Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2016, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (3): 473-477.doi: 10.11934/j.issn.1673-4831.2016.03.021

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Population Dynamics and Habitat Selection of Overwintering Red-Crowned Cranes in Coastal Wetland of Yancheng, Jiangsu Province

LIU Da-wei, ZHANG Ya-lan, SUN Yong, LÜ Shi-cheng, CHENG Hai, MU Shao-jie, LU Chang-hu   

  1. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China/College of Biology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
  • Received:2015-11-12 Online:2016-05-25 Published:2016-05-27

Abstract:

Of the red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) wintering in the coastal wetland of Yancheng, Jiangsu Province population size was investigated during 2006-2014 with the synchronously-investigate method, distributions in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2014, surveyed, separately, and habitat use and selection in 2006 and 2011 analyzed. Population of the wintering red-crowned cranes in the wetland decreased from 2006 to 2010, and the trend leveled off and then turned upward a little bit from 2010 to 2014. In terms of spatial distribution, the wintering red-crowned cranes tended to gather towards the core zone of the Yancheng National Nature Reserve. The cranes preferred to hatch and feed in shoals with reeds and wormwoods rather than salt fields, farmlands and fish ponds. It was found that dynamics of the population and habitat selection of the cranes was closely related to a number of factors, like land use, human activities and changes in habitat. In the light of the findings of the research, recommendations are made for conservation of the overwintering ground of red-crowned cranes.

Key words: red-crowned crane, coastal wetland, Jiangsu Province, Yancheng, population size, population distribution, habitat use and selection

CLC Number: