Plant characteristics near the den entrance and active area
Species richness near the den entrance (16.76 ± 3.59 species) was
significantly lower than that in the active area
(31.92 ± 3.43 species) across all
dens (F1, 129 = 2.73, P < 0.05).
Species richness in active areas near dens in flat areas was
significantly higher than that on sloping terrain (F1,
129 = 0.85, P < 0.05). There was no significant
difference in species richness near the entrance of the dens among the
three terrains (F2, 128 = 4.41, P = 0.061) (Fig.
9).
Species height in the quadrat near the den entrance (20.28 ± 4.19 cm)
was significantly lower than that in the active area quadrat
(28.30 ± 3.52 cm)
(F1, 129 = 2.92, P < 0.05). Species
height near the entrance on shady slopes (26.96 ± 4.67 cm) was
significantly higher than that near the entrance on sunny slopes (11.00
± 2.12 cm) and in flat areas (19.71 ± 3.74 cm) (F2, 129= 3.83, P < 0.05) (Fig. 9).
Across all dens, aboveground biomass in the activity area
(222.72 ± 39.51 g) was
significantly higher than that near the den entrance
(150.77
± 30.62 g) (F1, 129 = 2.78, P < 0.05).
The aboveground biomass near the den entrance on sunny slopes (113.03 ±
24.17 g) was significantly lower than that on shady slopes (162.81 ±
17.96 g) and in flat areas (166.91 ± 16.70 g) (F2, 129 =
3.23, P < 0.05) (Fig. 9).