Gutian Mountain Area, Zhejiang Province, Rare Pheasants Habitat Fragmentation Effects

During July 1999-Dcember 2000, we have studied the degree of habitat fragments and the affection of fragmentation effects on Syrmaticus ellioti and Lophura nycthemera in Gutian Mountain area based on the field measure and GIS analysis. More details about the effects of area, isolation and disturbance and the influence of habitat fragmentation to the distribution pattern and relative population size of Syrmaticus ellioti and Lophura nycthemera were discussed in this paper.The results showed that the type of metapopulation was difference between Syrmaticus ellioti and Lophura nycthemera in Gutian Mountain area. The metapopulation of Syrmaticus ellioti was a mainland-island metapopulation and Lophura nycthemere was a satellite metapopulation. The core area of Gutian Mountain was the source of Syrmaticus ellioti and the exterior patch was its sink. For Lophura nycthemere, the source was the core of Gutian Mountain and patch 22, and the others were sinks.hi Gutian Mountain, about 59.6808km2(54.8%) forests, including 28.5429km2 broad-leaved forest, 12.3261km2 mixed forest and 18.8298km2 coniferous forest, could be used by Lophura nycthemere as its habitats. For Syrmaticus ellioti , the total habitat area was about 52.8115km2 (48.5%), and the areas of broad-leaved forest, mixed forest and coniferous forest were 28.5429km2, 13.5831km2 and 10.7035km2 separately.The degree of habitat fragmentation (F) in the Gutian Mountain was 0.9304, higher than hi Xiaobeilong (0.9284) and lower than in Shuiwu(0.9621) and Yancun(0.9893) of Kaihua, for Syrmaticus ellioti and 0.9154 for Lophura nycthemera.The regression equations could be got by regression analyses between patch size and relative population size including the estimated number *>f dropping feather, the density of dropping feather of Lophura nycthemera, the estimated number of dropping feather and the density of feather of Syrmaticus ellioti.The area of habitat fragmentation, specially the effective area, was essential for pheasants to keep their survival. Sometimes it would be also influenced by multiple factors.The regression equations between patch connectivity and relative population size could be formed as followsThe effects of the connectivity on pheasants were difference in species with different dispersal pattern.The regression equations between disturbance and relative population size could be also formed as followsThe disturbance was a very important factor affecting the population size and distribution pattern of pheasants, especially as competitor occurred in a same patch.Lophura nycthemera was a competitor of Syrmaticus ellioti in Gutian Mountain area. The competition could become stronger as development of fragment process. If this non-equilibrium competition is going on, Syrmaticus ellioti would go extinct.