Ecological factors influencing the selection of sett location by the Asian badger Meles leucurus

Habitat variables were analyzed from microhabitats. so each sett and random point was at the center of a buffer with a radius of 5.64 m.

We measured coverage of foliage layer and coverage of plant type (Table 1). The foliage layer was classified as ground vegetation (0–1 m); understory vegetation (1–2 m); mid-story vegetation (2–8 m); sub-overstory vegetation (8–20 m); and overstory vegetation (20–30 m). The plant types were categorized as shrubs and trees. These coverage variables were measured in the 5.64 m radius area on point with four categories as fallows: 0 (percentage coverage=0%), 1 (1–33%), 2 (34–66%) and 3 (67–100%). The distance from the nearest structure (a rock or tree) for a given sett site is considered an important habitat variable. We determined whether a structure existed within 2 m from the sett point. For rocks, the minimum volume to affect structural ability was 2 m³ based on previous study.

The preferences of badgers in forest type were analyzed using GIS in an area within a 100 m radius from sett point. Forest type was classified as coniferous, deciduous, mixed and non-forests. The non-forest areas included human disturbances such as road, houses, arable lands and meadow.