云南西双版纳尚勇保护区亚洲象对栖息地的选择

以西双版纳国家级自然保护区尚勇子保护区内的亚洲象种群为研究对象, 利用村寨调查、样线调查和3S(GIS、GPS、RS) 技术对该地区野生亚洲象的栖息地状况和亚洲象对栖息地选择利用进行了初步的研究。结果表明亚洲象喜欢海拔1 000 m以下的区域, 坡度小于10°的区域, 坡位为平坦的沟谷和山坡的下部, 坡向为南、北两个方向。偏好的植被类型有竹阔混交林、灌丛和高山草甸。研究还发现尚勇保护区及周边区域亚洲象栖息地的丧失和日益增加的非法盗猎活动已经严重威胁到该地区野生亚洲象种群的生存。

Habitat Selection by Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China

The habitat selection of Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus) was studied from August 2003 to August 2004 in Shangyong protected area in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China. Village visiting and transect were used to survey the habitat utilization of Asian elephant. The transects were made about 2 km each through the elephant habitat and data were collected on vegetation type, vegetation aboundance, geography parameters (aspect, slope, location etc. ), elevation, population status,frequency of elephant sightings, and other wildlife sighting were recorded. A total of 109 elephant trace points were tracked. 3S(GIS, GPS, RS) technology was used to analyze the data obtained from field surveys and satellite images. Vanderploge andScavia′s selectivity index was used to assess Asian elephant′s selection for the different habitat parameters. The results indicated that Asian elephant preferred to select habitat with an altitude less than 1 000 meters , a slope less than 10°, and locations in valleies, with a north and south orientation. The selected habitats were bamboo-evergreen broadleaf mixed forest , shrub and grassland. Asian elephants preferred dense coverage shrub layer and an arbor layer with lower height, dense canopy and small trunk radius. It was also found that the loss of suitable habitat and the illegal hunting for ivory were two major threats the survival of Asian elephants in Shangyong protected area. How to prevent the habitat loss and fragmentation , and how to efficiently control the poaching will be key tasks to the elephant conservation efforts in Xishuangbanna.