Spatial Heterogeneity and Hierarchical Feeding Habitat Selection by Reindeer
Spatial Heterogeneity and Hierarchical Feeding Habitat Selection by Reindeer
复制标题
驯鹿的空间异质性和分层饲养栖息地选择
DOI：
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发表时间：
2006
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
L. Edenius
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
A. Mårell;L. Edenius
摘要驯鹿Rangifer tarandus生活在亚北极和高山环境中，资源具有时空异质性。在这项研究中，我们使用分层方法来测试瑞典北部亚北极山区植物生长季节(分为三个不同的时期)中驯鹿是否对空间异质性做出反应。使用无线电遥测(8头雌性驯鹿)和使用激光测距望远镜观察个体/群体(135次观察)来选择觅食栖息地，对瑞典北部的一群驯鹿进行了调查。驯鹿在春季选择觅食区域(以5公里网格大小评估)以及觅食栖息地(以0.5公里和1公里网格大小评估)，以应对高地形崎岖和栖息地异质性。驯鹿在夏季改变选择，以对抗地形崎岖和栖息地的异质性，同时更喜欢向南朝向的栖息地。在秋季，它们使用了更广泛的觅食栖息地。我们的结论是，驯鹿似乎采取了与一般觅食理论一致的分层策略，并能够对空间尺度上资源分布的季节性变化做出反应。此外，我们的结果支持空间异质性是大型食草动物栖息地选择的高水平和中等水平的一个重要因素的观点。保护大型、连续和未开发的景观是一项重要的管理目标，因为它们为驯鹿等使用大片领土的动物提供了广泛的必要栖息地。
Abstract Reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, live in subarctic and alpine environments with spatially and temporally heterogeneous resource distribution. In this study, we used a hierarchical approach to test whether reindeer responded to spatial heterogeneity during the plant growing season (divided into three distinct periods) in a mountainous subarctic environment in northern Sweden. A reindeer herd in northern Sweden was surveyed using radio-telemetry (8 female reindeer) and the selection of feeding habitats by observing individuals/groups (135 observations) using laser range-finding binoculars. Reindeer selected feeding areas (evaluated at 5-km grid size), as well as feeding habitats (evaluated at 0.5- and 1-km grid size) during spring, in response to high terrain ruggedness and habitat heterogeneity. Reindeer switched during summer to select against terrain ruggedness and habitat heterogeneity at the level of feeding habitats, while preferring southward facing habitats. During autumn, a broader spectrum of feeding habitats was used. We conclude that reindeer seem to adopt a hierarchical strategy in agreement with general foraging theory, and are capable of responding to seasonal changes in resource distribution occurring across spatial scales. Furthermore, our results support the idea that spatial heterogeneity is an important factor to large-sized herbivores at high and intermediate levels of habitat selection. Conservation of large continuous and undeveloped landscapes is an important management goal, as they provide a wide range of habitats necessary for animals such as reindeer that use large territories.