Microhabitat selection of blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum) during breeding period in Helan Mountains, China

Abstract

Habitat degradation and fragmentation are crucial factors which result in biodiversity loss among the world. Understanding how species respond to the habitat change is helpful and essential for the conservation of the endangered ones. Therefore, the aim of current study is to explore how to carry out biodiversity conservation from the perspective of the habitat selection of species. We studied the microhabitat selection of blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum) during its breeding time (including mating, incubation, and feeding periods). The field research was carried out from April to August in 2014 at Helan Mountains, China. Six nests of blue eared pheasants were found; 323 used plots and 171 control plots were recorded. Results indicated that blue eared pheasants prefer mountainous coniferous forest at shady slope with domination of Picea crassifolia, and its habitat selection was mainly influenced by shrub density, tree density, altitude, slope degree, hiding cover, water resource, and human disturbance. However, there were slight differences among the three periods. Our study firstly compared factors that affect the microhabitat selection of blue eared pheasants among the three periods of its breeding time. Meanwhile, combining the current study with the previous ones, specific strategies could be applied on the works of endangered species and biodiversity conservation.