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).