ACTA Theriologica Sinica

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Habitat characteristics of Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) in spring and autumn in Zhoushan Archipelago,Zhejiang Province,China

  

  • Online:2011-08-31 Published:2011-03-02

舟山群岛春秋季獐栖息地的生态特征

鲍毅新,张龙龙,孙波,魏德重,沈良良   

  1. 浙江师范大学生态研究所

Abstract: Seasonal changes of habitat use by Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis)were studied in Zhoushan Archipelago, Zhejiang Province,China in March and November 2008. Ten ecological factors,including habitat type,tree cover, shrub cover,grass cover,position on slope (upper,medium,or lower),slope aspect,slope angle,elevation,distances to nearest water and to human disturbance,were measured in 420 sample plots. Discriminant analysis on these ecological factors showed that there was a significant seasonal change in habitat use by the Chinese water deer. The habitat used by the deer in spring and autumn differed significantly in habitat type,tree cover,slope aspect,distances to water and from human disturbance,but not in shrub and grass cover,position on slope,slope angle and elevation. In spring,the Chinese water deer preferred to use broadleaf forest,farmland and slope fields with gentle slopes and low elevations. The animal selected habitats with low coverages of tree,shrub and grass (≤50% ),which were located within a distance of 200 m to the nearest water and a distance of 100 m from human disturbance. In autumn,the deer preferred to use south-facing broadleaf forest,shrub forest,farmland and slope fields with gentle slopes and low elevations. These habitats were usually located
within 600 m to the nearest water,and more than 200 m from human disturbance. The current habitat use of the Chinese water deer in Zhoushan Archipelago is a result of interaction of multiple ecological factors,including significant human disturbance, well-developed secondary arbor forest,dense shrub,and sparse grass. These results provide important information for the management of this endangered species and will improve management of endangered Chinese water deer population.

Key words: Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis), Habitat use, Seasonal changes, Zhoushan Archipelago

摘要: 2008 年3 月和2008 年11 月,在舟山群岛以獐的足迹、粪便和卧迹等新鲜活动痕迹为依据,对獐春、秋季栖息地利用特征进行研究。共设置样方420 个,对样方内生境类型、乔木盖度、灌木盖度、草本盖度、坡位、坡度、坡向、海拔、人为干扰距离和水源距离等10 个生态因子进行测量评估。结果发现,獐春、秋两季的栖息地利用特征是(1)隐蔽和食物因子:春、秋季利用阔叶林、农田和山坡地,秋季对灌木林也有较高的利用率,而对农田的利用率下降;春、秋季乔木盖度、灌木盖度和草本盖度较低处(≤50%) 利用率较高,但春季对乔木盖度较高处(> 50% )也有较高的利用率; (2) 地形因子:春季对坡度较缓、中下坡位、海拔较低处(< 100 m)利用率较高;秋季对坡度较缓、中下坡位、海拔较低(<100 m)的南坡利用率较高; (3) 水源因子:春季利用水源距离较近(< 200 m) 的区域;秋季对水源距离较近(< 200 m)和较远(>600 m) 区域的利用率均较高; (4) 干扰因子:春季主要利用距离人为干扰近处(< 100 m),秋季主要利用距离人为干扰远(> 200 m)处。逐步判别分析显示,春、秋季獐栖息地利用特征存在显著差异,乔木盖度、坡度、坡向、海拔和人为干扰5 个因子是主要的区分因子。舟山群岛人为干扰剧烈、次生乔木和灌木较为发达以及草本植物不发达等一系列特点,造成了舟山群岛獐特殊的栖息地现状。本研究将对制订适合于海岛的动物栖息地保护对策提供理论依据,也为了解海岛生境下獐不同季节的生存状况提供科学依据。