Habitat selection and daily activity patterns of Herpestes urva in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve

Habitat selection and daily activity patterns, resulted from environment adaptation, are of great significance to the survival and reproduction of wild animals. From April 2017 to July 2019, our research team set up 41 infrared cameras in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve for monitoring the wildlife in the area. Based on the data acquired from Herpestes urva, the habitat selection and daily activity patterns were analyzed and discussed by using the occupancy model and kernel density estimation method. The results showed that:(1) The appearance of Herpestes urva was concentrated in the low and middle altitude area with the highest frequency in the evergreen deciduous broad-leaved forest, and the lowest frequency in the deciduous broad-leaved forest and theropencedrymion.(2) Among 8 factors influencing habitat selection, altitude, water source, theropencedrymion, and evergreen deciduous broad-leaved forest are of great significance. Herpestes urva prefers living in the evergreen deciduous broad-leaved forest(β=1.79±1.19 SE), and obviously repels the theropencedrymion(β=-1.93±1.30 SE). Altitude and water source distance significantly negatively correlate to occupancy rate.(3) The annual activity patterns show that the activity of Herpestes urva significantly increased in rainy season, and the activity frequency from April to September accounted for 83.50% of the annual activity.(4) The Herpestes urva is a complete diurnal species. Its daily activity time is relatively equally distributed with the lows at 9:00-10:00 and 13:00-14:00, and the peaks at 11:00-13:00. As the northern part of the Herpestes urva distribution area, the climate and vegetation types of Fanjingshan area are significantly different from other distribution areas. Herpestes urva living in this area are faced with different predators and certain degree of human interference, which incurs adaptive changes to their habitat selection and daily activity patterns.