Abstract: Golden takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi) is a seasonal short-day species, but few studies focused on takin’s evening rhythm. Most studies collected activity data at a fixed time, resulting in poor data integrity and continuity of its all-weather activity rhythm. To understand the activity patterns and influencing factors of golden takin, camera trapping was used to monitor golden takin in Sangyuan National Nature Reserve in Shaanxi Province from October 2018 to May 2020. Golden takins are mainly diurnal activities. The peak activity occurred at 06:00-08:00, 10:00-12:00, and 17:00-19:00, and at 21:00, 24:00, and 04:00 at night. The intensity and frequency of activities at night were significantly weaker than that during the day, and with a relatively short duration. The independent sample t test was used to analyze the activity intensity of takin. The results showed that the activity intensity of the solitary at night was lower than that of the group (t=-2.982, P=0.006), and it was only active during the period from 01:00 to 02:00. The activity intensity of the family group was higher than that of the mixed group (t=2.073, P=0.046), especially from 00:00 to 06:00, while the mixed group tended to rest during the same period. The activity intensity of the solitary during the farrowing period was lower than that during the mating period (t=-2.253, P=0.030), while the activity rhythm of the takin group showed an opposite pattern (t=3.810, P=0.001). Our results suggest that the activity rhythm of golden takins is affected by group form, community structure, and reproductive drive, which helps improve the effectiveness of monitoring and conservation of this species.

Key words: Sangyuan National Nature Reserve, Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi, infrared camera, diurnal activity pattern.