Home Range Analysis of a Pair of Gorals (Naemorhedus caudatus ) Using GPS Collar According to the Elevation Change, in the North Gyeongbuk Province(Uljin) of Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to understand ecological characteristics of Korean goral such as home range, seasonal home range and habitat use and used for Korean goral restoration and conservation, through a pair of gorals in the north Gyeongbuk province of Korea. With data from GPS collars, we analyzed the behavioral characteristics of the endangered Korean gorals(n=2) in Uljin area from June 2013 to July 2014. As a result, their home range was 1.38±0.24㎢ in MCP 95%, 0.81±0.09㎢ in FK 95% and 0.15±0.16㎢ in FK 50% (t=8.118, p>0.05). Seasonal home range for MCP 95% was 0.74±0.31㎢ (winter) > 0.71±0.27㎢ (spring) > 0.61±0.06㎢ (autumn) > 0.27±0.04㎢ (summer) (F=2.135 p>0.05). It showed that home range in winter was the largest and that in summer was the smallest. Mean elevation of male for seasonal habitat use was 440.18±71.32m in summer and that of female was 727.25±99.98m in spring. The lowest altitude for male was 372.72±70.79 and female was 664.60±139.71m. It meant that there were seasonal change and thus annual and seasonal behavior characteristics for both sexes had different correlation according to elevation change. Although in this study the correlation with prey in habitat and the changes of habitat disturbance were not clearly investigated, We could understand goral home range and habitat use through research data.KEYWORDS : Home range, Seasonal, Elevation, Transmitter