Habitat Suitability for the Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus bieti (Milne-Edwards, 1897) (Primates: Cercopithecidae) Based on the MaxEnt Model

Abstract

The Yunnan snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus bieti is an endangered species distributed in a narrow strip of land extending from the north side of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China. To better understanding the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey's distribution and ecology, this study recorded the winter activity of the monkeys using infrared cameras and then employed MaxEnt modelling with six factors to analyse the habitat suitability for the species in the most critical season for its survival. The results showed that the main ecological factors affecting the habitat suitability of this species were aspect, altitude and distance from roads and rivers. The model identified low coverage of highly suitable (1.89 % of the entire reserve) and medium suitable (6.48 % of the entire reserve) habitats. The most suitable habitats were on the eastern and north-eastern slopes, at altitudes of 3100-3400 m a.s.l. The study revealed that the protection of primary forests, including the connectivity among areas of suitable habitats, is of great significance to the survival of this species.