Home Range and Habitat Selection of Blue-Eared Pheasants <i>Crossoptilon auritum</i> During Breeding Season in Mountains of Southwest China
The blue-eared pheasant (<i>Crossoptilon auritum</i>), a Near Threatened (NT) species endemic to China, is primarily distributed across the northeastern region of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. To bridge the fine-scale spatiotemporal gap in blue-eared pheasant behavioral ecology, this stud...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Jinglin Peng Xiaotong Shang Fan Fan Yong Zheng Lianjun Zhao Sheng Li Yang Liu Li Zhang |
| author_facet | Jinglin Peng Xiaotong Shang Fan Fan Yong Zheng Lianjun Zhao Sheng Li Yang Liu Li Zhang |
| author_sort | Jinglin Peng |
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| description | The blue-eared pheasant (<i>Crossoptilon auritum</i>), a Near Threatened (NT) species endemic to China, is primarily distributed across the northeastern region of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. To bridge the fine-scale spatiotemporal gap in blue-eared pheasant behavioral ecology, this study combines satellite telemetry, movement modeling, and field-based habitat assessments (vegetation, topography, human disturbance). This multidisciplinary approach reveals detailed patterns of their behavior throughout the breeding season. Using satellite-tracking data from six individuals (five males tracked at 4 h intervals; one female tracked hourly) in Wanglang National Nature Reserve (WLNNR), Sichuan Province during breeding seasons 2018–2019, we quantified their home ranges via Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and examined the female movement patterns using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). The results indicated male core (50% KDE: 21.93 ± 16.54 ha) and total (95% KDE: 158.30 ± 109.30 ha) home ranges, with spatial overlap among individuals but no significant temporal variation in home range size. Habitat selection analysis indicated that the blue-eared pheasants favored shrub-dominated areas at higher elevations (steep southeast-facing slopes), regions distant from human disturbance, and with abundant animal trails. We found that their movement patterns differed between sexes: the males exhibited higher daytime activity yet slower movement speeds, while the female remained predominantly near nests, making brief excursions before returning promptly. These results enhance our understanding of the movement ecology of blue-eared pheasants by revealing fine-scale breeding-season behaviors and habitat preferences through satellite-tracking. Such detailed insights provide an essential foundation for developing targeted conservation strategies, particularly regarding effective habitat management and zoning of human activities within the species’ range. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-45f2babcb91745d787c404cad8ab9df22025-08-20T03:55:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011514201510.3390/ani15142015Home Range and Habitat Selection of Blue-Eared Pheasants <i>Crossoptilon auritum</i> During Breeding Season in Mountains of Southwest ChinaJinglin Peng0Xiaotong Shang1Fan Fan2Yong Zheng3Lianjun Zhao4Sheng Li5Yang Liu6Li Zhang7MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaMOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences and Institute of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaWanglang National Nature Reserve, Mianyang 622563, ChinaWanglang National Nature Reserve, Mianyang 622563, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences and Institute of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaSchool of Ecology and State Key Laboratory of Biological Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, ChinaMOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaThe blue-eared pheasant (<i>Crossoptilon auritum</i>), a Near Threatened (NT) species endemic to China, is primarily distributed across the northeastern region of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. To bridge the fine-scale spatiotemporal gap in blue-eared pheasant behavioral ecology, this study combines satellite telemetry, movement modeling, and field-based habitat assessments (vegetation, topography, human disturbance). This multidisciplinary approach reveals detailed patterns of their behavior throughout the breeding season. Using satellite-tracking data from six individuals (five males tracked at 4 h intervals; one female tracked hourly) in Wanglang National Nature Reserve (WLNNR), Sichuan Province during breeding seasons 2018–2019, we quantified their home ranges via Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and examined the female movement patterns using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). The results indicated male core (50% KDE: 21.93 ± 16.54 ha) and total (95% KDE: 158.30 ± 109.30 ha) home ranges, with spatial overlap among individuals but no significant temporal variation in home range size. Habitat selection analysis indicated that the blue-eared pheasants favored shrub-dominated areas at higher elevations (steep southeast-facing slopes), regions distant from human disturbance, and with abundant animal trails. We found that their movement patterns differed between sexes: the males exhibited higher daytime activity yet slower movement speeds, while the female remained predominantly near nests, making brief excursions before returning promptly. These results enhance our understanding of the movement ecology of blue-eared pheasants by revealing fine-scale breeding-season behaviors and habitat preferences through satellite-tracking. Such detailed insights provide an essential foundation for developing targeted conservation strategies, particularly regarding effective habitat management and zoning of human activities within the species’ range.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2015blue-eared pheasantsatellite trackingKernel Density EstimationHidden Markov Modelactivity rhythmmovement ecology |
| spellingShingle | Jinglin Peng Xiaotong Shang Fan Fan Yong Zheng Lianjun Zhao Sheng Li Yang Liu Li Zhang Home Range and Habitat Selection of Blue-Eared Pheasants <i>Crossoptilon auritum</i> During Breeding Season in Mountains of Southwest China Animals blue-eared pheasant satellite tracking Kernel Density Estimation Hidden Markov Model activity rhythm movement ecology |
| title | Home Range and Habitat Selection of Blue-Eared Pheasants <i>Crossoptilon auritum</i> During Breeding Season in Mountains of Southwest China |
| title_full | Home Range and Habitat Selection of Blue-Eared Pheasants <i>Crossoptilon auritum</i> During Breeding Season in Mountains of Southwest China |
| title_fullStr | Home Range and Habitat Selection of Blue-Eared Pheasants <i>Crossoptilon auritum</i> During Breeding Season in Mountains of Southwest China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Home Range and Habitat Selection of Blue-Eared Pheasants <i>Crossoptilon auritum</i> During Breeding Season in Mountains of Southwest China |
| title_short | Home Range and Habitat Selection of Blue-Eared Pheasants <i>Crossoptilon auritum</i> During Breeding Season in Mountains of Southwest China |
| title_sort | home range and habitat selection of blue eared pheasants i crossoptilon auritum i during breeding season in mountains of southwest china |
| topic | blue-eared pheasant satellite tracking Kernel Density Estimation Hidden Markov Model activity rhythm movement ecology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2015 |
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