Lophophorus lhuysii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	GALLIFORMES	PHASIANIDAE

Scientific Name:

Lophophorus lhuysii

Species Authority:

Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1866

Common Name/s:

English	–	Chinese Impeyan, Chinese Monal
Spanish	–	Faisán Monal Chino, Lofóforo Chino, Monal Coliverde

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Garson, P., Butchart, S., Bird, J., McGowan, P.

Contributor/s:

Lu, X., Rimlinger, D., Zhengwang, Z.

Justification:
This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a small population which is continuing to decline because of ongoing habitat degradation and hunting within an already fragmented range.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Lophophorus lhuysii is endemic to south-west China, where it is recorded from the mountains of west Sichuan, and adjacent parts of east Tibet, south-east Qinghai, south Gansu and possibly north-west Yunnan. Its total population was estimated to number 12,000 individuals during the National Wildlife Survey of China (1995-2000), which failed to record any in Qinghai or Yunnan¹. It is believed to be declining, although there have been no surveys for the species for several years¹ and current trends are not known.
Countries:	Native: China
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate from He Fenqi (in BirdLife international 2001). Given the uncertainty within this population estimate, the total number of mature individuals is precautionarily assumed to fall below 10,000.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits subalpine rhododendron scrub and subalpine and alpine meadows with exposed cliffs and crags above the treeline, but sometimes moves down into subalpine coniferous forest. It has been recorded between 2,800 m and 4,900 m, but is normally found between 3,300 and 4,500 m. Surveys at Baoxing in Sichuan suggests that this species may take several years to reach maturity and may not breed every year.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits subalpine rhododendron scrub and subalpine and alpine meadows with exposed cliffs and crags above the treeline, but sometimes moves down into subalpine coniferous forest. It has been recorded between 2,800 m and 4,900 m, but is normally found between 3,300 and 4,500 m. Surveys at Baoxing in Sichuan suggests that this species may take several years to reach maturity and may not breed every year.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Its subalpine and alpine meadow habitats have been degraded in some areas by an increase in the grazing of wild yaks. The large-scale collection of Fritillaria spp. (a known food of this species) and other herbs for Chinese medicine causes local disturbance, and nests are sometimes destroyed by these activities. Illegal hunting is also considered to be a localised threat, and appeared to be the cause of a substantial decline at Baoxing where this species was surveyed in 1983-1986, and again in 1988. Reports suggest that hunting pressure on the species has increased in recent years¹. The forests in west Sichuan have been rapidly exploited in recent decades, which has directly affected its subalpine habitats, and logging roads have improved access to alpine habitats for local people.

Major Threat(s):

Its subalpine and alpine meadow habitats have been degraded in some areas by an increase in the grazing of wild yaks. The large-scale collection of Fritillaria spp. (a known food of this species) and other herbs for Chinese medicine causes local disturbance, and nests are sometimes destroyed by these activities. Illegal hunting is also considered to be a localised threat, and appeared to be the cause of a substantial decline at Baoxing where this species was surveyed in 1983-1986, and again in 1988. Reports suggest that hunting pressure on the species has increased in recent years¹. The forests in west Sichuan have been rapidly exploited in recent decades, which has directly affected its subalpine habitats, and logging roads have improved access to alpine habitats for local people.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I. It is a nationally-protected species in China. It has been recorded in several nature reserves in the Qionglai Shan and Min Shan ranges, most of which were established for the conservation of Giant Panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca, including Baihe, Tangjiahe, Wanglang, Wolong, Jiuzhaigou and Fengtongzhai in Sichuan, and Baishuijang in Gansu, but the areas of suitable habitat within some of these are probably relatively limited and there are no protected areas in the western part of its range. There have been no surveys for the species for many years and current knowledge of distribution, population numbers and trends is poor¹. Conservation Actions Proposed Determine the impacts of human exploitation (including livestock grazing and herb collection) on its subalpine and alpine habitats Conduct intensive ecological studies focussing on habitat preference and altitudinal migrations Conduct further surveys to assess the adequacy of the existing protected area network, particularly in the west of its range. Enforce the existing laws on wildlife protection, with particular attention to hunting.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. It is a nationally-protected species in China. It has been recorded in several nature reserves in the Qionglai Shan and Min Shan ranges, most of which were established for the conservation of Giant Panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca, including Baihe, Tangjiahe, Wanglang, Wolong, Jiuzhaigou and Fengtongzhai in Sichuan, and Baishuijang in Gansu, but the areas of suitable habitat within some of these are probably relatively limited and there are no protected areas in the western part of its range. There have been no surveys for the species for many years and current knowledge of distribution, population numbers and trends is poor¹.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Determine the impacts of human exploitation (including livestock grazing and herb collection) on its subalpine and alpine habitats Conduct intensive ecological studies focussing on habitat preference and altitudinal migrations Conduct further surveys to assess the adequacy of the existing protected area network, particularly in the west of its range. Enforce the existing laws on wildlife protection, with particular attention to hunting.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Lophophorus lhuysii. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2012.
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