Abstract: Habitats are ecological bases for wild animals. Bed-site is an important component of their habitats’ utilization, which is closely related to successful reproduction and population dynamics. To understand the characteristics of bed-site habitats for wild alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), we examined their selection and utilization of summer bed-site in Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve from July 1 to August 25 in 2021. A total of 52 bed-site and 157 non-used plots were recorded, and 16 habitat parameters including elevation and canopy were measured. The Vanderploeg-Scavia selection index was used to analyze the bed-site preferences and the differences of habitat parameters between used plots and non-used plots. The results showed that: (1) Alpine musk deer preferred to use habitats with medium slope (38.04°±0.76°), dense canopy (58.75%±2.66%), high tree (22.35±1.56 m), high stand density (16.85±0.96 trees per plot), and more fallen trees (0.38±0.08 trees per plot) as their bed-sites in summer; (2) The bed-sites were in upper position of northern slope with good concealment condition, close to water sources, less disturbed coniferous forests and mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, with Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia) and birch (Betula platyphylla) as the dominant species; (3) Tree abundance, tree canopy, fallen tree abundance, and slope were the main factors affecting the bed-site utilization of alpine musk deer in summer, with a 90% discriminant accuracy. Thus, the bed-sites’ characteristics of wild alpine musk deer in summer reflect their ecological demands of food resources, security, and temperature adaptability.

Key words: Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve, selection index, habitat characteristics, ecological demand.