The model results demonstrated that vegetation type was the most beneficial environmental factor in predicting suitable foraging habitats for the two ungulates, and the contribution rate of the wapiti was 50%, whereas that of the Siberian roe deer was 40.4%. Among these, evergreen broadleaf and mixed conifer forests had the greatest impact, whereas deciduous broadleaf forests had the least. Slope direction (21.9%) and altitude (13.9%) were the key factors affecting the foraging habitat of the wapiti, followed by aspect (13.9%), distance from road (4.8%), and distance from water (3.6%). Slope direction (23%) and slope (21.5%) were also key factors for Siberian roe deer; altitude (9.4%), distance from roads (3.3%), and distance from water sources (2.4%) contributed the least (Table 2).
TABLE 2 The Importance of Environmental Variables