Fu et al. • EMEI SHAN LIOCICHLA BREEDING ECOLOGY 
753 
Collias 1984). The Emei Shan Liocichla con¬ 
structed nests in thick bamboo, scrub, or rose 
bushes with high concealment, which possibly 
increased the difficulty of their nests being found 
by predators. 
Human disturbance has been suggested as an 
important factor affecting breeding success (Ruh- 
len et al. 2003. Arroyo and Razin 2006). Field 
observations indicated Emei Shan Liocichla 
readily abandoned nests when they encountered 
disturbances during the nest-building stage. Dis¬ 
turbance by tourists, rangers, and beekeepers 
contributed to the abandonment of three nests in 
our study. The other four nests abandoned were 
near the path at a mean distance of 1.2 m (range = 
0.8-2.0 m). and vegetation around them had clear 
evidence of disturbance. We believe disturbance 
by human visitors was the cause of these nest 
abandonments. 
CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS 
Studies have shown that low population density 
and small geographical range are significantly 
associated with high extinction risk in declining 
species (Gaston 1994. Purvis el al. 2000). Thus, 
the Emei Shan Liocichla would appear to be at 
risk. The Emei Shan Liocichla is only a 
provincially protected species in Sichuan despite 
its IUCN red list status (Vulnerable), and little 
attention has been given to conservation of this 
species and its habitat. The Emei Shan Liocichla 
has been captured and sold in bird markets in 
Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. We believe the 
Emei Shan Liocichla should be upgraded to a 
nationally protected species in China to promote 
conservation of the species. 
Habitat loss and fragmentation are regarded as 
the major factors contributing to population 
decline or extinction of many birds (Ribon et al. 
2003. Gill 2007). The Emei Shan Liocichla is a 
forest edge (or gap) species in natural broadleaf 
forests. However, natural broadleaf forest within 
•ts range was commonly replaced in the past by 
non-native coniferous forests and tea plantations. 
These habitats were not occupied by Emei Shan 
Liocichlas, and their spread presents a major 
threat to the species' survival. Commercial 
logging of natural forest has been banned in 
Sichuan since 1998 (Feng et al. 2008). However, 
increasing human activities within its range, 
including tourism development and highway 
construction, are accelerating fragmentation of 
the existing habitat of the Emei Shan Liocichla. 
More attention should be placed on understanding 
the effect of these changes on the population 
dynamics of the species. Protecting its existing 
habitat should be effective for conservation of this 
species. 
Given the sensitivity of the species to human 
disturbance, we recommend that in nature re¬ 
serves such as Laojunshan, visitor access to the 
most suitable nesting areas for Emei Shan 
Liocichlas should be restricted during the breed¬ 
ing season. Further work is needed to identify the 
precise habitat requirements of the Emei Shan 
Liocichla. using a GIS-based approach, both 
during the breeding season and at other times of 
the year. A greater understanding of how this 
species uses their habitats would enhance efforts 
to conserve them through protection and manage¬ 
ment of optimal habitat. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
This work was supported by the National Key Project of 
Scientific and Technical Supporting Programs Funded by 
Ministry of Science and Technology of China 
(No. 2008BAC39B05). We thank both Laojunshan Nature 
Reserve and Wawushan Nature Reserve for allowing us to 
conduct this study. We thank Wen-Cat Chen. Chang-Yun 
Chen. Yun-Hua Xiao. Ding-Fang Huang, and Lei Zhu for 
assistance wilh field work und living, and Jiang-Qiang Li. 
Lu Dong. Chun-Fa Zhou. Dong-Lui Li, Li-Jin Zeng, and 
Zhi-Qinng Zhang lor reading and revising the earlier 
manuscript. We also thank Bo Dai from Sichuan Wildlife 
Conservation Division for coordinating communication of 
forestry departments and providing valuable suggestions. 
Wc tilank The North of England Zoological Society 
(Chester Zoo) for prov iding equipment and facilities for 
this research through their financial support for the 
Laojunshan Nature Reserve. Wc greatly appreciate the 
comments and suggestions by C. E. Braun, Bailey McKay, 
and Herman Mays. 
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