Patterns of habitat selection and use by Macaca mulatta tcheliensis in winter and early spring in temperate forest, Jiyuan, China

Abstract

The chosen habitat of any animal species comprises a range of environmental features that provide adequate resources for its continuous survival. Consequently, the criteria of habitat selection by animals, combines a wider spectrum of both environmental and extrinsic factors, with major prerequisites based on food resources, availability of shelter and suitable ethics for procreation. From this study, conducted in winter and early spring, at Mt. Wangwushan area, located on N 35°05′-35°15′, E 112°12′-112°22′, in Taihangshan Macaque National Nature Reserve (TMNNR), Jiyuan, Henan Province, we show by elaborative results that Macaca mulatta tcheliensis was specifically associated with the following habitat characteristics: 1) the average tree DBH (diameter at breast height) with over 15 cm; 2) the distance from human disturbance of less than 2000 m; 3) the distance to water with less than 1000 m; 4) the gradient of mountain slope of 15°~40°; 5) which was markedly tarrying with the altitude ranges from 1000 m to 1300 m; and 6) where the canopy coverage was less than 60%. In addition, during this study, rhesus macaque mostly inhabited the sunny slopes of mountains than the shady areas. Results of the first five principal components analysis (PCA) accounted for the total variance of 68.88%, while the other factors showed insignificant effects on habitat selection by rhesus macaque in the temperate forest. In conclusion, these new results increase our understanding on the living status, under the harshest condition, in winter and early spring of Macaca mulatta tcheliensis, the sub-species of rhesus macaques as may be linked to its habitat selection and utilization, in the temperate forest.