Suitability Assessment And Dynamic Monitoring Of Mongolian Gazelle (Procapra Gutturosa)'s Habitat In Xinbaerhu Right Banner, Inner Mongolia, China

Also named Yellow Cattle, Mongolian Gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) was listed as Conservation II of China in 1989, and as VU in China Species Red List(2004). Mongolian Gazelle once widely distributed in eastern steppe and western desertified steppe of China, which was about 500 000-600 000 at the beginning of 1950's. However, its population and distribution area constantly declined from then on. According to the national terrestrial wildlife resource investigation conducted by State Forestry Administration in 1995, the total amount rapidly dropped to 8000 at the end of 20th, which was only distributed in Inner Mongolia and Gansu Province etc. Degraded habitat was one factor influencing the population of Mongolian Gazelle; therefore, monitoring and analyzing the dynamics of Mongolian Gazelle's habitat can provide sound suggestions to protect the endangered species.In the paper, the vegetation type and vegetation coverage was extracted from two remote sensing images (1993 and 2002) by ERDAS IMAGINE 8.7 and the slope, aspect and water source was analyzed by Arc GIS 8.3. The suitability assessment model was established by the Model Maker (a module of ERDAS IMAGINE 8.7) to overlay the five data layers of before-mentioned habitat factors. Then the habitat dynamics was analyzed by the FRAGSTATS 3.3. The conclusions were as following:(1) In year of 1993, the most suitable habitat was 2.98 percent of total area, which distributed to the east and around the Dalai Lake; the less suitable habitat was 65.68 percent of total area. In 2002, the most suitable habitat was 2.82 percent of total area. However, it distributed more dispersedly and the area around Dalai Lake decreased. The less suitable habitat of 2002 was 61.97 percent of total area. In sum, the Mongolian Gazelle's habitat in Xinbaerhu Right Banner was generally fine. But the habitat quality was in medium condition.The annual average decline ratio of most suitable habitat in Xinbaerhu Right Banner was 0.65% which was equivalent to the less suitable habitat. The Mongolian Gazelle's habitat in Xinbaerhu Right Banner heavily lost, which limited the survival and reproduction the species.(2) The Mongolian Gazelle's habitat in Xinbaerhu Right Banner became fragmented. The suitable habitat patch was divided into smaller ones. The mean patch area of most suitable habitat had declined from 4.57hm~2 to 3.25hm~2. Contrarily, the unsuitable habitat gradually assembled to larger patch. The shape of unsuitable habitat changed little while the mean shape indices of most suitable and less suitable habitats decreased. The condition of Mongolian Gazelle's microhabitat was simplified. The mean contiguity index of three types of Mongolian Gazelle's habitat was descended. The connectedness of most suitable and less suitable habitats declined remarkably, which was mainly influenced by the road construction.Totally, the loss and fragmentation of Mongolian Gazelle's habitat in Xinbaerhu Right Banner was severe. It was strongly suggested to strengthen Mongolian Gazelle nature reserve management to effectively protect its habitat.