- 期刊
陽明山地區擎天崗野化水牛族群數量與追蹤紀錄
Population and Movement of Taiwanese Water Buffalo at Qingtiangang in Yangmingshan
摘要
在臺北陽明山國家公園的擎天崗地區，有臺灣水牛（Bubalus bulalis）群在山間溪谷棲息，包含馴化水牛再野化之後代，以及具有野外型的宿存牛隻個體。自2019年4至12月，每月進行野化水牛族群之組成掃描、最大數量取樣、與追蹤定位，共對7隻水牛進行上標追蹤，包括5公牛、2母牛。性別間具顯著的二型性，公牛18個月成長到性成熟後，野外壯年牛可有400－700kg，常能向外探索、擴遷移動；母牛為原產擎天崗的侏儒體型，長到22個月後能繁殖護衛仔牛，野外體重介於300－500kg。族群組成上，母牛每日穿越草原與森林間分以小群散開移動，在夏、秋熱季的傍晚易目睹大群集結；而母牛群外圍常有公牛2－4頭不時繞行，公牛各自的領域又被零星母牛穿越並發生互動。族群數量方面，熱季觀測到最大族群量35隻，包括成牛22頭及13隻幼牛。活動範圍方面，最大活動量出現在七月連續高溫、降雨稀少時，牛群可單日跨越23 ha的面積來挑揀樹葉與新草。做為創造多樣生物棲地的關鍵物種，臺灣水牛至少能調控禾草、減少其林下蔓延；同時也是暫時性濕地的更新者，對維持當地的生態功能與文化景觀都大有助益。
並列摘要
In the Yangmingshan area of Taipei, the cow herd of Qingtiangang is known as Taiwanese Water Buffalo (Bubalus bulalis). It contains the offspring of wild animals and the individuals of surviving cattle with the wild type. From April to December of 2019, the buffalo population has been surveyed monthly by counting the maximum number of the herd. The devices with global satellite positioning (GPS) are deployed on 7 particular buffaloes, including 5 bulls and 2 cows. Bulls weigh 400-700 kg, after 18 month old growing to sexual maturity. Bulls tend to explore outward to expand territory. Cows weigh 300-500 kg after 22 month old. The local dwarf cows guard their calves carefully, and are extremely difficult to access. In the summer and autumn, the large herd group moves across the grassland, in which is best to spot its community structure. In addition, bulls of 2-4 heads are organized separately near the cow herd. In 2019, the maximum herd size reaches 35 individuals, including 22 adults and 13 youths. Home ranges of herds peak in July during the hot summer, searching for new leaves and germinating grasses across an area of 23 hectares in maximum. Water buffalo as keystone species is essential for both ecological functioning and cultural landscape by making temporary wetland, creating habitats of diverse species and improving grassland by grazing.