Wolf (Canis lupus) den sites selection in the Ruoergai grassland wetland, Sichuan Province, China

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.150965

Abstract

Abstract: The Ruoergai grassland wetland is located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, with important ecological functions and fragile ecosystems. As a large carnivore in the region, wolves play a key role in maintaining ecosystem stability. However, the characteristics of wolf den site selection characteristics in the alpine grassland wetland are still unclear, which severely limits the development of conservation strategies in the region. In this study, 50 wolf den sites were recorded by line transect method and infrared camera survey from August 2022 to May 2023, and key factors affecting wolf den site selection were analyzed using logistic regression. The results showed that wolves preferred to build dens on upper slopes/mesas and mountain tops/high ridges, areas with steeper slopes, high terrain ruggedness index and roughness, areas close to buildings but away from farmland, and areas away from marshes and permanent water. Among the variables, the eight with the highest importance were 30 m resolution of slope, topographic position index, distance to buildings, distance to farmland, distance to permanent water, distance to bare, distance to bare ground squared, and distance to grassland. Compared with wolves living in forest and grassland ecosystems, wolves in the Ruoergai grassland wetlands have some uniqueness in den site selection. This study enriches the understanding of wolf den site selection behaviour and provides a scientific basis for the conservation and management of wolf breeding habitat in the Ruoergai grassland wetland.

Key words: Wolf, Ruoergai grassland wetland, Den site selection, Logistic Regression Model, Model average

摘要： 若尔盖草原湿地位于青藏高原东缘，其生态功能重要、生态系统脆弱。狼作为区域中的大型食肉动物，在维持生态系统稳定中起关键作用。但目前高寒草原湿地的狼巢穴选址特征尚不明确，严重限制了该区域保护策略的制定。本研究于2022年8月至2023年5月通过样线法和红外相机调查记录到50个狼巢穴分布点，并使用逻辑斯蒂回归模型分析了影响狼巢址选择的关键因子。结果表明，狼更偏好选择在上坡或台地及山顶或高岭、坡度更陡、TRI (地形崎岖度指数)和粗糙度高的区域、距建筑物近但远离农田的区域及远离沼泽和永久水体的区域建立巢穴。各类变量中，坡向30 m分辨率、TPI (地形位置指数)(93-183)、距建筑物距离、距农田距离、距永久水体距离、距裸地距离、距裸地距离平方以及距草地距离等8个变量的重要性最高。与生活在森林和草原生态系统中的狼相比，若尔盖草原湿地的狼在巢址选择上具有一定的独特性。本研究丰富了对狼巢址选择行为的理解，也为若尔盖草原湿地狼繁殖期栖息地的保护管理提供了科学依据。

关键词: 狼, 若尔盖草原湿地, 巢址选择, 逻辑斯蒂回归模型, 模型平均

CLC Number:

Q958.1

ZHANG Yunqiao, WANG Wan, YANG Yixin, Zhoumecuo, Zhimeiji, XIAO Junhou, YU Yuan, ZHANG Zhenyang, DAI Qiang. Wolf (Canis lupus) den sites selection in the Ruoergai grassland wetland, Sichuan Province, China[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2024, 44(6): 771-780.

张云巧, 王婉, 杨奕欣, 周么措, 智美吉, 肖俊侯, 于渊, 张振阳, 戴强. 若尔盖草原湿地狼巢址选择[J]. 兽类学报, 2024, 44(6): 771-780.

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