Diurnal Activities and Time Budget of Procapra gutturosa around Dalai Lake in Inner Mongolia
Author of the article:LIU Bing-wan, QIAN Zhi-qiang
Author's Workplace：(College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)
Key Words： Procapra gutturosa; the scan sampling method; time budget; activity rhythm; Dalai Lake
Abstract：This paper presents the results on the time budgets of Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa). From November 2007 to September 2008, we conducted the research on the time budget of the gazelle which totaled 80 individual-time with 4220 min in spring (the middle of May to the beginning of June), 65 individual-time with 2480 min in Summer (the beginning of July to the beginning of August), 44 individual-time with 2270 min in autumn (September) and 215 individual-time with 10 415 min in winter (November, December and the beginning of March to the end of April) using the scan sampling method around Dalai Lake area of Inner Mongolia. The results of analysis show that the activity of Mongolian gazelle varies among the different seasons. The activities of the Mongolian gazelle are divided into 6 categories in this study: feeding, standing, moving, lying, breeding and other activities. The time budget of feeding showed two peaks: at dawn and at dusk and one or two minor feeding peaks around noon. By analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA ) on the time budgets at different seasons, we may take note of the following findings. The significant difference of the activity rhythm of Mongolian gazelle on feeding, standing, moving, lying, breeding, and other behaviors has been found among the four seasons. From an analysis of the time budgets of behaviors, the activity pattern of the gazelle shows elasticity as well as great adaptability.