We studied seasonal changes of habitat characteristics and use by Reeves’muntjac(Muntiacus reevesi)in the Zhoushan Archipelago,Zhejiang Province,China from March to November 2008. We established 228 sample plots usin...We studied seasonal changes of habitat characteristics and use by Reeves’muntjac(Muntiacus reevesi)in the Zhoushan Archipelago,Zhejiang Province,China from March to November 2008. We established 228 sample plots using fresh traces as the indicator. Ten ecological factors that we presumed affect deer habitat use were measured:vegetation type,percent tree cover,percent shrub cover,percent grass cover,slope,aspect,position on slope,elevation,distance to water,and distance to human disturbance. We found that Muntiacus reevesi lived mainly in hills,occasionally feeding in sloping fields and farmlands. In spring,muntjacs used broadleaf forest,shrub forest,farmland and sloping fields at low elevation,with low percentages of shrub and tree cover (<50%). The habitats were normally located at middle and low positions on slopes with a human disturbance distance less than 150m. In autumn,muntjacs used broadleaf forest and sloping field at low elevation with 75%～100% of tree cover and less than 50% shrub cover. These habitats were located at middle and upper positions on slopes with a distance of more than 400 m from the nearest water and human disturbance. Reeves’muntjacs in the Zhoushan Archipelago are limited by human disturbance,the scarcity of water and food,and limited space.展开更多
文摘We studied seasonal changes of habitat characteristics and use by Reeves’muntjac(Muntiacus reevesi)in the Zhoushan Archipelago,Zhejiang Province,China from March to November 2008. We established 228 sample plots using fresh traces as the indicator. Ten ecological factors that we presumed affect deer habitat use were measured:vegetation type,percent tree cover,percent shrub cover,percent grass cover,slope,aspect,position on slope,elevation,distance to water,and distance to human disturbance. We found that Muntiacus reevesi lived mainly in hills,occasionally feeding in sloping fields and farmlands. In spring,muntjacs used broadleaf forest,shrub forest,farmland and sloping fields at low elevation,with low percentages of shrub and tree cover (<50%). The habitats were normally located at middle and low positions on slopes with a human disturbance distance less than 150m. In autumn,muntjacs used broadleaf forest and sloping field at low elevation with 75%～100% of tree cover and less than 50% shrub cover. These habitats were located at middle and upper positions on slopes with a distance of more than 400 m from the nearest water and human disturbance. Reeves’muntjacs in the Zhoushan Archipelago are limited by human disturbance,the scarcity of water and food,and limited space.
