Land-use changes conservation network of an endangered primate (Rhinopithecus bieti) in the past 30 years in China

Aim This study aims to propose a conservation network that contains suitable habitat and connectivity corridors for mitigation due to habitat transformation and fragmentation of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti). Further, we also aim to understand the effects of land-use changes on the conservation network of R. bieti from 1990 to 2020. Location Three Parallel Rivers Region (TPRR) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) of China. Methods We used a GIS-based niche model to predict habitat suitability and extracted highly suitable habitats with an area above 30 km(2) as potential core habitats (PCH patches). We designed a normalized importance value index (NIVI) to select PCH patches with the top 5 NIVI values designated as priority protection habitats (PPHs), and we selected a circuit model to build connectivity corridors among PPHs and five protected areas (PAs) from 1990 to 2020. Results Unsuitable areas and lowly suitable habitats increased 69.3 and 46.8 km(2), respectively, from 1990 to 2020. In particular, the area of PPHs dramatically decreased from 212.1 km(2) in 1990 to 101.6 km(2) in 2020. Average length of connectivity corridors among PCH patches and PPHs decreased from 75.9 km in 1990 to 56.8 km in 2020. Main conclusion Habitat loss and fragmentation are common phenomena as evidenced by decreasing in highly and moderately suitable habitats of R. bieti and increasing in lowly suitable habitats and unsuitable areas. Five PAs are central to build a conservation network and to protect populations and wild groups of R. bieti. Land use changes the conservation network of R. bieti in the past 30 years. Based on re-planning boundaries of PAs to incorporate all protection network of R. bieti, it has practical significance to re-adjust the system of PAs that conservation network of R. bieti should be as fundamental management unit for PA development.