Habitat selection by Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) in winter in dawuling natural reserve

Abstract

Habitat selection by Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) in winter was studied in Dawuling Natural Reserve, Maoming City of Guangdong Province, China, from December 1999 through February 2001.The objective of this study was to determine the pangolin's habitat requirement in winter during poor environmental conditions. The dominant habitat of this Reserve was classified into 4 types, i.e. mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest (MCBF), evergreen broadleaf forest (EBF), coniferous forest (CF) and shrub forest (SF). The results showed that the ranking of vegetation types selected by pangolins in winter was MCBF > SF > EBF > CF. Pangolins preferred MCBF, and avoided CF. The environmental factors preferred by pangolins in winter were 30°-60° steep slopes, middle of slopes and bottom of slopes, sunny slopes, distance from human disturbance source exceeding 1 000 m with a minor disturbance degree, heavy (81 % - 100 %) undergrowth with good shelter conditions, moderate (760 - 1 500 m) elevation, and medium (31 % - 70 %) closure of arbor canopy. The surroundings factors avoided by pangolins were sharp slopes steeper than 60° or gentle slopes less than 30°, shady slopes, distance from human disturbance source within 1 000 m, dense (71 % - 100 %) or sparse (0 % - 30 %) closure of arbor canopy, medium or lower coverage (0 % - 50 %) of undergrowth, and the top of the slope. Pangolins preferred south-facing burrow entrances with thick cover, and avoided north-facing burrow entrances with bare or poor shelter. The thick layer of shrub and herbs growing under the tree canopy appeared to be especially important to pangolins during winter.