Zhalong National Nature Reserve(Zhalong) is an important stopover for migratory birds.In recent decades,Zhalong has become the focus of researchers and public discussion in relation to irrigation.We studied relationships between birds and habitats at different water levels to guide development of more effective habitat management measures.We used line transects to survey bird numbers and distribution during April-May from 2005-2009 at Zhalong,and used cluster analysis and Chi-Square tests to analyze data.We recorded 139 bird species of 39 families and 13 orders during spring migration,including Anseriformes,Charadriiformes,Ciconiiformes,Columbiformes,Coraciiformes,Cuculiformes,Falconiformes,Galliformes,Gruiformes,Passeriformes,Piciformes,Podicipediformes,Strigiformes.Dominant vegetation and geographic region were the main influence factors of avian distribution.Different ecological groups preferred different water levels(p<0.01) and different habitat types(p<0.01).Grallatores,Natatores and Passeres were the main ecological groups in different wetland habitats,and reed marsh and lake are the main habitats for management.Grallatores preferred reed marsh and lake with water levels >30 cm and 5 15 cm.Natatores preferred lakes with deep water(>30 cm).Passeres preferred open forest and reed marsh with no surface water.Different avian ecological groups occupied specific habitats depending on water level and we recorded some overlaps in bird distribution.
White-naped crane(Grus vipio) is a globally threatened species. It is very important to analyze its nest site selection in circumstances where there are multiple disturbances, and also helpful to accumulate valuable information about this threatened species and supply scientific suggestions for conservation and management. We studied nest site selection and the effects of environmental variables on nesting habits of white-naped crane at Zhalong National Nature Reserve, Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang, China, during March-May of 2002-2008. White-naped crane responded and adapted to changes in the quality of the spatial environments of landscape and microhabitat under multiple environmental disturbances. Nest site selection included two scales and two choices, namely the choice of nest site habitat type within the macro-habitat scale and nest site micro-habitat selection within the micro-habitat scale. Nest sites were recorded only in reed marshes. The choice of nest site micro-habitat included three basic elements and six factors, namely incubation element(nest parameters factor, incubation temperature factor and incubation humidity factor), safety element(protection factor and concealment factor), and food element(water factor). Water, remnant reed clusters, and fire were major resource management challenges during the breeding period for the white-naped crane in this Reserve.
