Abstract: By using sampling plot method, an investigation was conducted on the population resource and habitat selection in summer of black knobby newt (Tylototriton asperrimus) in the Houhe National Nature Reserve and its surroundings areas in July-August 2010, and the Favorite index P and principal component analysis were used to study the micro-habitat selection in summer of  T. asperrimus.  T. asperrimus was mainly distributed in the Changleping Town and its nearby areas adjacent to the Reserve, 450-1400 m in altitude and about 550 km² in size. A total of 68 T. asperrimus individuals were collected in 18 of 103 investigated plots, suggesting that there existed a few T. asperrimus populations. Favorite index P analysis indicated that the favorite micro-habitats of T. asperrimus were the grasslands with litters, which were 51-100 m away from the stagnant pounds with a size of ≤20 m², 61%-80% coverage, 21-40 cm vegetation height, 61%-80% surface humidity, 24 ℃-27 ℃ surface temperature, ≤50 m away from farmlands, ≤100 m away from roads, and 101-500 m away from settlements. Principal component analysis indicated that surface temperature, vegetation, water body type, human disturbance, and food were the key factors contributing to the micro-habitat selection in summer by T. asperrimus.

Key words: Soil organic matter, Soil organic carbon