Study on the Suitable Habitat of Western Population of Brown-Eared Pheasent Crossoptilon mantchuricum Based on MaxEnt Model

Based on 126 known coordinates and 25 environmental factors of brown-eared pheasent Crossoptilon mantchuricum, and its potential suitable habitat and main influencing factors were analyzed in Huanglong Mountains by using MaxEnt model. Results show that the accuracy of Maxent model was excellent in predicting its potential habitat, with an AUC value of 0.988 and 0.984 for model training and testing. Mean temperature of driest quarter, precipitation of driest month, precipitation of coldest quarter, maximum temperature of warmest month and distance to road were the main environmental factors influencing the habitat of brown-eared pheasant with thresholds of -6.0--4.3 ℃, 4.90-5.75 mm, 15.3-16.8 mm, 23.0-26.3 ℃ and 0-54 m, respectively. The potential distribution areas of the western population are in Huanglong County, Yichuan County, Luochuan County and Hancheng City in Shaanxi Province. The suitable areas of each county or city are as follows: Huanglong County> Hancheng City> Yichuan County> Luochuan County, indicating that Huanglong County is the main living area of the pheasant, followed by Hancheng City, Yichuan County and Luochuan County. At present, two national nature reserves related to the pheasant have been established in Huanglong Mountain, Shaanxi Province. However, the suitable and medium suitable habitats of the pheasant exceeded the boundary of the nature reserve, suggesting that the government or forestry department needs to adjust the planning of the nature reserve or that surveillance should be strengthened in these areas beyond the boundaries.