Activity rhythm and home range of alpine weasel

Abstract

T he activity rhthms and home ranges of alpine weasels were studied by telemetric techniques in 1990 at YUER mountain near Haibei Research Station of Alpine Meadow Ecosystem.The main activities of alpine weasels were as follows: play, self-groom, sunbath, explore, fecd, and activities of alpine weasels were as follows: play, self-groom, sunbath, explore,dens, the daily activity peads of adult females were 11:00～17:00hrs, and of adult males were 11:00 hrs; the home range sizes of adult females were 7.21ha. and of adult males were 11.7ha. In July the young moved on the ground, the activity peaks of adult females were 8:00～9:00 hrs and 17:00 - 19:00hrs, the home range size of adult females was 82.72ha.The activity peaks of adult females changes into 8:00 - 9:00 hrs and 15:00 - 20:00hrs in August when the young dispersed. The factors influencing their activity and home range size were food abundance, prey activity, breeding behaviour and population density.