Factors Affecting Movement of Spring Dispersal of Elliot's Pheasants

During periods of October 2002 to June 2003 and November 2003 to June 2004, the study of the factors affecting dispersal of Elliots pheasants was carried out in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, Zhejiang Province of China, using methods of radiotelemetry, GPS, SAW modelling and sampling. The results showed that both males and females dispersed in spring, and their dispersal distance varied from 1.5 to 2.1 km with a duration of 16 to 23 days. Movement routes of Elliots pheasant were selective when dispersal occurred in spring. The variables of herb coverage, number of tree species, number of shrub species, canopy height of shrubs, abundance of shrubs and abundance of herbs resulted in highly significant differences between used and unused patches (P<0.01). Five additional variables, including distance to water, slope, number of trees, canopy height of trees and number of herb species also resulted in significant differences between used and unused patches (P<0.05). The result of Conditional Logistic Regression analysis suggested that the major factors affecting dispersal of Elliots pheasant in the spring were number of shrub species, canopy height of shrubs, slope and abundance of shrubs.