Background:The Hair-crested Drongo(Dicrurus hottentottus) exhibits a unique nest-dismantling behavior after the fledging of the young.One hypothesis explaining this behavior is dismantling one's own nest may reduc...Background:The Hair-crested Drongo(Dicrurus hottentottus) exhibits a unique nest-dismantling behavior after the fledging of the young.One hypothesis explaining this behavior is dismantling one's own nest may reduce potential competition for nest sites in the following breeding season because suitable breeding habitat might be limited,and sites are often reused.Methods:By comparing the habitat features at nest and random locations,we determined the nest habitat preference of the Hair-crested Drongo within Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,Henan,China.We also compared habitat features with nesting success to determine if any trends could be detected.Results:We found that nest tree height,diameter at breast height,live crown ratio,tree rank,and presence of overstory were significantly higher at nesting locations than random locations;slope,leaf litter cover percentage and depth,presence of understory and midstory,and number of trees per hectare were significantly lower at nest sites than random sites.Drongos preferred to use some tree species,such as Metasequoia glyptostroboides,Castanea mollissima,and Pterocarya stenoptera for nesting.Failed nests were often associated with habitat with higher percentage of leaf litter on the ground.Conclusion:Our data support that selection of nest sites does occur for this species at this site and therefore support the hypothesis that breeding habitat limitation could be one of the driving forces for the development of the nestdismantling behavior in this species.展开更多
Home range and habitat use of male Reeves’s pheasant(Syrmaticus reevesii)were studied during winter of 2001~2002 and 2002~2003 in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,Henan Province.Results from five individuals of R...Home range and habitat use of male Reeves’s pheasant(Syrmaticus reevesii)were studied during winter of 2001~2002 and 2002~2003 in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,Henan Province.Results from five individuals of Reeves’s pheasant with over 30 relocations,indicated that the average size of home range was 10.03±1.17 hm^(2) by Minimum Convex Polygon method,8.60±0.35 hm^(2) by 90%Harmonic Mean Transformation method,and 9.50±1.90 hm^(2) by 95%Fixed Kernel method.It was observed that the winter range is smaller than that in the breeding season.The mean core area of the home range was found to be 1.88±0.37 hm^(2).Although the habitat composition of the core area varied greatly for individuals,a large part of the habitats used were composed of conifer and broadleaf mixed forests,masson pine forests,fir forests,and shrubs.Habitat use within the study area was non-random,while habitats within home ranges were randomly used.Habitat use was dictated by tree diameter at breast height,shrub height and coverage at 2.0 m.The proximity between forests and shrubs were also found to be important in providing refuge for the birds during winter.Recommendations for conservation management include protecting the existing habitats in Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,increasing suitable habitat for Reeves’s Pheasant through artificial plantations(e.g.firs),and restoring some parts of the large shrub area into forests.展开更多
Taking Dongzhai Town in Ningwu County of Shanxi Province as example, this essay explores the spatial structure of towns and villages system from the following perspectives: scale structure, function structure, structu...Taking Dongzhai Town in Ningwu County of Shanxi Province as example, this essay explores the spatial structure of towns and villages system from the following perspectives: scale structure, function structure, structural characteristics of village land-use, and spatial distribution characteristics of Dongzhai villages. There are 5 grades of villages according to their scales, that is, villages have a population over 1 000, between 500 and 1 000, between 100 and 500, less than 100, less than 50. The function structure of Dongzhai Town is divided into 3 grades, Grade 1 (core village), is village with such functions as tourist service, transportation and distribution function. Grade 2 (characteristic village), is agricultural settlement with functions such as industrial function, transportation service, tourist service, and forestry function. Grade 3 (general village), is agricultural settlements with prominent agricultural functions (dry farming). This essay also predicts the change and responses of this town based on the population forecast models. It is predicted that the population of Jiancheng District will reach 4 750 in 2010, 6 400 in 2015, 8 700 in 2020. Returning farmland to forests in Fenhe River valley can ensure the conservation of water resources and the development of tourist service. The proportion of forest land, especially bushes land, and proportion of grassland, especially artificial grass will increase dramatically. The number of slope land will be down a bit. The Lands for settlement and transportation will increase with the development of ecological migration and tourist service. Specialized land such as water area and places of interest will skyrocket. Village patterns and spatial distribution under the system of towns and villages will be improved as well.展开更多
基金support by Dongzhai National Nature Reserve for conducting this studyFunding and support was provided by National Science Foundation East Asia Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI)+2 种基金Chinese Ministry of Science and TechnologyChina Science and Technology Exchange Center Further funding and support was provided by Alabama A&M University and Beijing Normal University
文摘Background:The Hair-crested Drongo(Dicrurus hottentottus) exhibits a unique nest-dismantling behavior after the fledging of the young.One hypothesis explaining this behavior is dismantling one's own nest may reduce potential competition for nest sites in the following breeding season because suitable breeding habitat might be limited,and sites are often reused.Methods:By comparing the habitat features at nest and random locations,we determined the nest habitat preference of the Hair-crested Drongo within Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,Henan,China.We also compared habitat features with nesting success to determine if any trends could be detected.Results:We found that nest tree height,diameter at breast height,live crown ratio,tree rank,and presence of overstory were significantly higher at nesting locations than random locations;slope,leaf litter cover percentage and depth,presence of understory and midstory,and number of trees per hectare were significantly lower at nest sites than random sites.Drongos preferred to use some tree species,such as Metasequoia glyptostroboides,Castanea mollissima,and Pterocarya stenoptera for nesting.Failed nests were often associated with habitat with higher percentage of leaf litter on the ground.Conclusion:Our data support that selection of nest sites does occur for this species at this site and therefore support the hypothesis that breeding habitat limitation could be one of the driving forces for the development of the nestdismantling behavior in this species.
基金Funding was provided by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No.30070117 and 30330050)State Key Basic Research Program Plan (G2000046805).
文摘Home range and habitat use of male Reeves’s pheasant(Syrmaticus reevesii)were studied during winter of 2001~2002 and 2002~2003 in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,Henan Province.Results from five individuals of Reeves’s pheasant with over 30 relocations,indicated that the average size of home range was 10.03±1.17 hm^(2) by Minimum Convex Polygon method,8.60±0.35 hm^(2) by 90%Harmonic Mean Transformation method,and 9.50±1.90 hm^(2) by 95%Fixed Kernel method.It was observed that the winter range is smaller than that in the breeding season.The mean core area of the home range was found to be 1.88±0.37 hm^(2).Although the habitat composition of the core area varied greatly for individuals,a large part of the habitats used were composed of conifer and broadleaf mixed forests,masson pine forests,fir forests,and shrubs.Habitat use within the study area was non-random,while habitats within home ranges were randomly used.Habitat use was dictated by tree diameter at breast height,shrub height and coverage at 2.0 m.The proximity between forests and shrubs were also found to be important in providing refuge for the birds during winter.Recommendations for conservation management include protecting the existing habitats in Dongzhai National Nature Reserve,increasing suitable habitat for Reeves’s Pheasant through artificial plantations(e.g.firs),and restoring some parts of the large shrub area into forests.
基金Supported by Soft Science Research Project of Shanxi Province(2008041034-02 )Institutions and Enterprises Entrusted Project(0908045+1 种基金 0908046 0908043)~~
文摘Taking Dongzhai Town in Ningwu County of Shanxi Province as example, this essay explores the spatial structure of towns and villages system from the following perspectives: scale structure, function structure, structural characteristics of village land-use, and spatial distribution characteristics of Dongzhai villages. There are 5 grades of villages according to their scales, that is, villages have a population over 1 000, between 500 and 1 000, between 100 and 500, less than 100, less than 50. The function structure of Dongzhai Town is divided into 3 grades, Grade 1 (core village), is village with such functions as tourist service, transportation and distribution function. Grade 2 (characteristic village), is agricultural settlement with functions such as industrial function, transportation service, tourist service, and forestry function. Grade 3 (general village), is agricultural settlements with prominent agricultural functions (dry farming). This essay also predicts the change and responses of this town based on the population forecast models. It is predicted that the population of Jiancheng District will reach 4 750 in 2010, 6 400 in 2015, 8 700 in 2020. Returning farmland to forests in Fenhe River valley can ensure the conservation of water resources and the development of tourist service. The proportion of forest land, especially bushes land, and proportion of grassland, especially artificial grass will increase dramatically. The number of slope land will be down a bit. The Lands for settlement and transportation will increase with the development of ecological migration and tourist service. Specialized land such as water area and places of interest will skyrocket. Village patterns and spatial distribution under the system of towns and villages will be improved as well.
