PJZ_52_4_1355-1362

INTRODUCTION

Food, water and shelter are three of the main factors determining habitat selection by wildlife (Jiang et al., 2012). Foraging habitat selection is important for bird survival and breeding (Guan, 2009). Water flow velocity, topography, wintering period and food availability primarily affect foraging habitat selection by water birds (Quan et al., 2001; Mckinney et al., 2007). For example, torrent ducks (Merganetta armata) prefer to forage in rivers with high water flow speed and land slope (Pernollet et al., 2013), the ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) prefer to forage in wet farmlands during its middle wintering stage (Quan et al., 2001), but avoid farmlands during the early and later stages, whereas the harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) favor foraging in areas with high prey density (Mckinney et al., 2007). Studies on habitat selection of birds have been developed from a single scale level to multiple scales because of rapid developments in GIS and remote sensing techniques. Researchers often refer to geographic scales as ‘landscape’, ‘patch’ or ‘micro-habitat’ (Shu et al., 2004; Zhang et al., 2005; Xu et al., 2006; Cao et al., 2010; Xie et al., 2018). Landscape scale can demonstrate the variation in different habitat utilization by birds (Shu et al., 2004; Xie et al., 2018), while vegetation structure, water, food availability and shelter affect micro-habitat selection by animals (Cao et al., 2010).

The global population of the scaly-sided merganser Mergus squamatus (Anseriformes: Anatidae) has been estimated as 1000–2500 individuals (Shao et al., 2012). In China, the scaly-sided merganser is listed as a first-category nationally protected wildlife species and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature regards it as Endangered (Shao et al., 2012; Zeng et al., 2013). Wintering areas include a wide stretch along the south bank of the Yangtze River. Five water systems (Xiuhe, Fuhe, Xinjiang, Raohe, and Ganjiang Rivers) provide some of the main wintering grounds for this species in Jiangxi Province, China (Shao et al., 2012). Previous studies of wintering scaly-sided merganser have mainly analyzed population size (He et al., 2002), group characteristics (Shao et al., 2012), sex ratio (Zhi and Shao, 2019), home range and behavioral strategy (Zeng et al., 2013), and diet (Zhao and Pao, 1998). We are unaware of previous data on foraging habitat selection at multiple scales. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: 1) provide basic data on foraging habitat selection of scaly-sided merganser at both landscape and micro-habitat scales; and 2) reveal factors that determine foraging habitat selection. This information will provide basic data on which to base nature reserve construction and future conservation of this species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area

Poyang Lake (115°49’–116°46’E, 28°11’–29°51’N), located in north Jiangxi Province, is the largest lake in China (Che et al., 2018). The climate in the study area is sub-tropical, with an average annual precipitation of 1450–1550 mm and average annual temperature of 16.5–17.8 °C (Dai et al., 2014; Wang, 2014). The water area reaches a maximum of 41,225 km2. The rich water system of Poyang Lake provides good food resources and ideal wintering habitats for water birds. We selected four water systems (Xiuhe, Xinjiang, Raohe, and Ganjiang Rivers) in Poyang Lake as our study areas to investigate habitat selection by scaly-sided merganser (Fig. 1). The vegetation of this region is dominated by broad-leaved deciduous forests and scattered farmland. For the most part, both banks of river were densely covered by trees. Because local people are unable to access some rivers easily, they provide safe environments for water birds. Shoals scattered along the river provide suitable resting areas for scaly-sided merganser.

Data collection

From November 2017 to March 2018 and from November 2018 to March 2019, the foraging areas of scaly-sided merganser were located in the Xiuhe (Jing’an), Ganjiang (Ji’an), Xinjiang (Yiyang and Longhushan) and Raohe (Wuyuan) river sections. Our study sites covered the main wintering distribution sites of this bird in Jiangxi province. We also recorded the GPS locations of control plots in the rivers located within 5 km of each foraging area. We selected potential control plots at random within a distance of about 2 to 5 km to the foraging plots along the same river. The selection of potential plots was based on the reports that scaly-sided merganser were not observed in that area in recent years. We sampled 10 foraging plots and 9 control plots to determine micro-habitat parameters. Then we selected only eight (8) foraging plots and eight (8) control plots to determine parameters at landscape scale because some plots had similar parameters being a small distance apart.

We interpreted remote sensing images to identify the main habitats in our study area in 2018. Comparisons between foraging habitats and control plots were conducted using Landsat TM/OLI data. Habitats included farmland, woodland, grassland, water area, shoal, village and road. We measured the area of each habitat and control plot within a radius of 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m or 5000 m from the center of each selected river. Micro-habitat parameters and measurement methods are shown in Table I.

The food of scaly-sided mergansers consists of aquatic arthropods, frogs, fish etc. We only analyzed the fish species because it was difficult for us to identify other prey species eaten by mergansers in the field observation due to the small size of other prey items. Fish were captured from foraging areas using a net in Yiyang, Longhushan and Wuyuan (Fig. 1). We identified the fish to species level according to the ‘Synopsis of Freshwater Fishes of China and Zoological Systematics’ (Zhu, 1995), and considered these fish as potential food resources of scaly-sided merganser. Distribution and preferred river depth layers of fish were obtained from the literature (Huang et al., 2013; Tu et al., 2016). Fish eaten by scaly-sided merganser were identified by photography using a digital camera (Nikon, 16.76 million pixels) or by observation using a telescope (Swarovski, ×20-60).

Data analysis

Factors determining micro-habitat selection by scaly-sided merganser were identified using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare differences in landscape and micro-habitat factors between foraging habitats and control plots. Values are expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD), with P values <0.05 considered significant. Statistical analyses were completed using Excel 2010 and SPSS 22.0.

RESULTS

Foraging habitat selection of scaly-sided merganser at landscape scale

The maximum population size of scaly-sided mergansers ranged from 20 to 30 in Yiyuang, Wuyuan and Ji’an. And the maximum population size ranged between 10 and 15 in Jing’an and Longhushan. The main habitats within the foraging areas of scaly-sided merganser were woodland and farmland. The highest proportion of woodland recorded was 88.70%. Grassland and road proportions were very low. No grassland could be detected at the 500-m, 1000-m, 1500-m scales. Kruskal-Wallis H tests showed that shoal proportion was larger in foraging habitats than in control plots at 500-m, 1000-m, 1500-m and 5000-m scales (Table II, Figs. 2, 3).

Kruskal-Wallis H tests showed that water flow speed, and distance to road and village in the foraging habitats were significantly higher than in the control plots. No significant difference was detected in other factors (Table III).

The first three principal components met the criterion of eigenvalue >1 and together explained 82.45% of the variance in foraging habitats by using PCA method. This observation indicates that the first three principal components represented the total message of the seven parameters investigated (Tables IV, V). The first principal axis ordered sites by vegetation cover of the two banks, distance to mine factory, and river width. We considered these factors to be related to shelter and human disturbance. The second principal axis was ordered by water flow speed and distance to village. We considered these factors to be related to safety and the presence of water. The third principal axis was arranged by distance to road and was considered a safety factor. Thus, safety factors are important in the determination of foraging habitat selection of scaly-sided merganser.

Twenty two species of fish belonging to eight families and three orders were identified within the foraging areas of the scaly-sided merganser. Of these, 15 species of fish were present in all four of the river systems investigated during this study. Ganjiang River had the largest number of species of fish (21), Xiuhe River had the fewest species (18). Based on our observations and photographs taken in our study area, scaly-sided merganser mainly preyed on six species of fish: Carassius auratus, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Noemacheilus fasciolatus, Silurus asotus, Tachysurus fulvidraco and Siniperca chuatsi (Table VI).

Table I. Habitat parameters and measurement methods.

Habitat parameters	Measurement
Water flow speed (m/s)	Measured by stopwatch; the time for a floating object to move 1 m was recorded (mean of 5 consecutive recordings).
River width (m)	Distance between the two banks of the river
Distance to road (m)	Distance to the nearest road from a foraging center of scaly-sided merganser.
Distance to village (m)	Distance to the nearest village from a foraging center of scaly-sided merganser.
Distance to mine factory	Distance to the nearest mine factory from a foraging center of scaly-sided merganser. We divided distances into three ranks: 1 (0–250 m); 2 (251–500 m); and 3 (>500 m).
Shoal proportion (%)	Shoal proportion within 20 × 20 m plots centered on a foraging area of scaly-sided merganser measured by eye.
Vegetation cover of two banks of river	Vegetation cover of the two banks of the river within 20×20 m plots centered on a foraging area of scaly-sided merganser, estimated by eye. We divided vegetation cover into three ranks: 1 (0–10%); 2 (10.01%–20%); and 3 (>20%).

Table II. Comparison of scale factors between foraging habitats and control plots for scaly-sided merganser.

Habi-tats (%)	Landscape scales
Habi-tats (%)	500 m		1000m		1500 m		3000m		5000 m
	Habitat	Control	Habitat	Control	Habitat	Control	Habitat	Control	Habitat	Control
Village	29.24± 17.11	24.31± 13.95	28.91± 16.50	22.89± 15.43	26.75± 17.21	23.44± 16.88	22.35± 14.66	22.52± 18.33	20.43± 15.09	18.73± 14.44
Wood-land	31.89± 27.67	44.44± 19.93	46.35± 27.16	56.98± 24.48	55.40± 26.01	58.07± 25.32	64.36± 22.98	63.08± 24.78	67.79± 23.96	70.76± 19.15
Grass-land	-	-	-	0.06± 0.17	-	0.18± 0.37	0.15± 0.24	0.16± 0.24	0.33± 0.64	0.13± 0.15
Water area	19.43± 11.86	17.48± 8.93	11.80± 7.89	11.71± 4.89	9.07± 5.76	10.24± 5.02	6.30± 4.33	7.09± 3.38	5.04± 3.91	4.70± 2.12
Shoal	14.04± 8.33*	2.85± 3.83*	7.07± 4.42*	1.34± 1.54*	4.33± 2.91*	0.76± 0.70*	1.91± 1.42	0.72± 0.54	1.07± 0.43*	0.51± 0.34*
Farm-land	4.47± 4.64	10.07± 9.89	4.85± 5.44	6.36± 7.26	3.49± 3.73	5.94± 6.76	2.81± 3.25	5.05± 4.98	2.68± 3.47	3.85± 3.69
Road	0.94± 1.16	0.87± 1.53	1.03± 1.71	0.66± 1.05	0.98± 1.26	1.38± 1.38	2.12± 2.45	1.38± 1.04	2.66± 3.77	1.32± 0.59

*P<0.05

Table III. Comparison of micro-habitat parameters between foraging habitats and control plots for scaly-sided merganser.

Parameters	Foraging habitats (n=10)	Control plots (n=9)	χ2	P
Parameters	Mean±SD	Mean±SD	χ2	P
Water flow speed (m/s)	0.21±0.09	0.12±0.07	4.066	0.044
River width (m)	182.7±88.01	142.11±70.67	1.928	0.165
Distance to road (m)	133.50±115.84	42.67±61.70	5.636	0.018
Distance to village (m)	299.40±114.41	77.67±77.38	10.676	0.001
Distance to mine factory	2.50±0.85	2.78±0.67	0.844	0.358
Shoal proportion (%)	9.70±14.00	5.00±7.00	0.611	0.434
Vegetation cover of two banks	2.30±0.82	1.56±0.73	3.628	0.057

DISCUSSION

The main ecological factors involved in wildlife habitat selection vary according to the geographic scale used in the research methodology (Cao et al., 2010). Therefore, we paid particular attention to the scale in habitat selection in our study. Habitat types and their proportions are related to landscape scale, while micro-habitat scale relates to vegetation coverage, water flow speed, and distance to disturbance source. Our results show that the preferred foraging habitat is the river within dense woodland and scattered farmland, which is similar to the findings in earlier literature (Wang et al., 2010). The highest proportion of woodland was present in the foraging areas and this proportion increased at larger scale. These observations show that scaly-sided merganser prefer to forage in rivers near woodland. The rich vegetation and its coverage provided safe shelter to avoid natural enemies and human disturbance. The proportion of shoals in the foraging area was larger than that in control plots at 500-m, 1000-m, 1500-m and 5000-m scales, although the shoal proportion in the rivers was low. Therefore, shoal was an important factor affecting scaly-sided merganser foraging habitat selection. Scaly-sided mergansers dive to catch fish or other prey and have high energy consumption but are able to rest in the shoals after they obtain sufficient food (Zeng et al., 2013). Furthermore, the shoals may also provide a suitable environment for fishes that constitute food for water birds. Scaly-sided merganser could always be detected in the rivers with scattered shoals although the shoal proportion was small and variable.

Water flow speed and quality, food availability, safety or shelter (vegetation coverage) and human disturbance are the main ecological factors that water birds use in micro-habitat selection. Safety and human distribution are also factors used by whooper swan Cygnus cygnus, mandarin duck Aix galericulata and bar-headed goose Anser indicus to select their foraging habitat (Jiao et al., 2012; Yang et al., 2013; Sun et al., 2018). Scaly-sided merganser preferred wide rivers with good water quality and rapid water flow (Liu et al., 2008). In our study, water flow speed, distance to the road and village were significantly higher than in control areas, indicating that water and human disturbance were important factors in determining foraging habitat selection of scaly-sided merganser. Principal component analysis also showed that safety (e.g., vegetation coverage, distance to mine factory, river width) was an important aspect of all three principal components, indicating that scaly-sided merganser had high requirements for shelter and safety. Vegetation on the banks of some sections of Fuliang River was felled and caused habitat loss for this species and we did not detect any merganser in these damaged sections. Water factors were also important in the second principal component, indicating that a good water environment was vital for merganser habitat selection. Previous studies have shown that modern industrial and agricultural development have degraded the aquatic environment and have caused increasing habitat loss for many water birds (Wang et al., 2010; Zhang et al., 2012). Thus, a good aquatic environment is needed to provide the wintering habitat for scaly-sided merganser.

Table IV. Eigenvalues and contribution rates of foraging habitat selection factors of scaly-sided merganser.

Principal components	Eigen value
Principal components	Eigenvalue	Percent of total variance/%	Percent of cumulative variance/%
1	2.619	37.412	37.412
2	1.955	27.934	65.346
3	1.197	17.099	82.445
4	0.664	9.491	91.936
5	0.474	6.775	98.711
6	0.081	1.162	99.873
7	0.009	0.127	100.000

Table V. Correlation of habitat variables with the first three principal components derived from habitat selection of scaly-sided merganser.

	Principal components
	1	2	3
Water flow speed (m/s)	0.321	0.932	-0.55
River width (m)	-0.723	0.201	0.012
Distance to road (m)	-0.014	0.208	0.895
Distance to village (m)	-0.109	-0.966	0.212
Distance to mine factory (m)	0.878	-0.259	-0.167
Shoal proportion %)	0.597	0.033	0.551
Vegetation cover of two banks of river	0.928	-0.052	-0.127

Food availability is an important factor in selection of the foraging habitat of scaly-sided merganser. Scaly-sided merganser are opportunists that choose their prey (Zeng, 2015), changing their diet composition in different habitats. In Russia, scaly-sided merganser mainly forage for Esox lucius, Squaliobarbus ourriculus and Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, whereas they mainly preyed on Misgurnus anguillicaudatus in northeastern China (Zhao and Piao, 1998). Scaly-sided merganser have a diverse diet and are able to select alternative prey species to satisfy their physiological energy requirements when their normal prey is absent. In our study, 22 species of fish were identified in four river systems of Poyang Lake. The food we observed for mergansers included six species of fish, which were common and present in all four river systems. The river systems in Poyang Lake are able to satisfy merganser food requirements because this bird is an opportunistic predator and is also able to switch to other abundant fishes or other preys such as aquatic arthropods, frogs etc. The scaly-sided merganser dives to prey on these fishes or other preys that live in the middle and low layers of the river.

Table VI. Fish species composition in foraging areas of scaly-sided merganser.

Species	Xiuhe river	Xinjiang river	Raohe river	Ganjiang river	Water situation	Preferred fish
I.CYPRINIFORMES
Cyprinidae
1. Acanthorhodeus chankaensis	+		+		Middle and upper lawyers
2. Acheilognathus macropterus	+	+	+	+	Middle and upper lawyers
3. Hemiculter bleekeri	+	+	+	+	Middle and upper lawyers
4. Carassius auratus	+	+	+	+	Low lawyer	√
5. Cyprinus carpio	+	+	+	+	Low lawyer
6. Hemiculter leucisculu	+	+	+	+	Middle and upper lawyers
7. Acrossocheilus parallens		+		+	Middle and upper lawyers
8. Ctenopharyngodon idellus	+	+	+	+	Middle and low lawyers
9. Squaliobarbus curriculus	+	+	+	+	Middle and upper lawyers
10. Pseudobrama simoni	+	+	+	+	Middle and upper lawyers
11. Abbotottina rivularis	+	+	+	+	Low lawyer
12. Sarcocheilichthys kiangsiensis		+		+	Low lawyer
13. Saurogobio dabryi		+	+	+	Low lawyer
14. Squalidus argentatus	+	+	+	+	Middle and low lawyers
15. Squalidus nitens	+		+	+	Low lawyer
Cobitidae
16. Misgurnus anguillicaudatus	+	+	+	+	Low lawyer	√
Nemacheilidae
17. Noemacheilus fasciolatus	+	+	+	+	Low lawyer	√
II. SILURIFORMES
Sisoridae
18.Glyptothorax sinenses	+	+		+	Low lawyer
Siluridae
19. Silurus asotus	+	+	+	+	Middle and low lawyers	√
Bagridae
20. Tachysurus fulvidraco	+	+	+	+	Low lawyer	√
III. PERCIFORMES
Percichthyidae					√
21. Siniperca chuatsi	+	+	+	+	Low lawyer
Eleotridae
22. Odontobutis obscura			+	+	Low lawyer

Scaly-sided merganser habitat selection was analyzed at multiple scales. Factors involved in selection differed among scale levels but were also mutually related. Changes in these factors would be expected to cause habitat loss for the birds (Zhang et al., 2012). We showed that scaly-sided merganser exhibited strong requirements for safety and for the properties of the aquatic environment at both landscape and micro-habitat scales. Thus, 1) It is important to protect the water environment and the forests on the banks of river. Forest destruction near foraging rivers of scaly-sided merganser must be reduced to provide a safe wintering habitat for this endangered species. 2) The proportion of shoals must be maintained. The presence of shoals in the river generates multiple areas with differing water flow speeds, producing a habitat with diverse currents. This variable habitat provides diverse foraging and resting areas for different fishes ensuring that scaly-sided merganser obtain sufficient food (Wang and Yan, 2008). 3) Varying water speeds ensure water clarity and foraging efficiency of scaly-sided merganser (Wang et al., 2010).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Funding for this project was provided by Chinese Natural Sciences Fund (31860611, YC2019-S120,31560597).

Statement of conflict of interest

The authors declare there is no conflict of interest.

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