Microhabitat Selection Of A Critically Endangered Mangshan Pit Viper(Protobothrops Mangshanensis)in Different Time Scales

Microhabitat is a micro ecological environment where creatures live on.Microhabitat selection of wildlife will influence to population and geographical distribution directly.As China's critically endangered endemic species,to study microhabitat selection of the Mangshan Pit Viper(Protobothrops mangshanensis)on different time scales will conducive to the study of endangered mechanisms and to carry out local protection.During the period from March to October 2015,we are used the methods of belt transect,interview method and infrared camera trapping method to supplement the data of snake's geographic distribution.In April,July and October 2015,we measured 19 microhabitat factors on the spring,summer and autumn respectively at used quadrat and unused quadrats by quadrat method.In April 2016,we measured spring complement sample.Finally,data were analyzed by the methods of data handling such as nonparametric test,chi-square test and stepwise discriminant analysis.The results are as follows:1.Characteristics of microhabitat in different seasons(1)The microhabitat characteristics of spring as follows:Coenotype of woods,Slope location of downslope,Tree height average from 6 meter to 12 meter,Tree size average under 15 centimeter,Shrub density under 20 plant per square meter,Shrub height under 1 meter or for 1 meter to 2 meter.Herb cover under 30%,Distance to road is nearer.Other ecological factors have no statistical significance.(2)The microhabitat characteristics of summer as follows:coenotype of woods,slope location of downslope,slope aspect of sunny slope,altitude from 600 meter to 1200 meter,canopy cover is greater than70%,shrub density under 20 plant per square meter,shrub height for 1 meter to 2 meter,herb cover under 30%,deciduous coverage is greater than80%,distance to road is nearer.Other ecological factors have no statistical significance.(3)The microhabitat characteristics of autumn as follows:coenotype of woods,slope aspect of sunny slope,slope location of downslope,altitude from 600 meter to 1200 meter,compared to spring and summer,altitude is greater than 1200 meter,the rates of altitude above 1200 meter increased,distance to water is nearer,tree density above 20 plants,tree height average from 6 meter to 12 meter,tree size average under 15 centimeter,hidden level under 35%,canopy cover is greater than 70%,shrub density under 20 plant per square meter,shrub height from 1 meter to 2 meter,herb cover under 30%,herb height between 15 centimeter to 30 centimeter,distance to road is nearer.Other ecological factors have no statistical significance.2.Differences of microhabitat selection in three seasonsMangshan Pit Viper tend to choose slower slope,smaller herbaceous coverage,shorter Herb height during spring,tend to choose larger shrub density,smaller herb coverage during summer,tend to choose smaller hidden leve,larger Shrub height during autumn.Slower slope and smaller herbaceous coverage are requirement for physical agility storage.Smaller herb coverage is the demand of temperature factor.Lower shrub height,Lower herb height,smaller hidden level and larger shrub density is beneficial to hidden.Larger shrub height is the demand of food factor.3.Comparison between different seasons in microhabitat selectionThe microhabitat selection of Mangshan Pit Viper effected by temperature factors,physical factors,hidden factors in spring;Effected by temperature factors,hidden factors in summer;Effected by food factors,hidden factors in autumn.This reflects the need of Mangshan Pit Viper save physical efforts in spring,mating and breeding in summer,storage energy for hibernation in autumn.This characteristics reflect the characteristics of Mangshan Pit Viper's life history in different seasons.There are a certain degree of overlap and separation in used quadrat of 3 seasons,of which overlap most in autumn and spring,autumn and summer secondly,less overlap in spring and summer.It is associated with the change of temperature because the climate is more similar both spring and autumn,and more obviously hot in summer.Canopy cover,herb cover,herb height is the ecological factors in turn can reflect the microhabitat change between different seasons most.The differences of these microhabitat factors are consistent with the seasonal variation of vegetation.4.Protection advices(1)Set the speed limit symbol to remind drivering slow down in the areas of the highway where Mangshan Pit Viper distributed.(2)By set the specialized tourist vehicles or increasing admission fee at the motor car passed into nature reserve to reduce the traffic flow.(3)Increasing the density of shrub in the distribution area of Mangshan Pit Viper.(4)Strictly forbid the behavior of cutting bamboo shoots in reserves.(5)Carry out reconstruction cement barrier of the road side as soon as possible.(6)Strengthening the force of fight against the behavior of poaching Mangshan Pit Viper.(7)Banning to throw toxic substances in nature reserve such as herbicides.