Abstract: In 2007, an investigation was made on the seasonal variations of the bedding site characteristics of Goitred gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) in Kalamaili Mountain Nature Reserve. Mann-Whitney U test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z test, Kruskal-Wallis test, one way ANOVA and principal component (PCA) analysis were used for the multivariate analysis of variables. In the bedding site, the vegetation height, Ceratoides latens density, shrub coverage, and ground biomass in spring, the vegetation height and ground biomass per unit area in summer, and the vegetation height, shrub coverage, and species richness in autumn were significantly higher than those in the random plots. Principal component analysis showed that the key environment factors determining the selection of bedding site by G. subgutturosa in spring, autumn, and winter were food, concealment, and temperature. Analysis of one way ANOVA showed that there existed significant differences in the bedding site characteristics among the three seasons, especially between spring and summer, and between spring and autumn. The variations of food resources and environment temperature were the major factors inducing the seasonal variations of the bedding site characteristics, and the bedding site selection of G. subgutturosa had some relationships with its own thermoregulation.

Key words: Delphastus catalinae, Serangium japonicum, Interactive system, Interspecies competition