Abstract:Based on patch level, the habitat suitability of a study area can be deduced by the landscape pattern of species distribution, which is crucial to landscape planning decisions. This study investigated the habitat suitability for the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Shennongjia, Hubei Province. First, the disturbance threshold of the agricultural land was analyzed. Then, Poisson regression was used to construct the monkey distribution model based on the patch scale, with vegetation types, patch characteristics, and human disturbance characteristics as variables. The model of the results was combined with the road suitability map to estimate the monkeys' suitable habitat distribution. The results showed that (1) the disturbance threshold of agricultural land was 2000 m; (2) the optimal model revealed that the monkeys preferred large and simple-shaped patches with cold-temperate coniferous forest, cold-temperate coniferous-deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, and temperate coniferous-deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest vegetation types, and avoided agricultural land; (3) the road has become a major obstacle to dispersal. The distribution of R. roxellana was less disturbed by agriculture, which was also a barrier to the expansion of the distribution area. It is suggested that the Shennongjia reserve should carry out monitoring of the disturbance of wild animals by road activity and tourism.