Ecosystem and Stability]
Work Cited
[1]”2 Illegal Snow Leopard Traders Have Been Arrested.\" News.□□.com, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. hunting snow leopard
[2]\"A New Snow Leopard Population Estimate Has Scientists on Edge.\" TakePart. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.
[3]\"Basic Facts About Snow Leopards.\" Defenders of Wildlife. Defender.org, 2016. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.
[4]\"Beautiful Fur Leads to Degraded.\" Sina.com, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. snow leopard\'s fur
[5]\"Complete Population Count.\" Landscape Toolbox. Landscapetoolbox.org, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. principles of complete counts
[6]ETS. Ecosystem and Stability. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. Balancing of Ecosystem
[7]\"Estimate Wildlife Populations.\" NC State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. Complete Count
[8]\"FINANCIAL INFO.\" WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. income of WWF
[9]\"How Many Snow Leopards Are Left In The Wild\" Snowleopardconservancy.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. numbers of snow leopard
[10]John D. Farrington. POPULATION STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SNOW LEOPARDS IN WANGCHUCK CENTENNIAL NATIONAL PARK, BHUTAN. N.p.: Naturepl.com, n.d. Print. complete count& negative implication
[11]Noras, Sibylle. \"Snow Leopard Facts.\" Saving Snow Leopards. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. Snow Leopard Facts
[12]\"Panthera Unica.\" Iucnredlist.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. data of snow leopard
[13]\"Reconyx HC500 HyperFire.\" Trailcampro.com, n.d. Web. prices of Reconyx HC500 Hyperfine
[14]\"Snow Leopard.\" WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.
[15]\"Snow Leopard\'s Fur.\" N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. cost of snow leopard\'s fur
[16]\"The Extinction Crisis.\" The Extinction Crisis. Biologicaldiversity.org, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.
[17]\"Third Pole GeoLab.\" WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. Human measures
[18]ZacQuicksilver. \"How Can Scientists Estimate the Numbers of Critically Endangered Animals
like the Snow Leopard\" Reddit.com. Reddit.com, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016. Complete Count
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第10章 Population Estimate on Snow Leopard
