Identifying habitat modification by Chinese pangolin in subtropical forests of southern China.

ABSTRACT: The excavation of Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is expected to alter habitat heterogeneity and thus affect the functioning and structure of forest ecosystems. In this study, the bioturbation of Chinese pangolin on forest soils in three regions (Heping, Tianjingshan, and Wuqinzhang) across Guangdong province was quantified. Overall, a mean of 2.66 m³·ha^-1 and 83.1 m²·ha^-1 of burrows and bare mounds, respectively, was excavated by Chinese pangolin; the disturbed soils had significantly lower water content and P, C, available N concentrations, but higher bulk density, pH, and microbial abundance than those undisturbed soils. The unevenness of habitat heterogeneity improvement was mainly ascribed to the stronger soil disturbance caused in res

SUBMITTER: Sun S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11897934 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature