Abstract: Procapra picticaudata is endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau that possesses both keystone and flagship qualities. The Tangbei Area (north of the Tanggula Mountains) in the Sanjiangyuan National Park is one of the core distribution areas for P. picticaudata. Both population size and extinction risk of P. picticaudata are concerning for conservation and action is needed. We conducted line transect surveys and infrared camera monitoring from August 2023 to March 2024, collected 66 distribution sites of P. picticaudata recorded in the Tangbei Area. Using the MaxEnt ecological niche model, we analyzed the habitat suitability for P. picticaudata, incorporating bioclimatic factors, topographic factors, and environmental variables associated with human activities. Our results showed that the average suitable habitat area annually for P. picticaudata in Tangbei Area was 2.236 × 10⁴ km², which comprised 33% of the study area. Important environmental factors included distance to roads (26.8%), isothermality (24.5%), precipitation of the coldest quarter (15.9%), and annual precipitation (13.0%). The average seasonal suitable habitat area in winter was 1.875×10⁴ km²(27.7%) and 2.063×10⁴ km²(30.5%) in summer. The factors contributing to winter suitability included mean diurnal range (41.1%), distance to roads (25.3%), precipitation of the wettest month (22.0%), and slope (3.3%). The factors that contributed to summer suitability included isothermality (28.2%), annual precipitation (22.8%), distance to roads (22.8%), and annual mean temperature (10.5%). By identifying the seasonal habitat distribution pattern and environmental variables affecting P. picticaudata habitat in Tangbei Area, our results provide a scientific basis to inform conservation action.

Key words: northern Tanggula region of Sanjiangyuan National Park, Procapra picticaudata, MaxEnt model, habitat suitability