Habitat use, preference, and utilization distribution of two crane species (Genus: Grus ) in Huize National Nature Reserve, Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, China

PeerJ

article

Dejun Kong¹  Weixiong Luo¹  Qiang Liu³  Zhuoqing Li⁴  Guoyue Huan⁵  Jianjun Zhang⁵  Xiaojun Yang¹ 

[1] Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences;Key Laboratory of Special Biological Resource Development and Utilization of Universities in Yunnan Province, Kunming University;College of Wetland, Southwest Forestry University;Yunnan Institute of Environmental Science;Administrative Bureau, National Nature Reserve of Black-Necked Cranes in Huize

关键词: Spatial distribution;    Habitat use;    Grus grus;    Habitat management;    Coexistence;    Grus nigricollis;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.5105

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Understanding the habitat use and spatial distribution of wildlife can help conservationists determine high-priority areas and enhance conservation efforts. We studied the wintering habitat use, preference, and utilization distribution of two crane species, that is, the black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis, Przevalski, 1876) and common crane (Grus grus90% of flocks observed for both species). Black-necked cranes preferred marshland in spring (February and March) but avoided grassland during the entire wintering period, whereas common cranes avoided both marshland and grassland throughout the entire period. The two cranes species had communal nightly roosting sites and separate daily foraging sites. Black-necked cranes were distributed within two km (1.89 ± 0.08 km) of the roosting site, covering an area of 283.84 ha, with the core distribution area encompassing less than 100 ha. In contrast, common cranes were distributed far from the roosting site (4.38 ± 0.11 km), covering an area of 558.73 ha, with the core distribution area encompassing 224.81 ha. Thus, interspecies competition may have influenced the habitat preference and spatial distribution divergence of these two phylogenetically related species. This study should help guide habitat management as well as functional zoning development and adjustment in the future. Based on our results, we recommend restoration of additional wetlands, retention of large areas of farmland, and protection of areas that cranes use most frequently.

【 授权许可】

CC BY