Influence of Topography on the Summer Habitat Use by the Korean Water Deer Hydropotes inermis argyropus Heude, 1884 (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in a Low-mountainous Area

초록

Resource availability is a key factor affecting habitat use by animals across all habitat selection scales. from species distribution to individual behaviour. As vegetation structure and composition vary with different terrain features. topography is expected to influence the distribution of resources used by animals. We, therefore, tested topographical differences in resource availability and habitat use by animals. using the Korean water deer ilydnopotes inermis argyropus Heude, 1884 as our study subject. We surveyed deer field signs and built habitat use models using each of three topographic features ridge, slope and valley. The models were based on variables related to vegetation cover in the understory, mid-story and overstory and to food availability (forbs, shrubs and graminoids). The availability of both food and cover differed with topography; the habitat use pattern of the Korean water deer reflected this topographical variance in resource distribution. The faecal sign frequency was the highest on the ridges, where the deer prioritised sites with more understory cover over food. using them for resting. Most feeding activity occurred in the valley, where the deer selected sites containing abundant food. prioritising this over understory cover. On the slope, deer selected sites with more canopy cover. The results showed that topography had a significant influence on habitat selection by the deer, mediated by resource distribution.

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