The Amur tiger is one of the most endangered charismatic species in the world, and has been recognized as a keystone species because of its profound influences on other animal and plant species in the mixed Korean pine-hardwood forest ecosystems. Numerous studies have focused on the population dynamics and conservation strategies of the tiger in different areas within its range of distribution, but an overall analysis of its spatiotemporal patterns is lacking. Thus, we combined our results of habitat analysis with historical records of the tiger population to show how the tiger population has changed in time and space during the past century. We also compared and contrast the tiger populations in Russia and China in order to explore possible ecological and socioeconomic factors that were responsible for the observed spatiotemporal patterns in the two countries.

Results/Conclusions

Historically, the Amur tiger was found in Russia Far East, Eastern Mongolia, the Korean peninsula, and Northeastern China as the center of its distribution region. The population size of the Amur tiger was estimated to be over 3000 before these areas were developed. By the 1930’s, however, the tiger population of Russia Far East declined sharply to only 20 to 30 individuals. A remarkable recovery since 1940’s has brought the population back to about 500. The tiger population of China started to decline steadily from the 1900’s, and experienced an accelerated decrease during the 1950’s and 1970’s, bringing the tiger to the brink of local extinction. The current distribution area of the tiger includes only one large habit in Russia Far East, two smaller habitat patches near the Russia-China border, and a few isolated small reserves in northeastern China. The underlying causes for the changes in the tiger population include socioeconomic and policy factors, and differed between the two countries and over time. The two countries served as refuges for tigers at different periods and preserve the population above the threshold size. These remnant habitats continue to deteriorate because of increasing anthropogenic influences, which will surely affect the future population dynamics of the Amur tiger. Using population viability analysis techniques, we simulate several habitat management scenarios, and explore their consequences for the conservation of the Amur tiger in the decades to come.