Habitat use and separation in relation to human disturbance of two sympatric species, red deer Cervus elaphus xanthopygus and roe deer Capreolus pygargus bedfordi, were studied in the Wandashan Mountains, Heilongjiang Province, China. We measured 19 variables describing macrohabitat (e.g. distance to roads or forest type) and microhabitat (e.g. escape cover or snow depth) characteristics at each plot where red or roe deer occurred. Statistical analysis of macrohabitat characteristics for the two deer species identified a statistically significant difference in the distance to human disturbances, especially settlements, for sites utilised by red deer and roe deer. Despite range overlaps between red deer and roe deer in the study area, each species exhibited different patterns in microhabitat use. The two deer species do not seem to be impacted to the same degree by human disturbance. Red deer occurred at sites characterised by mature mixed coniferous and broadleaf stands, at higher elevations, and...

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Habitat use and separation between red deer Cervus elaphus xanthopygus and roe deer Capreolus pygargus bedfordi in relation to human disturbance in the Wandashan Mountains, northeastern China

We characterized 716 sites (including 22 beds, 60 foraging and 604 movement sites) used by red deerCervus elaphus xanthopygus Milne-Edwards, 1867 in the Wandashan Mountains, northeastern China in the winter period. We used covariates for vegetation, topography, disturbances by other ungulates, and disturbance by humans to develop movement, forage and bed site resource-selection models. We used an information-theoretic approach to select the top 5 models for movement, forage and bed site occurrences respectively. The three most parsimonious autologistic models were good predictors of movement, forage and bed occurrence of this species. Vegetation covariates were important components of all models. We recorded avoidance responses by the behaviours of species to each disturbance type (ie, villages, forest roads and abandoned roads); bed site occurrences were most sensitive to all human disturbances for their lowest odds encountered. Across all parsimonious models, villages have the largest negative effect on movement, foraging and bed occurrences. Movement and bedding behaviours were also affected by other ungulate disturbances. Altitude had slightly negative effect on movement and foraging behaviours. Ridges, topographic aspect and shrub stands were all correlated with bed-site selection. Although different behaviours may be associated with different microhabitat features, behaviours of red deer responded similarly to the same human disturbance on a broad scale. Based on the observations above, we believe that red deer are avoiding human-altered habitat for movement, bedding and foraging because of disturbances during the critical late winter period. Furthermore, various behavioural resource selection models and corresponding graphs of important habitat disturbances can be used to guide and evaluate future development proposals.

Effects of human disturbance on movement, foraging and bed selection in red deer Cervus elaphus xanthopygus from the Wandashan Mountains, northeastern China

Foraging analyses of red deer (Cervus elaphus) inhabiting the Wanda Mountains of Northeast China have indicated that the major food component of the population is leaf browse, with a low proportion of grass cropping. This form of feeding might complicate the transfer of energy and dry matter supply, possibly leading to nutritional deficiency and population decline. We measured the allantoin to creatinine ratio (A:C) of urine excreted in snow by free-ranging individuals of this population. In parallel, we used equations to calculate the digestible dry matter intake (DDMI) and metabolizable energy intake (MEI) of captive adult female red deer to evaluate the nutritional condition of the population. Between-year differences were found in the A:C ratio, DDMI, and MEI, which were 30.14%, 20.51%, and 35.39% higher in 2010 than in 2009. The DDMI in both sampling years was below the minimum wintering requirement. In 2009, the MEI ranged from 0.845 to 1.18 MJ ME/kg BM 0.75 , which would have satisfied the red deer energy requirement for approximately 70% of the adult females, indicating a slight shortage of energy supply. This variation appeared to be correlated with snow depth, which was lower in 2010 compared to 2009. Overall, the A:C ratio, DDMI, and MEI showed a significant negative correlation with snow depth. Food supplementation might be needed to fulfill the minimum nutritional requirement of red deer population, especially when snow depth reaches a threshold.

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Possible nutritional deficiency of the red deer (Cervus elaphus) population in the Wanda Mountains, Northeast China.

Population status and dynamic trends of Amur tiger's prey in Eastern Wandashan Mountain,Heilongjiang Province

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) and sika deer (C. nippon) are two important and endangered herbivores in northeast China. It is unclear whether potential dietary competition exists between them when they are sympatric in winter. We used micro-histological analysis of faecal samples to determine diet composition and dietary overlap of the red deer and sika deer in northeast China. We found that red deer had a more diverse diet than sika deer, and consumed more shrubs throughout the winter. Euonymus spp. was the most stable and principal food item for both red and sika deers in winter, while the proportions of the three other major food species (Acer spp., Abies spp. and Pinus spp.) were significantly different between the deer species as well as between different winter periods. The proportions of coniferous browse of sika deer increased significantly from early to late winter (20.9 vs 45.4%), while for red deer they remained stable (18.3 vs 23.7%). Crude protein in the red and sika deer's diet was over 7.5% of dry matter in whole winter. Red and sika deer take different strategies to meet their requirements for crude protein. Red deer consumed in winter consistently more shrubs to obtain crude protein and to minimize the intake of tannins, whereas sika deer increased coniferous browse consumption in late winter to meet the crude protein requirement regardless of higher intake of tannin. Our results indicate a high degree of dietary overlap between red and sika deers (range 0.88–0.95), and suggest its further increase in late winter.

Winter Diet Variation and Overlap of Sympatric Red Deer and Sika Deer in Northeast China

The results showed that the red deer population size is ( 44300± 3972) deer,average population density is 0.25 deer/km 2,and total population distribution areas is about 1789600 hm 2 in this province forest Areas.Comparing with the results of red deer population survey in 1975,the red deer population dynamics reveals slighly a growth trend.From 1975 to 1990,individuals of red deer have increased 15.39%,that is the yearly rate of increase is 0.95%.But the total population distribution areas has decreased 30%～40% and appeared obviously areal distribution contraction.A new distribution pattern of red deer population has come into being in forest areas.

XU Qing

Papers

Study on the Status of Red Deer Population in Heilongjiang Province