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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2020, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (11): 134-142.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20201114

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Habitats Selection and Spatial Distribution of Main Pheasants in Fanjingshan Reserve during Breeding Period

Cheng Wang1,Wei Ran2,Zhaohui Yang1,Xing Bi1,Haijun Su1,Canshi Hu1,Lei Shi2,Mingming Zhang1,*   

  1. 1. College of Forestry, Guizhou University Research Center for Biodiversity and Nature Conservation of Guizhou University Guiyang 550025
    2. Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Jiangkou 554400
    3. Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science of Ministry of Ecology and Environment Nanjing 210042
  • Received:2019-11-13 Online:2020-11-25 Published:2020-12-30
  • Contact: Mingming Zhang

Abstract:

Objective: The purpose of this work is to understand the habitats selection and spatial distribution of main pheasant species in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve during breeding period and provide scientific basis for effective management of rare pheasants. Method: From April to July during the breeding season of pheasants from 2017 to 2019,60 camera traps were set up in 3 sample regions (20 cameras in each sample region) to monitor the pheasants living in the area. The habitats selection patterns of four species of pheasants were studied based on occupancy modelling. Result: 1) A total of 882 independent valid photos were obtained by infrared camera. Seven species of pheasants were recorded,including Syrmaticus ellioti,Bambusicola thoracicus,Tragopan temminckii,Chrysolophus pictus,and etc. 2) The results of occupancy modelling showed that altitude was the major factor affecting the occupancy rate of the four main pheasants,and the pheasants had different altitudinal distribution patterns. The occupancy rate of Syrmaticus ellioti,Bambusicola thoracicus,and Chrysolophus pictus were negatively correlated with the altitude (Bambusicola thoracicus mainly lived at altitude below 1 100 m; Syrmaticus ellioti mainly lived at altitude below 1 500 m; Chrysolophus pictus have adapted to life at different elevation). However,the occupancy rate of Tragopan temminckii,who actively lived at altitude above 1 500 m,was positively correlated with the altitude. 3) The four main species of pheasants showed two different patterns of vegetation type selection. Bambusicola thoracicus and Chrysolophus pictus were obviously inclined to choose coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest for habitat,and obviously not preferred to choose evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest; while Syrmaticus ellioti and Tragopan temminckii were inclined to choose evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest,and obviously not preferred to choose coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest. Meanwhile,as for the selection of slope,Syrmaticus ellioti and Tragopan temminckii had similar selection pattern in which the habitation was positively correlated with the slope index; Bambusicola thoracicus and Chrysolophus pictus,on the other hand,showed a different pattern in which the habitation was negatively correlated with slope index. Conclusion: In this study,the habitat selection and spatial distribution differences of four species of pheasants were studied by using the occupancy modelling in Fanjingshan Nature Reserve. The results preliminarily revealed the coexistence pattern of the four main pheasants during breeding period.

Key words: Fanjingshan Reserve, camera trapping, occupancy modelling, habitats selection, pheasant

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