Nesting Habitat Selection and Suitable Breeding Habitat of Blue-Crowned Laughingthrush: Implication on Its Habitat Conservation
Understanding the impact of human disturbance on the breeding habitat selection of endangered species is critical to improving their conservation. Blue-crowned Laughingthrush <i>Pterorhinus courtoisi</i> (Ménégaux, 1923) syn. <i>Garrulax courtoisi</i> (Passeriformes: Leiotric...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/6/1139 |
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| author | Xinjie Huang Shan Tian Zhengxiao Liu Jiliang Xu |
| author_facet | Xinjie Huang Shan Tian Zhengxiao Liu Jiliang Xu |
| author_sort | Xinjie Huang |
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| description | Understanding the impact of human disturbance on the breeding habitat selection of endangered species is critical to improving their conservation. Blue-crowned Laughingthrush <i>Pterorhinus courtoisi</i> (Ménégaux, 1923) syn. <i>Garrulax courtoisi</i> (Passeriformes: Leiotrichidae) is an endangered species in China. To explore the nesting habitat selection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush and its response to human disturbance during the breeding period, we conducted a field survey at its nesting sites in Wuyuan County and Dexing City, Jiangxi Province, from March to July 2021 and in June 2022. At the home range scale (200 m) the results of a principal component analysis (PCA) showed that this species had a clear preference for infrastructure construction, grassland, farmland and bare land. At the microhabitat scale (12.26 m), we compared the ecological parameters of a nest plot and control plot using a Kruskal–Wallis H test and found that there were significant differences in the vegetation coverage, crown breadth, shrub coverage, herb maximum height, herb average height and herb species number of the nesting area between the two groups. Ensemble species distribution models showed that the suitable habitat of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush covered an area of 108.67 km<sup>2</sup>. Distance to waterways, deciduous broadleaved forests and roads were the main factors impacting the habitat distribution of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush. Our study suggests that (1) it is highly important to improve the protection of breeding sites and suitable living areas close to the settlements and preserve a certain nesting habitat selection space for the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush during the breeding period; and (2) it is necessary to continue to monitor the potential suitable breeding habitat. This study provides a scientific basis for the protection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush by local forestry bureaus and conservation departments in the future. |
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| language | English |
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| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-84c81e0d524d43cdbc39dbf6fd0905e92023-11-18T10:26:54ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-05-01146113910.3390/f14061139Nesting Habitat Selection and Suitable Breeding Habitat of Blue-Crowned Laughingthrush: Implication on Its Habitat ConservationXinjie Huang0Shan Tian1Zhengxiao Liu2Jiliang Xu3School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaUnderstanding the impact of human disturbance on the breeding habitat selection of endangered species is critical to improving their conservation. Blue-crowned Laughingthrush <i>Pterorhinus courtoisi</i> (Ménégaux, 1923) syn. <i>Garrulax courtoisi</i> (Passeriformes: Leiotrichidae) is an endangered species in China. To explore the nesting habitat selection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush and its response to human disturbance during the breeding period, we conducted a field survey at its nesting sites in Wuyuan County and Dexing City, Jiangxi Province, from March to July 2021 and in June 2022. At the home range scale (200 m) the results of a principal component analysis (PCA) showed that this species had a clear preference for infrastructure construction, grassland, farmland and bare land. At the microhabitat scale (12.26 m), we compared the ecological parameters of a nest plot and control plot using a Kruskal–Wallis H test and found that there were significant differences in the vegetation coverage, crown breadth, shrub coverage, herb maximum height, herb average height and herb species number of the nesting area between the two groups. Ensemble species distribution models showed that the suitable habitat of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush covered an area of 108.67 km<sup>2</sup>. Distance to waterways, deciduous broadleaved forests and roads were the main factors impacting the habitat distribution of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush. Our study suggests that (1) it is highly important to improve the protection of breeding sites and suitable living areas close to the settlements and preserve a certain nesting habitat selection space for the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush during the breeding period; and (2) it is necessary to continue to monitor the potential suitable breeding habitat. This study provides a scientific basis for the protection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush by local forestry bureaus and conservation departments in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/6/1139Blue-crowned Laughingthrushhabitat assessmenthome range land usepopulation statuscritical factorsnesting habitat selection |
| spellingShingle | Xinjie Huang Shan Tian Zhengxiao Liu Jiliang Xu Nesting Habitat Selection and Suitable Breeding Habitat of Blue-Crowned Laughingthrush: Implication on Its Habitat Conservation Forests Blue-crowned Laughingthrush habitat assessment home range land use population status critical factors nesting habitat selection |
| title | Nesting Habitat Selection and Suitable Breeding Habitat of Blue-Crowned Laughingthrush: Implication on Its Habitat Conservation |
| title_full | Nesting Habitat Selection and Suitable Breeding Habitat of Blue-Crowned Laughingthrush: Implication on Its Habitat Conservation |
| title_fullStr | Nesting Habitat Selection and Suitable Breeding Habitat of Blue-Crowned Laughingthrush: Implication on Its Habitat Conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nesting Habitat Selection and Suitable Breeding Habitat of Blue-Crowned Laughingthrush: Implication on Its Habitat Conservation |
| title_short | Nesting Habitat Selection and Suitable Breeding Habitat of Blue-Crowned Laughingthrush: Implication on Its Habitat Conservation |
| title_sort | nesting habitat selection and suitable breeding habitat of blue crowned laughingthrush implication on its habitat conservation |
| topic | Blue-crowned Laughingthrush habitat assessment home range land use population status critical factors nesting habitat selection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/6/1139 |
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