Niche Partitioning Among Three Montane Ground-Dwelling Pheasant Species Along Multiple Ecological Dimensions

Pheasants (order Galliformes) are typical ground-dwelling birds, having a large body size and weak flight abilities. Sympatric pheasants are expected to share narrower niche space and face more extensive interspecific competition. However, little work has been undertaken simultaneously to investigate niche partitioning among sympatric pheasant species across multiple ecological dimensions. We compared microhabitat use, activity pattern and foraging strategy of sympatric Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus, Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii and White Eared-pheasant Crossoptilon crossoptilon on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, to identify potential interspecific niche partitioning along different ecological dimensions in the breeding season. We found that the Buff-throated Partridge differed significantly from the other two species in microhabitat use, and the three species showed different foraging strategies. It is likely that niche partitioning reduced potential interspecific competition, thus facilitating the species' stable coexistence. Our study provides practical evidence of multidimensional niche theory within sympatric ground-dwelling pheasant species, emphasizing that species interactions and coexistence within a guild are often not uni-dimensional. Given global conservation concern for maintaining bird diversity, we recommend further restriction of yak grazing in these species' habitat.