动物的生境选择具有空间尺度依赖性, 在不同空间尺度上影响生境选择的环境因素有所不同。研究不同空间尺度下动物生境选择的关键影响因子及其季节性变化, 对于全面了解物种的生境资源需求和开展生境保护具有重要意义。绿尾虹雉(Lophophorus lhuysii)是中国特有的高山雉类, 国家一级重点保护野生动物, 具有极高的保护价值。然而, 目前尚未对其不同尺度和时期的生境选择进行过探究。本研究于2019年10月至2020年10月, 在四川卧龙国家级自然保护区的羊角湾、魏家沟和文扎都3个区域共布设15条样线、303个样方, 并结合红外相机监测(176个红外相机位点), 对保护区内绿尾虹雉种群的生境利用状况进行了调查, 使用主成分分析和逻辑斯蒂回归模型分别从景观和微生境两个尺度对繁殖期(3‒8月)和非繁殖期(9月至翌年2月)的生境选择模式进行了分析。结果显示, 在景观尺度上, 在繁殖期和非繁殖期都显著偏好海拔较高(3,700‒ 4,300 m)、坡度较小(27°‒33°)、靠近阳坡、草甸和流石滩比例较高而森林和灌丛比例较低的生境。在微生境尺度上, 绿尾虹雉在繁殖期显著偏好岩石盖度较高的生境; 而非繁殖期则显著偏好草本盖度较高、灌木盖度和落叶盖度较低的生境。研究表明, 绿尾虹雉在景观和微生境尺度上均对生境有明显的选择性, 并且其微生境选择还存在季节性变化, 反映了该物种在生活史不同阶段具有不同的资源需求。本研究丰富了绿尾虹雉的基础生态学信息, 为卧龙及其他自然保护区绿尾虹雉的生境管理和种群保护工作提供了参考。

Aims: The habitat selection of animals is a scale-dependent ecological process, affected by environmental factors across spatial scales. Studying key factors which influence habitat selection across both spatial and temporal scales is tantamount to a comprehensive understanding of species’ resource requirements and effective habitat protection. Chinese monal (Lophophorus lhuysii), an alpine-obligate Galliformes species native to China, has received a first-class National Protected Wildlife status with a high priority for global conservation. To our knowledge, no study to date has examined habitat selection of Chinese monal across spatial and temporal scales. In this paper, we detail how Chinese monal habitat selection patterns may reveal habitat in critical need for protection to facilitate its persistence and the conservation of biodiversity at scale.
Methods: During October 2019 to October 2020, we constructed 15 transect localities and established a network of infrared camera monitoring stations in Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan. In total, we sampled 303 quadrats, including both microhabitat used by Chinese monal and systematic controls and collected landscape-scale habitat usage data from 176 wildlife cameras. To examine spatial patterns in habitat selection of Chinese monal, we used principal component analysis (PCA) and logistic regression models to analyze the data at the microhabitat and landscape scales, respectively. Furthermore, our analyses separate data from breeding (March-August) and non-breeding (September-February) periods, which allowed us to examine interactions in habitat utilization at both spatial and temporal scales.
Results: At the landscape scale, the Chinese monal showed similar habitat selection patterns during breeding and non-breeding periods, with significant preferences for habitats (1) at higher elevation (3,700‒4,300 m), (2) intermediate slopes (27°‒33°), (3) proximity to exposed slope-faces, and (4) a higher proportion of meadows and tundras (complimented by a lower proportion of forests and bushes). At the microhabitat scale, the Chinese monal displayed significant preferences for habitats with higher rock coverage during breeding period. However, during non-breeding period, habitats with higher herbage coverage and lower shrub and litter coverage were significantly preferred.
Conclusions: Our research indicates that Chinese monal show habitat specificity at both landscape and microhabitat scales, as well as seasonal variation in microhabitat selection reflecting changes in resource demands at different life stages. These findings enrich our understanding of the life history, biology, and ecology of Chinese monal. Given the endangered status of this species, we believe our research can inform more effective habitat and population management in the Wolong National Nature Reserve and beyond.