Abstract: This work studied habitat selection of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in the dry season at Nangunhe National
Nature Reserve,Yunnan of China. Village investigation and line-transect samples were used during the field survey. Waypoints were made about 1 km apart along sampling lines with 195 km in total. Data were collected on vegetation type,vegetation abundance,geography parameters (aspect,slope,location and elevation),population status and frequency of elephant sightings. A total of 54 elephant trace points were tracked during the survey in the dry season of 2005. 3S (GIS,GPS, RS) technology was used to analyze the data obtained from field survey and satellite images. Vanderploge and Scavia’s selectivity index were used to assess Asian elephants’selection for different habitat parameters. The results indicated that elephants preferred habitat where elevation was less than 1000 meters,slope less than 20°, located in a valley and oriented north, southeast and south. Elephant-preferred vegetation included bamboo-broad-leaved mixed forest and shrub. Asian elephants showed a preference for denser coverage shrub layer and arbor layer with lower height,dense canopy and small DBH. Based on satellite images,we analyzed the forest dynamics from 1988 to 2007 and found heavy loss of suitable habitat which seriously
threatened the survival of Asian elephant in Nangunhe National Nature Reserve. Preventing habitat loss and degradation, and strengthening the control of poaching would be the key tasks for the conservation of elephants in Nangunhe.

Key words: Asian elephant(Elephas maximus), Conservation strategy, Habitat selection, 3S technology

摘要： 以云南南滚河国家级自然保护区内的亚洲象种群为研究对象,利用村寨调查、样线调查和3S (GIS、GPS、RS)技术对该地区野生亚洲象的栖息地状况和亚洲象在旱季对栖息地选择利用进行了初步研究。研究结果表明该地区的亚洲象偏好海拔1 000 m 以下的低海拔,坡度小于20°,坡位为平坦的沟谷和山坡的下部,坡向为东南、南、北方向的区域。偏好的植被类型是竹阔混交林和灌丛。本研究还分析了该地区自1988 ～ 2007 年20年间亚洲象栖息地的变化情况,针对目前南滚河种群及其栖息地现状提出了保护策略。

关键词: 亚洲象, 栖息地选择, 3S 技术, 保护策略