Overwintering Strategy of Single Scaly-sided Merganser and Its Mixed Flocks in Ice-free Waters of Northern China
The scaly-sided merganser,one of the endangered species in China,usually overwinters in the Yangtze River Basin,especially in Jiangxi Province.However,there are also a few individuals who overwinter in ice-free waters of northern China.Studying the overwintering behavior of the Chinese merganser is of great significance for a comprehensive understanding of its population size and distribution,habitat selection,and protection.From December 2020 to February 2021,and from January to February 2022,the overwintering behavior of scaly-sided merganser and common mergansers mixed with this bird were observed using instantaneous scanning and fixed sampling methods in the unfrozen waters of the Taizi River in Benxi City,Liaoning Province.In addition,the data of overwintering behavior of scaly-sided merganser in Jiangxi province and other areas were collected for comparison with that of the scaly-sided merganser in Benxi City.The results showed that for two consecutive years,only one scaly-sided merganser overwintered in the area every year,and almost mixed with the common merganser that were closely related to them,showing strong specificity in habitat selection.Meanwhile,there were no differences in foraging,swimming,resting,playing,and combing feathers between them.On the contrary,there is a significant difference in the behavioral rhythm between scaly-sided merganser in Benxi City and in Jiangxi Province and other areas,suggesting that the overwintering behavior of single scaly-sided merganser may be influenced by temperature and their mixed population.
万方数据
维普
