Abstract: In the context of strong human disturbance, various environmental factors directly or indirectly affect the habitat quality and distribution of wildlife. Red deer (Cervus canadensis) is a large herbivorous animal in temperate forests. It maintains ecological balance and biodiversity by feeding on plants and providing food resources for top predators. Therefore, conducting habitat suitability assessments and corridor planning is crucial for the restoration and protection of this species. In this study, we used the line transect survey method and footprint tracking to collect occurrence location information of red deer at the Huangnihe forest area in Jilin Province. Environmental variables at six resolution scales (30, 60, 120, 240, 480, 960 m) were resampled in ArcGIS 10.4. The optimal resolution scale of the study area was selected to predict the suitable habitat of red deer by using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model. Then, potential ecological corridors were constructed by using the minimum cost path method. The results showed that: (1) based on the contribution rate of environmental factors and the rationality of response curve, the 60 m resolution scale was ultimately selected for modeling and analysis, with an AUC value of 0.931±0.016, indicating the reliability of the model. (2) Roads, vegetation types, and terrain were the main environmental factors affecting red deer. The closer to the road, the farther away from farmland, the 400 m away from coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, and the altitude of 380-480 m, the highest probability of red deer appearing. (3) The most suitable habitat area for red deer was 136.81 km², accounting for only 6.79% of the total area, and the habitat was fragmented. (4) Five core habitat patches were established based on the distribution of suitable habitats, and four corridors were constructed. By reasonably planning the construction of the corridors according to the actual situation of the red deer habitats in Huangnihe of Jilin Province, this study promoted the connectivity and integrity of the red deer habitats.

Key words: red deer, MaxEnt, optimal resolution, habitat suitability, corridor