关键词: 獐, 栖息地适宜性评价, 地理信息系统(GIS), 盐城保护区及周边地区

Abstract: Habitat suitability was evaluated for the Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis)during pre-breeding,breeding and post-breeding periods using geographic information system (GIS)analysis based on field survey from 1999 to 2000 in
Yancheng Nature Reserve and surrounding regions,Jiangsu Province,China. The water deer's range and the distribution of the potential habitat in optimal condition was compared with the actual habitat. According to habitat evaluation procedure, the most suitable potential habitats for the water deer cover an area of 361. 0 km²,267.5km²,and 338. 5 km² respectively during above three periods,most of which were located at the core area of the reserve and the mudflat of Xindong Village,south of ionggang,Dongtai. However the most suitable actual habitats for the water deer are only 44.75 km²,36.00 km²,and 54.50 km² in size respectively in all three periods,which was one-seventh as much as the most suitable potential habitat. Comparing habitat suitability index of potential habitat with that of actual habitat,we found that the suitable habitat for the deer appears to be severely fragmented. The most suitable actual habitat is less than 1% of the total area, while unsuitable actual habitat amounts to 40% of the total area. The remaining habitat is less suitable for the water deer. Influenced by roads and residential areas,the Chinese water deer's suitable habitats were lost. We suggest that efforts should be made to reduce various human activities and to protect exiting suitable habitat to help the survival of the wild water deer.

Key words: Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis), Habitat suitability evaluation, Geographic information system(GIS), Yancheng Nature Reserve