Assessing Habitat Suitability and Overlap for South China Sika Deer and Sympatric Ungulates
Identifying suitable habitats and quantifying the spatial overlap among sympatrically distributed ungulates is essential for safeguarding their long-term survival. We deployed infrared cameras to capture the distribution sites of sika deer (<i>Cervus nippon</i>), Reeve’s muntjac (<i&g...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Ecologies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/6/2/41 |
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| Summary: | Identifying suitable habitats and quantifying the spatial overlap among sympatrically distributed ungulates is essential for safeguarding their long-term survival. We deployed infrared cameras to capture the distribution sites of sika deer (<i>Cervus nippon</i>), Reeve’s muntjac (<i>Muntiacus reevesi</i>), and wild boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) in the Taohongling Sika Deer National Nature Reserve (TNNR) and measured nine environmental factors. Based on this, we applied MaxEnt modeling to assess the species’ habitat suitability and applied the Pianka index to evaluate niche overlap. The results showed that the sika deer occupied the smallest area of high-suitability habitat (53.85 km<sup>2</sup>, 11.13% of the study area), primarily concentrated in the core zone of the TNNR. Specifically, 37.86% of the sika deer’s high-suitability habitat overlapped with wild boar and 29.06% overlapped with Reeve’s muntjac. Pianka index analysis revealed substantial spatial niche overlap between sika deer and Reeve’s muntjac (0.487) but limited overlap between sika deer and wild boar (0.160). Our findings indicate substantial overlap between sika deer and sympatric species. To effectively protect the sika deer in the TNNR, we recommend increasing the number of monitoring sites, implementing habitat improvement measures (e.g., vegetation restoration and water supplementation stations), and establishing isolation corridors to enhance habitat connectivity. |
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| ISSN: | 2673-4133 |