Winter Habitat Use of Sichuan Sika Deer Cervus nippon sichuanicus in the Tiebu Sika Deer Nature Reserve
Winter Habitat Use of Sichuan Sika Deer Cervus nippon sichuanicus in the Tiebu Sika Deer Nature Reserve
Cheng Zhao1,2, Qin Shi1*, Gen Yang3, Youyuan Tan2, Songwen Tan2, Jiahong Li2 and Marwan M.A. Rashed2
ABSTRACT
Sichuan sika deer Cervus nippon sichuanicus is a threatened subspecies of sika deer. Winter is the critical season affecting the survival of Sichuan sika deer. To get strategic information about the relationship between Sichuan sika deer and the environment in the winter, we conducted our study on habitat use of Sichuan sika deer in the Tiebu Nature Reserve from January to February in 2019 and 2020. The results showed that Sichuan sika deer preferred shrub vegetation and southern slope. Compared to control plots, lower elevation, longer distance to forest edge, higher herb cover and concealing condition appeared in used plots. The results of the logistic regression models showed that herb cover and elevation were the key factors. It was indicated that diet, safety and temperature were the main factors affecting the habitat use of Sichuan sika deer in winter.
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