Yancheng coastal wetlands are one of the main habitats and breeding grounds of wild Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis). Based on GPS-GSM tracking data, we used the habitat selection index and MaxEnt model to simulate and analyze the distribution of suitable habitat of H. inermis in different seasons as well as the main influencing factors. The results showed that H. inermis mainly used reed marshes, with the usage rate in spring-summer and autumn-winter being 52.7% and 62.8%, respectively. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve value simulated by MaxEnt model in different seasons was 0.873 and 0.944, which showed high prediction accu-racy. In spring and summer, the sub-suitable and most suitable habitats were mainly reed marshes, farmland, and ponds. In autumn and winter, the main habitat types were reed marshes and ponds, with an area equivalent to only 5.7% and 8.5% of that in spring and summer. Distance to reeds, distance to Spartina alterniflora, habitat types, distance to water and distance residential area were the main environmental variables affecting the distribution of H. inermis in spring and summer. The above five variables and vegetation height were the main environmental variables affecting the distribution of H. inermis in autumn and winter. This study would provide an important reference for the conservation of Chinese water deer and the fine management of their habitats in Yancheng coastal wetlands.
盐城滨海湿地是野生獐主要的栖息地和繁殖地之一。本研究基于GPS-GSM跟踪数据,利用栖息地选择指数和MaxEnt模型模拟分析獐在不同季节适宜的栖息地分布以及主要影响因子。结果表明: 獐主要利用芦苇沼泽作为栖息地,春夏季和秋冬季利用率分别为52.7%和62.8%;MaxEnt模型在春夏季和秋冬季模拟的受试者工作特征下面积值分别为0.873和0.944,显示出较高的预测精度;春夏季,獐栖息地次适宜和最适宜类型以芦苇沼泽、农田和坑塘水面为主,秋冬季以芦苇沼泽和坑塘水面为主,面积仅相当于春夏季的5.7%和8.5%;定位点到芦苇距离、到米草距离、生境类型、到水面距离和到居民地距离是影响春夏季獐分布的主要环境变量,上述5个变量以及植被高度是影响秋冬季獐分布的主要环境变量。本研究为后续盐城滨海湿地獐种群保护以及栖息地精细化管理提供了重要参考。.
Keywords: Chinese water deer; GPS-GSM tracking; MaxEnt model; coastal wetland; suitable habitat.