Abstract: A transect investigation was made from June to August 2005 to study the habitat characteristics favored by forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in summer in Dafengding National Natural Reserve in Liangshan Mountains of Sichuan Province, Southwest China. A total of 44 M. berezovskii-favored plots (20 m×20 m) and 209 non-favored plots (20 m×20 m) were sampled to compare 14 habitat variables. The variables were recorded as continuous factors such as elevation and shrub canopy and discrete variables such as slope position and water-source dispersion. The results showed that in summer, M. berezovskii preferred the habitats with lower proportions of arbor canopy (32.4%±1.9%), shrub canopy (27.1%±2.4%), and bamboo canopy (40.8%±3.0%), and higher proportion of rocky area (18.3%±1.6%) predominantly situated on eastern and southern slopes (81.8%). In comparison, the corresponding habitat variables for non-favored plots were 50.5%±1.0%, 39.7%±1.2%, 59.1%±1.0%, and 1.5%±0.4%, respectively. Principal components analysis (PCA) indicated the most important factor affecting M. berezovskii habitat selection was vegetation factor (including bamboo height, vegetation type, and shrub canopy). During summer, M. berezovskii predominantly selected conifer-broadleaf forest (11.4%) and conifer forest (88.6%) with certain shrub canopy (27.1%±2.4%) and bamboo canopy (1.76 m±0.08 m). In addition, topographic factor (including elevation and slope gradient), water-heat factor (including slope aspect and water-source dispersion), and habitat-ground factor were also important in determining the habitat characteristics favored by M. berezovskii in summer.

Key words: East China Sea, Microzooplankton, Ingestion pressure, Dilution method