Habitat Use Of Red-crowned Crane (Grus Japonensis) In Zhalong Wetland

The research on nest building, nest-site selection, territory area, feeding habitat selection and flocking habitat of Red-crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) during the different stages of the breeding period and flocking period was conducted from March to October 2007 by the field survery methods of radio tracking, fixed-spot observation, GPS positioning, plot sampling measurement, factor measurement ,etc, and the date proceeding methods of Independent sampling test, the principal componet analysis, logistic regression analysis and combining geographical information systems. The results are as follows:During pre-breeding period, Red-crowned Cranes prefer to select reed marsh (100%) in nest building site, The type of vegetation, water depth, and distance of reed cluster are mainly restrictive factors in nest-site habitat selection, which are relate to food factor, cover condition and water factor. The nest depth, water depth down nest, water depth round nest have significant difference in nesting selection; The vegetation density, water depth and human disturbance factor have significant difference and other factors have not in nest-site selection of the wild and semi-domestic Red-crowned Cranes, which are relate to approach human about semi-domestic Red-crowned Cranes.The territory area is 0.689±0.106km~2 about the wild Red-crowned Cranes, and is 0.343±0.240km~2 semi-domestic Red-crowned Cranes, Due to habitat fragmentation and habitat patch which reasons lead to reduce territory area.During all breeding period Red-crowned Cranes takes on specific and non-randomicity about feeding habitat. In pre-breeding period, water depth, reed cluster height and human disturbance were three essential factors in the principal componet analysis, which cumulative contributation rate gain 76.371%. The med-breeding period and pre-breeding period were not difference. During upper-breeding period, Its coefficients were plurality with vegetation density, vegetation coverage, water depth and distance to human disturbance in principal component analysis, which cumulative contributation rate gain 73.534%. that may be relate to body factor, growth and sheering natural enemies about the young Red-crowned Cranes. During flocking period, Red-crowned Cranes prefer to mainly select dry meadow and water depth (<7cm) in feeding habitat. Due to growing the young Red-crowned Cranes, The cover condition and human disturbance have been unimportant factors.The logistic regression model and index of habitat selection on Red-crowned Cranes were simulated: The habitat quality are declining with nest building and feeding hatitat, because serious harvest reed, high frequent human disturbance lead to degenerate habitat.