Spatial ecology of the fossorial Chinese pangolin: Addressing methodological barriers to fundamental and conservation research

Spatial ecology of the fossorial Chinese pangolin: Addressing methodological barriers to fundamental and conservation research | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Spatial ecology of the fossorial Chinese pangolin: Addressing methodological barriers to fundamental and conservation research Nick Ching-Min Sun, Jing-Shiun Lin, Shao-Qi Ge, Kurtis Jai‑Chyi Pei This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9556585/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is among the world’s most threatened mammals. However, its cryptic, nocturnal, and fossorial habits hinder long-term ecological research. A lack of sex-specific spatial data currently limits the accurate parameterization of population density models. Understanding movement patterns and home range dynamics is therefore critical to overcoming methodological constraints and advancing evidence-based in-situ conservation. Here, we conducted a seven-year radiotelemetry study (2009–2015) in Taiwan’s Coastal Mountain Range. Using optimized tracking protocols, we tracked 29 radio-tagged adults in their natal habitat, obtaining extensive home range datasets. For 14 of these individuals, we analyzed seasonal variations in home range size and spatial overlap between sexes, with tracking durations up to 1,921 days. We futher examined seasonal variations in inactivity and signal shielding to reflects the extent of inactivity in burrows. Female home range estimates stabilized after 270–420 days, whereas males required 500–1,200 days, indicating that short-term monitoring markedly underestimates spatial requirements. Adult males exhibited significantly larger mean annual home ranges (MCP 100%: 116.9 ± 37.7 ha) than females (25.3 ± 11.7 ha). The observed spatial configuration, with male territories overlapping multiple female ranges, is consistent with a polygynous mating system. Seasonal variation was also evident: home ranges expanded during the wet season, coinciding with increased prey activity, while the dry season was marked by greater transmitter signal shielding (>30–40%), likely reflecting intensified burrow use for energy conservation and breeding. This study provides the first high-resolution baseline of Chinese pangolin spatial ecology, delivering essential parameters for refining population density estimates and informing conservation and reintroduction strategies. We advise caution when interpreting camera-trap-derived population parameters, as seasonal detection probabilities must be integrated into analyses. Additionally, tracking efficiency can be improved by aligning transmitter duty cycles with seasonal activity and avoiding animal releases during dry or winter periods to minimize signal shielding. Critically Endangered Movement ecology Manis pentadactyla Radiotelemetry Taiwan Signal attenuation Home range Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 18 May, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 18 May, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 10 May, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 10 May, 2026 First submitted to journal 28 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9556585","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":631223329,"identity":"e5083e23-a0a1-43eb-be49-09700881b013","order_by":0,"name":"Nick Ching-Min Sun","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"National Pingtung University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nick","middleName":"Ching-Min","lastName":"Sun","suffix":""},{"id":631223330,"identity":"10248e19-cd13-4761-8b47-6ae7429b64e6","order_by":1,"name":"Jing-Shiun Lin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"National Pingtung University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jing-Shiun","middleName":"","lastName":"Lin","suffix":""},{"id":631223331,"identity":"abaa5798-a6d4-44d2-a30f-a16795769ba5","order_by":2,"name":"Shao-Qi Ge","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"National Pingtung University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shao-Qi","middleName":"","lastName":"Ge","suffix":""},{"id":631223332,"identity":"bea92497-b8f9-4bd8-ba2a-6acffa265594","order_by":3,"name":"Kurtis Jai‑Chyi Pei","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"National Pingtung University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kurtis","middleName":"Jai‑Chyi","lastName":"Pei","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-28 16:23:29","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9556585/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9556585/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108479709,"identity":"6a689d07-f1d0-48c1-9c64-bf46787c44f5","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-05 07:42:26","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1533274,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Manurscriptsubmitfinal.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9556585/v1_covered_5b5344b8-8cb6-4297-a4cd-ae0ac474c051.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Spatial ecology of the fossorial Chinese pangolin: Addressing methodological barriers to fundamental and conservation research","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"animal-biotelemetry","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"abit","sideBox":"Learn more about [Animal Biotelemetry](http://animalbiotelemetry.biomedcentral.com)","snPcode":"40317","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40317/3","title":"Animal Biotelemetry","twitterHandle":"@BioMedCentral","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Critically Endangered, Movement ecology, Manis pentadactyla, Radiotelemetry, Taiwan, Signal attenuation, Home range","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9556585/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9556585/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is among the world’s most threatened mammals. However, its cryptic, nocturnal, and fossorial habits hinder long-term ecological research. A lack of sex-specific spatial data currently limits the accurate parameterization of population density models. Understanding movement patterns and home range dynamics is therefore critical to overcoming methodological constraints and advancing evidence-based in-situ conservation. Here, we conducted a seven-year radiotelemetry study (2009–2015) in Taiwan’s Coastal Mountain Range. Using optimized tracking protocols, we tracked 29 radio-tagged adults in their natal habitat, obtaining extensive home range datasets. For 14 of these individuals, we analyzed seasonal variations in home range size and spatial overlap between sexes, with tracking durations up to 1,921 days. We futher examined seasonal variations in inactivity and signal shielding to reflects the extent of inactivity in burrows. Female home range estimates stabilized after 270–420 days, whereas males required 500–1,200 days, indicating that short-term monitoring markedly underestimates spatial requirements. Adult males exhibited significantly larger mean annual home ranges (MCP 100%: 116.9 ± 37.7 ha) than females (25.3 ± 11.7 ha). The observed spatial configuration, with male territories overlapping multiple female ranges, is consistent with a polygynous mating system. Seasonal variation was also evident: home ranges expanded during the wet season, coinciding with increased prey activity, while the dry season was marked by greater transmitter signal shielding (\u003e30–40%), likely reflecting intensified burrow use for energy conservation and breeding. This study provides the first high-resolution baseline of Chinese pangolin spatial ecology, delivering essential parameters for refining population density estimates and informing conservation and reintroduction strategies. We advise caution when interpreting camera-trap-derived population parameters, as seasonal detection probabilities must be integrated into analyses. Additionally, tracking efficiency can be improved by aligning transmitter duty cycles with seasonal activity and avoiding animal releases during dry or winter periods to minimize signal shielding.","manuscriptTitle":"Spatial ecology of the fossorial Chinese pangolin: Addressing methodological barriers to fundamental and conservation research","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-05-05 07:42:17","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9556585/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"122015693028924854674260380387493173685","date":"2026-05-18T15:53:03+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-05-18T12:37:16+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-05-11T00:14:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-05-10T11:28:19+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Animal Biotelemetry","date":"2026-04-28T16:09:37+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"animal-biotelemetry","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"abit","sideBox":"Learn more about [Animal Biotelemetry](http://animalbiotelemetry.biomedcentral.com)","snPcode":"40317","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40317/3","title":"Animal Biotelemetry","twitterHandle":"@BioMedCentral","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"dcc6dfb7-fb35-4492-8283-60b33a1c24cc","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 5th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"122015693028924854674260380387493173685","date":"2026-05-18T15:53:03+00:00","index":10,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"6","date":"2026-05-18T12:37:16+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-05-11T00:14:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-05-10T11:28:19+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-18T12:53:11+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-05-05 07:42:17","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9556585","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9556585","identity":"rs-9556585","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}