RETRACTED ARTICLE: Pattern of resting site of sables in Daxing’an Mountains

Abstract

The use of resting sites of sables (Martes zibellina) was studied by radio-tracking techniques in Daxing’an Mountains in 1994–1996. The results showed that the males used 191 different resting sites, while females used 159 sites averagely in a year. The number of used resting sites varied among seasons, and the reuse index calculated for each individual in each season varied from 0.07 to 0.94. The reuse index was highest for males in autumn-winter. In spring the number of resting sites of females was significantly less than that of males. In summer, both sexes used more resting sites. In winter, the reuse index was negative related to snow depth. The average distance between consecutively used resting sites differed significantly between males (716 m, SD=479,n=1 081) and females (455 m, SD=298,t=8.59,P<0.001). For males the average distance was the shortest in February–March and the longest in August–September, whereas the shortest distance was recorded in April–May for females. In spring and autumn-winter, most individuals used resting sites that randomly distribute in their home ranges. The standardized Morisita coefficient of resting site dispersion in the home range varied from 0.06 to 0.50. In summer, the standardized Morisita coefficient of resting site dispersion in the home range varied from 0.38 to 0.51. Furthermore, in summer, 72% of all resting sites used by sables were located near the edges of their home ranges.