Lydia Mills

Biology Lab
M4

Is there a future for Amur tigers in the restored tiger
conservation landscape in Northeastern China?
Introduction
The Amur Tiger: beautiful, powerful, mysterious; endangered. If we lose tigers, we lose a
keystone species. A keystone species affects the entire ecosystem. The loss of Amur tigers could
have detrimental consequences throughout the entire ecosystem including increased
population numbers of the tigers prey. Scientists know that Amur tigers were once abundant in
Northeast China and are now found only in certain areas in Russia. They also know that if
something isnt done soon, the Amur tigers will become extinct due to humans depleting their
natural habitat as well as poaching. While the opportunity is here, protected areas need to be
established to boost the tiger population. The best way to boost the tiger population is to
provide for them a large, protected area that mimics the environments they are already found
in, away from the threat of humans.
Establishing tiger conservation landscapes (TCLs) could pave the way for more successful
conservation efforts for other protected or endangered species; many could be brought back
from the brink of extinction by utilizing the information learned from this research.
Researchers hope to promote tiger recovery, with a goal of doubling the current
population by 2022 (the next year of the tiger). They are trying to scientifically prove which
areas of Northeastern China would be the most probable locations to set up TCLs based upon a
cost value system. They discovered what environmental factors are prominent in Russian
tiger areas, and which areas in Northeastern China have the majority of these same
Lydia Mills
Biology Lab
M4

features/characteristics and could provide suitable alternative habitats. This information
provides some idea as to whether or not it will be possible to establish tiger conservation areas
that mimic the environment the tigers were originally found in. This will help to increase the
Amur tiger population naturally, without human interference.
The hypothesis of the researchers was well stated in the journal: We assessed the
connectivity of tiger habitat patches using least-cost path analysis calibrated against known
tiger movements in the Russian Far East to identify priority tiger conservation areas.
(Hebblewhite, 2011) Scientifically interpolating/extrapolating collected data to put a cost value
on the areas being considered for TCLs: each factor was given a number or cost. For example,
areas with lots of paved, busy roads were given a higher cost and areas with fewer paved roads
were given a lower cost. The scientist studied the areas the tigers were already residing in and
compared these to the potential TCLs. They selected the areas with the lowest cost factor for
the conservation habitats.
Material and Methods
The techniques used to determine the ideal or preferred (by the tigers) ecosystem in
Russia were the study of existing areas, tiger habitat modeling, Russian tiger surveys, landscape
covariates, ecological niche factor analysis (ENFA), expert habitat suitability models, and habitat
model averaging. The information gathered was evaluated and each factor was assigned a
number based on cost value. That is, the worse the factor (for the tiger) the higher the cost
value it was given; the better the factor, the lower the cost value. Scientists then created two
models, a control model in Russia and equivalent test model in China.

Lydia Mills
Biology Lab
M4

Results
They Scientists were able to formulate a table which was a summary of ENFA and RSF
(resource selection functions) empirical habitat models for Amur tigers in Southern
Primorye, Russian Far East, that were used to predict potential tiger habitat in the
Changbaishan ecosystem in Northeastern China. (Hebblewhite, 2011) Utilizing this
information, they looked at both the pros and cons of every area to get an accurate
representation of where the TCLs should be placed. The scientists were able to utilize
technology that has never before been available to track the tigers and collect the data needed.
If these habitats are successful in allowing a natural increase in tiger population, there is
potential for new conservation efforts for many additional animals as well.
Discussion
The information gathered supported the hypothesis; they set out to show which areas
would make the most ecological sense to place TCLs, and they were able to determine the
three best TCLs in Northeast China. One major limitation to the study is illegal poaching. The
poachers do not care about the tigers and will kill them to provide economic stability for
themselves. Another limitation was that since tigers have been driven out of China, the
researchers had to hypothesize about what would be the best TCL environment in China. This
obstacle forced the researchers to look at Russia for a better understanding of what was
necessary and ideal in a TCL. It would absolutely be helpful to study a bigger tiger population,
but that isnt a possibility. In addition, having a higher tiger population would make this study
moot as the whole point was to increase the tiger population. It would be beneficial to do
another survey a few years after the TCLs have been established in these areas to prove the
Lydia Mills
Biology Lab
M4

supported hypothesis that these were the best areas to promote natural dispersal of tigers and
increase the tiger population.



Reflection
Through writing this summary, I have acquired substantive knowledge about both Amur
tigers and their future as well as how to read, breakdown and understand a biological article.
When I first read this article, I only understood about every third word. But by breaking this
article down and answering specific questions about the research being done, I was able to
actually understand everything that I had read. I have a better understanding of the scientific
process and the methods that can be used to acquire and convey your information.

I was forced to use critical thinking when writing this summary as opposed to filling it
with my own opinions and feelings on the subject matter. I considered the hypothesis of the
scientists, took in the information gathered from experimentation, and understood the way the
results were analyzed. I had to represent this information in my own words and my own
understanding while still keeping my feelings out of my summary. I was forced to write out of
the conventions I am used to in a method I was unfamiliar with.

Lydia Mills
Biology Lab
M4


Bibliography
(n.d.).
Hebblewhite, M. (2011). Is there a future for Amur tigers in a restored tiger conservation landscape in
Northeastern China? Wildlife Biology Program, 579 & 585 respectively.