Autumn Habitat Selection by Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) in Beita Mountain, Xinjiang, China
新疆北塔山雪豹对秋季栖息地的选择

Habitat selection of Snow Leopard (Unica unica) in Beita Mountain of the Alt ay Mountain system in northeast Xinjiang was conducted from September to October 2004. Six habitat features of 59 sites used by Snow Leopard and 30 random plot s were measured by locating 15 transects surveys in the study area. Vanderploge and Scavia's selectivity index was used to assess Snow Leopard's selection fo r the different habitat parameters. Principal Component Analysis was used as th e primary factor. The results indicated that Snow Leopard preferred the altitud e between 2 000-2 200 m and avoided 2 600-3 000 m; selected cliff base, ridgelin e and avoided hillside and valley bottom; utilized the shrub and rejected the fo rest; selected the non-grazing area and avoided the slightly broken region; pre ferred north orientation and rejected the south orientation. The results show t hat grazing status, vegetation type, topography and the ruggedness are the prima ry factors for the habitat selection of Snow Leopard.