Seasonal feeding site selection of the Nonggang Babbler (<em>Stachyris nonggangensis</em>) in Nonggang, Guangxi, China

YANG Gang; LU Zhou; YU Chen-Xing; JIANG Ai-Wu; MENG Yuan-Jun; ZHOU Fang

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1141.2012.05433

Volume 33 Issue 5

Sep. 2012

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Article Navigation > Zoological Research > 2012 > 33(5): 433-438

YANG Gang, LU Zhou, YU Chen-Xing, JIANG Ai-Wu, MENG Yuan-Jun, ZHOU Fang. Seasonal feeding site selection of the Nonggang Babbler (Stachyris nonggangensis) in Nonggang, Guangxi, China. Zoological Research, 2012, 33(5): 433-438. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2012.05433

Citation:

YANG Gang, LU Zhou, YU Chen-Xing, JIANG Ai-Wu, MENG Yuan-Jun, ZHOU Fang. Seasonal feeding site selection of the Nonggang Babbler (Stachyris nonggangensis) in Nonggang, Guangxi, China. Zoological Research, 2012, 33(5): 433-438. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2012.05433

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Seasonal feeding site selection of the Nonggang Babbler (Stachyris nonggangensis) in Nonggang, Guangxi, China

doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1141.2012.05433

1.
College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China;
2.
School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
3.
Nonggang National Nature Reserve of Guangxi province, Longzhou 532400, China

Received Date: 2012-03-12
Rev Recd Date: 2012-07-11
Publish Date: 2012-10-10

Abstract

Abstract

We investigated the feeding sites of the Nonggang Babbler (Stachyris nonggangensis) during three time periods (July-September, 2010; November-December, 2010; January-February, 2011) in Nonggang National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China with the line transect method and sampling method. Principal component analysis of the data identified that the feeding sites in the rainy season were dominated by factors consisting of tree layer, the layer of fallen leaves and the herb layer; whereas the feeding sites in the dry season were dominated by factors dependant on terrain, herb layer and shrub layer. The results of a circular distribution analysis showed that the Nonggang Babbler preferred feeding sites with a gentle slope in both the rainy season and dry season. The tests of differences of the variables between used and control plots indicated that with low arbor coverage in the rainy season, whereas with a low slope position, high shrub and thick fallen leaves in the dry season. In comparison with the rainy season, the feeding sites in the dry season tended to be at lower altitude, to have a lower slope position, lower grass coverage, and to be covered with a larger and thicker bed of fallen leaves. A logistic regression analysis suggested that altitude, slope, and shatter cover were the most important factors influencing feeding site selection in the rainy season. Slope position, arbor cover, grass cover, and the thickness of the shatter cover were the most important factors influencing feeding site selection in the dry season.
- Nonggang Babbler (Stachyris nonggangensis),
- Feeding-site selection,
- Factor analysis,
- Logistic regression analysis

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References(19)

References

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