Seasonal habitat use of Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) in a subtropical forest

Abstract

Detailed understanding of habitat associations of endangered species is essential for the development of sound conservation and habitat management plans. We assessed seasonal habitat requirement of a poorly known forest ungulate, Chinese goral Naemorhedus griseus, in Tangjiahe National Reserve, western China from December 2005 to November 2006. Transect surveys were conducted across the elevational range of the mountains to locate the droppings and traces left by the gorals as the indicators of their habitat use. The results showed that the species appeared at the sites with lower slope position and closer to road in winter than those in the two other seasons. At the same time, in summer, Chinese gorals were found at the stands with steep slope degree compared to in spring.