关键词: 马鹿, 取食生境, 卧息生境, 资源选择函数, 贺兰山

Abstract: Winter feeding and bedding habitat selection by red deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) were studied from December
2007 to January 2008 in the Helan Mountains of Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. We identified 72 feeding sites and 59 bedding sites by observation of fresh sign and direct observation of animals;for comparison,we identified 131 sites from systematically placed transects on which we observed no recent evidence of deer use. At each plot, we measured 18 topographic and biological variables. Indices of selectivity for feeding were positive for sites with smooth undulating slopes,overstories characterized by Ziziphus jujube,Salix spp. , mixed species,and unforested Additional variables yielding positive selectivity indices at feeding sites included tree heights > 2. 5 m, shrub density >9 trees/100 m² ,vegetation coverage > 20% ,tree density < 2 /100 m², slopes <15°, aspects with both sun and shade,distance from nearest tree > 6 m,distance to nearest bare rock > 20 m,and hiding cover < 86%. Selectivity indices for bedding sites were positive for smooth undulating slopes,elevations of 1 600 -2 000 m, woodlands of < 2 /100 m² characterized by Ziziphus jujuba,Salix spp., Juniperus rigida,mixed species,and unforested,slopes < 15° on southerly aspects,shrub density < 2/ 100 m² ,shrub height < 0.2 m,distance from nearest shrub > 10 m,distance from nearest bare rock >20 m,vegetation coverage >20% ,and hiding cover < 86%. Feeding habitat selected by red deer had lower vegetation coverage and less hiding cover than bedding habitat. We fitted a logistic regression model describing feeding habitat selection:1.155 - 0.149 (tree density) -0.066 (vegetation coverage) + 0.190 (slope). The model correctly predicted 86. 8% of feeding sites. The model of bedding habitat was best fit by - 30.936 + 0. 494 (tree density) +0.257 (slope) - 0. 002 (elevation)+0.387(hiding cover),correctly predicting 95.8% of bedding sites. Food resources,hiding cover,and special landform characteristics of the Helan Mountains are important factors influencing feeding and bedding habitat selection by red deer.

Key words: Bedding habitat, Feeding habitat, Helan Mountains, Red deer(Cervus elaphus alxaicus), Resource selection