| From September 2011 to December 2012,a research was conducted on the daily activity pattern and the group behavior of red deer(Cervur elphus alashanicus)and blue sheep(Pseudois nayaur)by using infrared camera technology in Helan Mountains National Nature Reserve.First,daily activity rhythms and seasonal variations of the two species were studied.Second,the divergence in ecological niche between them was analyzed from a temporal perspective,revealing their divergence pattern in temporal ecological niche and mechanism of coexistence.Third,their aggregate habits,group size and the frequency and seasonal variations were analyzed.The results are as follows:1.Red deers' activity focus on dawn and dusk,the peak periods of its daily activity are:5:00-10:00 and 16:00-21:00.However,this changed seasonally(daily activity pattern coefficient of overlap:?=0.77).From the warm season to the cold season,peak moved towards noon(warm season:4:00-8:00,16:00-22:00;cold season:6:00-11:00,15:00-20:00).Daytime activity intensity in the cold season was greater than that in the warm season,but was lower at night time than that in the warm season.2.The daily activity patterns of blue sheep is in a mainly diurnal pattern,in which two peak periods with seasonal variations(8:00-10:00,13:00-15:00).From warm season to cold season(?=0.74),the peak periods of diurnal activity delayed(warm season:7:00-9:00,12:00-14:00;cold season:9:00-11:00,13:00-17:00),and nocturnal activities decreased.3.High level of similarities was found in the daily activity pattern of the two species(?=0.67),which was found higher in cold season(?=0.66)that in warm season(?=0.61).Besides,the cold season is higher than the warm season in the change.The characteristics of the two species' daily activity patterns are as follows:red deer showed crepuscular habits,and blue sheep showed a daytime activity pattern.The former has a lower daytime activity than that of the latter but it is stronger than the latter at night,and the activities of the two species are generally staggered at the peak hour.4.The average number of red deer size was 1.4 ± 1.04,and the largest group size was 11.There has existed significant differences of occurrence frequency between the six group types(x2=550.32,df=5,p<0.001),and the Solitary female group appeared at a highest frequency.The frequency of different group types has existed significant seasonal differences(x2=22.96,df=5,p<0.001).The frequency of occurrence of the group size existed differences(x2=4.94,df=1,p<0.05).In the cold and warm season,the number of red deer's group size is mainly 1-2,and the frequency of each season is about 90%.The average group size of different groups among seasons didn't differ significantly(x2=0.022,df=1,p=0.881).The group size of different groups among seasons didn't differ significantly(x2=2.018,df=1,p=0.155):In all seasons,the Ewe-lamb group,the Female group,the Male group,and the Female-male group are mainly composed of 2 sizes.5.The average number of blue sheep size was 1.78±1.49,and the largest group size was 20.There has existed significant differences of occurrence frequency between the six group types(x2=1108.87,df=5,p<0.001),and the Solitary male group appeared at a highest frequency.The frequency of different group types has existed significant seasonal differences(x2=188.67,df=5,p<0.001).The frequency of occurrence of the group size not significant differences(x2=2.29,df=1,p=0.131).In the cold and warm season,blue sheep are mainly independent activities,and the frequency of each season is about 60%.The average group size of different groups among seasons didn't differ significantly(x2=2.29,df=1,p=0.131).The group size of different groups among seasons didn't differ significantly(x2=0.428,df=1,p=0.513):In all seasons,the Ewe-lamb group,the Female group,the Male group,and the Female-male group are mainly composed of 2-3 sizes.This study is of significant importance because it provided necessary scientific evidence for further behavioral ecology research on red deer and blue sheep,as well as scientific evidence for the conservation and management of the two species.Moreover,the divergence pattern and coexistence mechanism were found out by studying their divergence in ecological niche from a temporal perspective. |
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