Nest-Site Selection Of Red-Crowned Cranes In Sanjiang Plain

Sampling methods were taken to measure the habitat impacts of nesting and non-nesting area of Red-crowned Crane in Xingkai Lake, Sanhuan Lake and Honghe NR and Sanjiang NR in reserve from 2004 and 2005. ANOVA, Independent-samples T test and Correlation analysis statistics were used to determine the difference between nesting and non-nesting area of Red-crowned Crane. The results revealed that the reed density, height, area and water were main impacts on nesting sites selection of Red-crowned Crane with expected value and 95% confidence interval of 29[16,42]/m~2, 102 [90, 113] cm, 14998[6557,. 29592] m~2, 7.8 [6.5, 9.2]cm;Correlation analysis indicated that no significant correlation between nests structure index and vegetation under that. Weak and minus correlation were determined between the coverage of vegetation and nests structure index, which means that the composition of nests was not strictly selected, and the material used were not fundamental impacts of nesting selection. However, water deepness influence nests size greatly, and there are correlation between water deepness and vegetation and coverage. Therefore, we concluded that the selection of water deepness under water was the comprehensive results of many impacts. Nest height and water deepness was not related with each other, but correlated with height up water, which revealed that the nests height will not influenced by water level under nests and the dependence of reproduction of Red-crowned Crane on wetland.Some methods of Multivariate Statistical Analysis such as Principal components analysis, logistic regression etc. were used to determine the coverage including human disturbance limiting nesting site selection of Red-crowned Crane. The average distance between disturbance and nesting sites was 1499m with 95% confidence interval of [1059, 1939] m in Sangjian Plain Areas;while that is 1730m in Xingkai Lake NR with the average nests area of 2.35 km~2, the 95% confidence interval was [1.15, 4.17]km~2, Red-crowned crane's habitat quality and carrying capacity were deteriorated.R classify and Q classify were used in the eastern population of Red-crowned Crane reproducing in Sanjiang Plain Areas and the western population in Songnen Plain Areas Results indicated great difference between 2 populations. This difference was related to insulation and habitat loss. The habitat loss leaded to reproduction distribution area insulation which threatened this endangered species. Human disturbance as the nesting selecting limiting impacts threatened the species by decreasing carrying capacity.