Abstract: Study on the spatial distribution of a species' habitat and relationship between its habitat and environmental factors is of great significance for understanding the suitable habitat distribution of a target species and its habitat demand. The study on habitat spatial pattern of Moschus moschiferus is helpful to provide scientific basis for its habitat management and conservation. The potential habitat distribution and main influencing factors were analyzed by using the MaxEnt model in the Huanglong Mountains of Shaanxi Province. The results of the analyses show an excellent prediction performance, with an area under curve of >0.9 for model training and validation. The dominate factors identified and their thresholds were mean temperature of the driest quarter (<-3.6℃), distance to road (>4 100 m), slope degree (>71.5°), precipitation seasonality (81.5~85.0, optimum 83.5) and mean diurnal ranger (<11.6℃ optimum 9.5℃). The suitable habitats areas cover a total area of 677.75 km² and are mainly distributed in southeast of Yichuan, northeast of Huanglong and its junction with Luochuan, and northwest of Hancheng, while the medium suitable habitat areas cover a total area of 2 797.75 km² and are mainly distributed around all the suitable habitat areas and also in southwest of Yichuan, northwest and east of Huanglong, and northeast of Luochuan. The suitable habitat area of each county or city was Yichuan > Hancheng > Huanglong > Luochuan, while the moderate suitable habitat area was Huanglong > Yichuan > Luochuan > Hancheng. The protection and management of suitable and moderate suitable habitat areas should be strengthened. The people entering the mountains should be controlled and educated, so as to reduce the interference and killing of Moschus moschiferus. Meanwhile, it is suggested that the forestry authority should adjust the suitable habitat area of Moschus moschiferus in Yichuan into the planning of Huanglongshan National Nature Reserve of Shaanxi Province in the near future, and a new reserve should be established at the junction of Luochuan, Huanglong and Yichuan in the long term.

Key words: Moschus moschiferus, MaxEnt model, dominate factors, suitable habitat areas, Huanglong Mountains