关键词:
水鹿,
舔盐行为,
活动模式,
远程视频监控系统
Abstract:
Salt-licking is a unique behavior of many herbivorous mammals to replenish salt and minerals by licking salt soil or salt well. The salt-licking behavior is an important component of the activity budget of herbivorous mammals. An in-depth analysis of the behavior and activity budget of wild animals is conducive to understanding the characteristics of resource selection and prey aversion strategies. It can also provide a scientific basis for the formulation of policies for the conservation of rare wildlife populations and habitats. Using a remote video surveillance system, we monitored salt-licking activity of sambar deer in Wolong Nature Reserve. The results show that: (1) The visitation frequency of female sambar deer to natural salt well areas is higher than males, and frequency of adult is significantly higher than that of the sub-adult (fawn); (2) The salt-licking frequency of sambar deer is the highest in autumn and the lowest in winter among all deer. The salt-licking activity of sambar deer mainly takes place at nighttime. Sambar arrive at salt well areas earliest during autumn (18: 00), and latest during spring and summer (20: 00). (3) The frequency of salt-licking is different among different genders, females have the highest frequency of salt licking in autumn, while males have similarly high frequency of salt-licking in spring, summer and autumn. (4) Adults have the highest frequency of salt-licking in autumn, while the licking frequency of sub-adults (fawn) decreases from its peak in spring gradually to winter. The peak time of salt-licking among sub-adults (fawn) is earlier than that among adults. Salt well is an area of frequent sambar activity. Protection of special habitats such as salt wells should be considered in conservation planning and practices.
Key words:
Sambar deer,
Salt-licking behavior,
Activity pattern,
Remote video surveillance system