Habitat selection of Guizhou golden monkey (Phinopithecus roxellanae brelichi) in Fanjing Mountain Biosphere Reserve, China

Abstract

Guizhou golden monkey (Phinopithecus roxellanae brelichi) is a peculiar, rare and endangered species. It is distributed most narrowly and requires a rigorous habitat. In this study the habitats of Guizhou Golden Monkey were divided into three habitats: most suitable habitats, suitable habitats and marginally suitable habitats. The characteristics of the vegetation community, environmental factors and extreme environmental factors in the three habitats were systematically analyzed. The seasonal activity rule, activity area and the food characteristic of Guizhou golden monkey were also study at the same time. The results indicate that the evergreen and deciduous broadleaf mixed forest is the optimal living vegetation community for Guizhou golden Monkey, and the suitable annual temperature is 8–15 °C, the extremely lowest temperature is −2.5 °C, the extremely highest temperature is 25 °C, and the optimal living altitude is 1500–1700 m. In the same area, the higher the vegetation diversity, the more suitable it is for the life of Guizhou golden monkey. Temperature and food are the main habitat factors in determining the activity scope of the guizhou golden monkey community. The Altitude, temperature and the characteristics of the vegetation community are the main limiting factors for habitat selection.

Keywords

Habitat / Phinopithecus roxellanae brelichi / Community / Environmental factor / Fanjing Mountain Biosphere Reserve