高山兀鹫（Gyps himalayensis）繁殖生物学及其种群状况研究

The Himalayan Griffons Gyps himalayensis live mostly in the high altitude mountains with elevation above 3 000 m (range 700-6 500 m) and their nests are observed in the highest sites compared to other Old World Gyps vultures. As a scavenger, this species is a top consumer in ecosystem, and it plays an important role in the ecological balance keeping, and has a great ecological and economic value. The griffons have the vast geographical distribution from the Himalayan Mountains in the south to Mongolian Mountains in the north, concentrating in the Tibetan Plateau, Tianshan Chains and Kunlun Mountains. More than 10 years, the group of the applicant in the western region of Xinjiang, Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan and other areas found a dozen vulture breeding areas, their habits and population status were an initial understanding. But our knowledge about the reproductive biology and population dynamics of this species is very limited, and published information about Himalayan Griffon is quite ambiguous in many cases. The purpose of this project is collection more accurate data on the geographical distribution of the Himalayan griffons and their main reproductive grounds, research their breeding ecology and population status. We suppose to use the transect lines and points for focal sample counts due to estimate the population size and its dynamics, study the cluster and age structure of the Griffon population. We can use collected information for the theoretic approach and logistic regression due to build the prediction model for the Himalayan Griffon preference in habitat and nest-sites. We will use the resource selection indexes and resource selection functions for researching the primary ecological parameters of the species. Using the ROC curve technique as the precision testing method, we'll create the prediction model. In addition, we'll investigate the habitat and nest-site of the griffon by 3S technique (GPS, GIS, RS). Binoculars and telescopes will be used for study of the reproductive behavior with the focal sampling method during breeding season. The griffon ethogram will be established following by the PAE action coding system. Moreover, we'll do the toxicological analyses of Himalayan Griffon organs for the persistent organic pollutants and homolog composition, and obtain the different degree of bioaccumulation of various organs and biomagnification of these congeners along the food chain of this raptor. Analyses the limitation factors for the geographical distribution and living environment of the Himalayan Griffon including habitat loss, loss the food sources, abuse veterinary drugs, power line strikes, human disturbance, combined with the population viability analysis will help to identify the main impact factors influencing on the population dynamics. These data can be used in the future for organizing more effective protection system and improvement of the conservation activities for the Himalayan Griffon and its habitat.

高山兀鹫是繁殖于高海拔大型食腐类，属于保护物种。仅有少数描述性报道，且疑点诸多，缺乏繁殖生物学及种群状况研究。近年由于栖息地丧失，种群状况堪忧。十多年来我们在新疆、青海、西藏、四川等西部地区调查，发现10几个高山兀鹫繁殖区，对其习性和种群状况有了初步认识。拟采用样线和样点法，评估其种群大小、集群结构和动态变化。运用改进的信息理论方法、多重回归方程建立生境、巢址因子间预测模型,并应用资源选择函数揭示高山兀鹫对生境、巢址因子选择性,结合地理信息系统进行评价。借助定位观察、卫星跟踪、电子标记、红外监视、食物分析，展开生物学研究。采用焦点取样法观察记录繁殖行为，并构建行为谱。通过毒理分析，比较化学物质在其体内不同组织的含量，获得猛禽食物链中的富集过程。分析污染、生境丧失、食物匮乏、繁殖力下降、兽药滥用、人为干扰与高压电线等因素对种群及生存影响，且通过种群生存力分析确定影响主要参数，提出保护管理措。

大型食腐猛禽作为生态系统中的顶级消费者（草食动物—杂食动物—肉食动物—腐食动物），位于金字塔顶端，被誉为自然界的“清洁工”，是食物链的重要一环，对维持生态平衡有一定的作用。目前全球仅存鹫类23种（美洲新大陆7种，欧亚非旧大陆16种），中国是鹫类分布最多的国家，约有8种（占34.8%），如拟兀鹫、高山兀鹫、秃鹫、白兀鹫、胡兀鹫、黑兀鹫等。高山兀鹫（Gyps himalayensis）又叫喜马拉雅兀鹫，属于食腐类大型猛禽，野外生活寿命达40年，是繁殖于新疆帕米尔高原、昆仑山、喀喇昆仑山、天山高海拔地区的食腐动物，为国家二级保护物种。过去仅有少数描述性报道，且疑点诸多，缺乏繁殖生物学及种群状况研究资料。近年由于栖息地丧失，种群状况堪忧。根据十多年来我们在新疆、青海、西藏、甘肃、四川等西部地区调查，发现10几个高山兀鹫繁殖区。2013年1月-2016年12月项目组野外调查发现其群栖性特点，通常在1月产卵，窝卵数仅1枚，巢的结构十分特殊，孵化期50-57天。观测幼鸟留巢期达8个月之久（从3月至10月），对其习性和种群状况有了深刻认识。项目组采用样线和样点法，评估其种群大小、集群结构和动态变化。并通过实地观测、焦点扫描、自动相机拍摄、无人机寻找，揭示高山兀鹫对生境、食物、巢址因子选择性，结合地理信息系统进行评价。采用定位观察、标记、红外监视、食物分析，展开生物学研究。采用焦点取样法观察记录繁殖行为，并构建行为谱。同时，分析污染、生境丧失、食物匮乏、繁殖力下降、兽药滥用、其他人为干扰与高压电线等因素对其种群及生存影响，且通过种群生存力分析确定影响主要参数，提出保护管理措施。2017年2月14-21日，马鸣研究员参加在西班牙古城特雷多举行的国际鹫类保护会议暨第二届预防鹫类中毒国际会议，这是中国代表第一次参与鹫类国际会议，也是第一次介入行动计划制定。主要成果：培养研究生6人（张同、赵序茅、丁鹏、徐国华、吴道宁、刘旭），已在国内外学术刊物上发表研究报告8篇（包括SCI论文2篇），科普作品10余件。以第一作者出版《新疆兀鹫》专著1本，这是中国第一部关于鹫类专著，全书约214页，26.8万字，105幅插图，22件表格，北京：科学出版社（2017年1月出版，定价：98元）。