Spatial Behavior Research And Habitat Suitability Assessment Of Przewalski’s Horse

This study carried in Xinjiang Kalamaili mountain ungulate Nature Reserve (44°36’～ 46°00’N,88°30’～90°03’E) from 2013 to 2014. we conducted vegetation patches survey with the line transect method, observed the Przewalski’s horse’s behavior with focal sampling method, used GIS technology to analyze relationship between Przewalski’s horse, vegetation and water, from this, studied about spatial behavior of Przewalski’s horse, habitat and food. Aimed to explore the influence of food quality of the reintroduction area to Przewalski’s horse’s space activities, and evaluate the habitat suitability of Przewalski’s horse reintroduction area. The main results are listed below.(1) Vegetation survey indicates, shrubs, such as, Ceratoides latens (11.98), Anabasis spp. (6.59), Ephedra distachya (2.75) and Ephedra equisetina Bge. (3.45) having a high important value, and shrubs become most important primary product forces in Przewalski’s horse reintroduction area.(2) Using microhistological fecal analysis to identify Plant species, result shows that, Przewalski’s horse have a wide recipes, the main feeding type have 9 species, Przewalski’s horse’s preference each season on the same plant at different degree. In spring, summer, autumn, Stipa glareosa and Ceratoides latens are the most important food resources of Przewalski’s horse. But in autumn and winter food becomes scarce and poor quality, Ceratoides latens, Anabasis spp. become main food resources of Przewalski’s horse.(3) Investigation of vegetation patches, water and animal path in reintroduction area shows that, Przewalski’s horse’s activity expands around the water, and animal path leads to the feeding base. In the 83 vegetation patches, high utilization rate of animal path distributed in shrub patch, and in winter shrub patches become the most intensive areas of animal path. According to GIS analyze that, the high appear frequency area of Przewalski’s horse is rich in feeding plant and moderate distance from water.(4) Based on the data as the distribution sites of Przewalski’s horse and its slope, distance from water point, vegetation types, human activities, using evaluation model build habitat evaluation model, evaluate the habitat suitability of Przewalski’s horse. Result shows that, in the absence of human activities, spring, summer, autumn Przewalski’s horse’s potential habitat area was 2859.59km2,2508.23km2,2496.41km2. Under the influence of human activities, some potential suitable habitats being negatively affected, which leads to the drop of habitat suitability, finally, only 2052.35 km2,1717.94 km2 and 1742.14 km2 suitable area has left. According to the evaluation results, proposed suggestions to protect the habitat of Przewalski’s horse.