The Research Of Landscape Characteristics And Mongolian Gazelle Habitat Suitability Assessment In Xinbaerhu

Mongolian Gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) was listed VU in China Species Red List(2004).Mongolian Gazelle are mainly distributed in eastern of Inner Mongolia, and most of them concentrate in Mongolian and Chinese boundary. Due to the influence of human disturbance and environmental change, quantity of Mongolian Gazelle and area of suitable habitat become less and less. Habitat fragmentation trend are also obvious, therefore the preservation and restoration of habitat is of great significance.This study aims to analyze the landscape pattern of Mongolian Gazelle’s habitat in Xinbaerhu. This paper taking the 3S Technology, combined with remote sensing images and basic geographic information, completed the suitability evaluation of the Mongolian Gazelle by using ENVI5.1 and ArcGIS software. Then, through the weight and ranking of each factor obtained by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and analytic hierarchy process(AHP) method, this paper established the evaluation model, accomplished the comprehensive evaluation of the existing Mongolian Gazelle habitat. Five factors were selected which have a major impact on the Mongolian Gazelle’s survival, including the land use types (vegetation type), the vegetation coverage, the water, the settlements and road. The landscape pattern and the characteristics of the landscape pattern index at the landscape level were analyzed by the FRAGSTATS 3.3. The conclusions were as the following:(1)From land use types, vegetation landscape area ratio is 87.37%, dominated the whole structure、function and dynamic of landscape. However the area of suitable habitat for feeding is such small. Overall landscape connectivity is poor, the structure of landscape composition is complex and landscape fragmentation is serious. (2)From the multi-factor comprehensive evaluation of habitat suitability of the Mongolian Gazelle perspective, the area of unsuitable habitat accounted for 83.94%, dominated the habitat suitability landscape. Three levels of suitable habitat landscape area is too small, especially the most suitable habitat and suitable habitat landscape connectivity is extremely poor, landscape fragmentation is very serious. (3)But on the whole, no matter from land use types or the multi-factor comprehensive evaluation of habitat suitability perspective, analysed characteristics of landscape pattern. The vegetation landscape types which are suitable for distribution and survival of Mongolian Gazelle area are too small. And fragmentation and heterogeneity of the study area existing very serious trend. Due to human disturbance including grazing and roadway, the area of the most suitable habitat and suitable habitat continue to be segmented, become smaller and smaller in addition lack of large-scale landscape patches, increasing habitat fragmentation. So these led to a negative effect on Mongolian Gazelle in migrating and foraging. Due to habitat of Mongolian Gazelle were severely damaged, the population of Mongolian Gazelle is worrying. So that to propose the suggestions for conserving Mongolian Gazelle’s population and habitats is already urgent.