Feeding Habitat And Nest-Site Selection Of White-Naped Cranes In Breeding Period In Zhalong Wetland

In Zhalong Nature Reserve, a research on habitat selection and nest-site habitatassessment of three different types of white-naped cranes (Grus vipio) during the courtshipperiod and the incubation period was conducted from March to may in 2005 to 2006 by thesurvey methods of fixed-spot observation, GPS positioning, plot sampling measurement, factormeasurement, and the date proceeding methods of significant test method, factor analysis, andprincipal components analysis. Finally nest-site habitat assessment was made by using the nest-site habitat fitting model. The results are as follows:During the courtship period, these three types of white-naped cranes tended to select reedmarsh (Phragmites australis mire)(73.33ï¼…) to feed. There were a lot of differences about thefeeding micro-habitat of them. The distance to burned area (1.65km) and to human disturbing(1.47km) of wild white-naped cranes was the longest of all the three. In this period, foodfactor played a crucial role during the course of feeding habitat-selection, the second wasdisturbing factor, the third was concealment factor.In incubation period, these three types of white-naped cranes still prefered to feed in reedmarsh. There were also a lot of differences about the feeding micro-habitat of them. Thedistance to burned area (0.98km). and to human disturbing (1.87km) of wild white-napedcranes was the longest of all the three too. In this period, identification factor played the mostimportant role during the course of feeding habitat-selection, the second was concealmentfactor, the third was food factor, and the fourth was water factor.During incubation period, all the white-naped cranes selected reed marsh for nesting(100ï¼…). Different white-naped cranes selected the different feeding micro-habitat. Theessential factor (including: water depth; distance to lakeside; burned area; distance to residualreeds cluster; residual reeds cluster area.) plays a crucial role during the course of nest-siteselection, the second factor is disturbing factor, the third is fostering factor, and the fourth isincubating factor.The result of nest-site habitat assessment on white-naped cranes was HSI₂₀₀₆=0.7302,this indicated that the quality of zhalong wetland was better in 2006, and it can satisfy the nest-site selection of all the white-naped cranes.