利用无线电遥测位点分析红腹锦鸡的生境利用

Habitat use by golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) based on radio-tracking locations

为了解红腹锦鸡 (Chrysolophuspictus)的生境利用及其季节变化以及对距森林边缘不同距离的生境的利用情况 ,我们于 1996年 1月～ 8月、 1998年 11月～ 1999年 9月分别在陕西佛坪和贵州宽阔水自然保护区 ,采用无线电遥测位点与随机点相比较的方法 ,从不同时空尺度定量分析了红腹锦鸡的生境利用。两研究区共遥测 2 4只红腹锦鸡个体 (亚成体和成体 ,6♂ ,15♀ ,3亚♂ ) ,其遥测位点分布与随机点比较 ,冬、春和夏季 3季节中均有极显著差异 ,落入各区域的活动位点与其期望位点数之间也存在着极显著差异。这说明红腹锦鸡对生境的利用不是随机的 ,而是有选择地利用。红腹锦鸡对距森林边缘不同距离的生境的利用有选择性 ,并存在着明显的季节变化。分析结果表明 ,红腹锦鸡在冬、春季对森林边缘和林缘开阔区的利用较多 ,有一定偏好。红腹锦鸡在两研究区的生境利用模式相似 ,但在对森林边缘和林缘开阔区的利用强度上 。

Knowledge of the habitat requirements of threatened species is crucial for the maintenace of viable populations, and understanding how they respond to forest edges may ensure the development of effective conservation strategies. T he use of habitat edges by golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus), a species end emic to China, was investigated using radio tracking in Foping National Nature R eserve(FP), Shaanxi Province from January to August 1996, and in Kuankuosh ui Nature Reserve(KKS), Guizhou Province from October 1998 to September 1999. A t otal of 24 pheasants (9♂, 15♀) were captured using walk in bamboo traps. Traps were put on paths used by golden pheasants. No baits or play back of recorded c alls were used. Captured birds were fitted with 15 g necklace radiotags and trac ked with a TRX 1000S receiver (Wildlife Materials Inc., USA). Distances between the center of the open area (non forest area) and bird locations were caculated to determine whether birds entered the open area or not. All locations of birds tracked in the two study areas were also compared with computer generated random locatio ns to determine habitat use. There were significant differences between actual a nd computer generated random locations of golden pheasants, both overall and wit hin seasons, in both study areas (Kruskal Wallis test, FP: Winter, χ 2=2 397 5, df =1, P <0 001, n =3 024;Spring, χ 2=1 399 6, df=1 , P<0 001, n = 2 256 ;Summer, χ 2=917 2, df=1, P<0 001, n = 1 344 ; KKS: Winter, χ 2=1 466 1, df=1,P<0 001, n =2 666;Spring, χ 2=460 2, df=1, P<0 001, n =998;Summer, χ 2=230 0, df=1, P P<0 001, n =390). Actual locations were nonrandom and mainly distributed with in 1 k m of open areas. Habitat use by golden pheasants in the two study areas also sho wed significant seasonal variation (FP: χ 2=449 9, df=2, P<0 001, n=3 312; KKS: χ 2=335 7, df=2, P<0 001, n = 2 027). In both F P and KKS, golden pheasant s showed a strong tendency to use habitat edges in winter and spring, especially f or foraging, though there was a significant difference in usage between the two study areas (Winter:FP, 51 2%,KKS, 76 4%, χ 2=191 8, df=1, P<0 001, n =2 84 5;Spring:FP, 22 7%,KKS, 48 9%, χ 2=110 4, df=1, P<0 001, n = 1 627). Howev er, the difference in summer was not significant between the two study areas (FP , 13 5%,KKS, 15 9%, χ 2=0 51, df=1, P>0 05, n =867). Since fe w birds were inj ured by walk in bamboo traps this method proved suitable for golden pheasants a n d we strongly encourage its use in pheasant research. Habitat use by golden phea sants was nonrandom and the populations in both study areas showed similar spati al patterns of habitat use. In winter and spring, golden pheasant tends to forag e in open areas or forest edges. This suggests that these habitats may be import ant to the survival of golden pheasant populations and that their conservation s hould be improved