Population Status,Habitat Suitability Evaluation Of Wild Sika Deer(Cervus Nippon Hortulorum)in Southern Laoyeling,Heilongjiang Province

A study was conducted to analyze population size,habitat suitability in Southern Laoyeling of Heilongjiang Province,China,between 2018 and 2020.Based on field sample plot survey and camera trap monitoring,the main results obtained by geomatics techniques and multiple statistical analysis were revealed as followes:1 Distribution and number of sika deer(1)Track analyses showed that the population density of the sika deer is around 0.073±0.034 individual/km2,the population size are about 238±114 individual in here.(2)The study range comprise of Heilongjiang Muling Japnaese Yew National Reserve,Chaoyanggou Forest Farm of Dongning County,Sanchahe Forest Farm,Nuanquanhe Forest Farm,Yuanshan Forest Farm and Zhongguliu Forest Farm et al,with a total size 3268.72 km2 The both datasets of photos taken by camera trap and foot print locations were used to confirm distribution range of sika deer.The sika mainly distributed in four Forest Farm including Longzhuagou,Heping,Gonghe of Muling Japnaese Yew National Reserve,Sanchahe,Nuanquanhe,Yuanshan,Zhongguliu of Southern Laoyeling and Chaoyanggou Forest Farm of Dongning Forest Bureau.2 Habitat Suitability evaluation of sika deer(1)The results shown that six main factors,including road,elevation,farmland,forest type,snow depth and river,have significant affection on distribution of sika deer.Of them,both disturbance from road and forest farmland have negative relationship with sika deer occurrence.Besides,river have a alike effect on sika deer distribution.Moreover,both factors of elevation and forest type have also significant effects that shown a relationship as elevation rises,frequency of sika deer occurance decreases.Sika deer had a preference for terrain with an elevation above 500m.Otherwise,sika deer prefer coniferous-broadleaf forest.(2)An habitat model for sika deer classified 1.93%(63.39 km2)of the study area as high suitable habitat,3.40%(110.85 km2),15.72%(513.70 km2)and 78.95%(2580.78 km2)as medium,low and unsuitable habitat.These suitable habitat regions mainly distributed in Suiyang and Dongning.According to the problems and needs in the protection and restoration of wild sika deer population,this research carried out the evaluation of habitat suitability of sika deer population monitoring.The current situation of the sika deer population is analyzed through population monitoring,and the suitable environment for the sika deer's life is determined according to the habitat suitability evaluation and analysis,so as to provide a basis for the future protection and restoration of the sika deer population.