3.1. Habitat preferences across different sex and age groups
Autocorrelation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation
between rock size and rock height (r = 0.970, Figure 1). Therefore, rock
size was excluded from subsequent analyses to minimize experimental
error. The importance values of variables in the random forest model for
predicting suitable D. splendidum habitat, as determined by the
mean decrease Gini index, are shown in Figure 2. Results identified
substrate status (SS), tree height (TH), light intensity (LI), rock
height (RH), and, to a lesser extent, vegetation coverage (VC),
vegetation density (VD), and vegetation type (VT) as the primary factors
influencing habitat selection among individuals of different sexes and
ages.
The partial dependence graph derived from the random forest model
indicated a significantly increased probability of adult male occurrence
when the roosting height exceeded 90 cm and rock height surpassed 90 cm
(Figure 3). Juvenile males were most likely to occur in habitats with
tree heights greater than 90 cm and light intensity ranging from 10 000
to 22 000 Lux (Figure 3). The occurrence probability of adult females
was higher in habitats with tree heights over 270 cm, distances from the
nearest water sources less than 240 m, and rock heights greater than 45
cm (Figure 3). Juvenile females were more likely to be found in habitats
with tree heights over 80 cm, light intensity ranging from 32 000 to 49
000 Lux, distance from nearest road source less than 10 m, distances
from nearest water source between 250 m and 350 m, and rock heights
greater than 8 cm (Figure 3).