Search Results (45)

National parks serve as critical spatial units for conserving ecological baselines, maintaining genetic diversity, and delivering essential ecosystem services. However, accelerating socio-economic development has increasingly intensified the conflict between ecological protection and transportation infrastructure. Ecologically sustainable transportation planning is, therefore, essential to mitigate habitat fragmentation, facilitate species migration, and conserve biodiversity. This study examines the Giant Panda National Park and its buffer zone, focusing on six mammal species: giant panda, Sichuan snub-nosed monkey, leopard cat, forest musk deer, rock squirrel, and Sichuan takin. By integrating Maxent ecological niche modeling with circuit theory, it identified ecological source areas and potential corridors, and employed a two-step screening approach to design species-specific wildlife crossings. In total, 39 vegetated overpasses were proposed to serve all target species; 34 underpasses were integrated using existing bridge and culvert structures to minimize construction costs; and 27 canopy bridges, incorporating suspension cables and elevated pathways, were designed to connect forest canopies for arboreal species. This study established a multi-species and multi-scale conservation framework, providing both theoretical insights and practical strategies for ecologically integrated transportation planning in national parks, contributing to the synergy between biodiversity conservation and sustainable development goals. Full article

Leaf functional traits are important indicators that reveal plant adaptation and response to environmental changes. Characteristics and adaptive strategies of leaf functional traits of staple bamboo species (SBSs) for the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) remain unclear, which limits conservation management of the giant panda and its habitat. Here, this study investigated 10 SBSs in 15 nature reserves across 36 counties, measured eight leaf functional traits, analyzed trait characteristics, variation, and drivers of variation, and examined trait-based strategies and strategy–environmental constraint relationships. Our results indicate that: coefficients of variation in leaf functional traits spanned from 9.58% to 79.16%, and significant differences were found among SBSs for leaf functional traits except chlorophyll concentration. The linear mixed-effects models revealed that the taxonomic factors explained 20.16 to 77.94% of variation, and environmental factors explained 17.03 to 29.12%. Leaf functional traits exhibited distinct environmental associations, primarily driven by geographic location, topography, and soil phosphorus availability. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis revealed 10 SBS clustered into two groups, corresponding to conservative and acquisitive resource-use strategies. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that SBSs with conservative strategies were distributed in warm and moist habitats, and SBSs with acquisition strategies were distributed in habitats with high solar radiation. Our results reveal the key trait characteristics of SBSs and the strategy-environmental constraint model based on traits, which can provide scientific basis for the ecological management practice of SBSs. Full article

Land use and land cover change (LULCC) can influence giant panda distributions by altering landscape structure and configuration. However, the spatial impacts and potential time lag effects of landscape pattern changes on giant pandas remain underexplored. In this study, we applied a random forest classification method to analyze LULCC in 1990, 2000, and 2010, alongside calculating a set of landscape metrics to assess changes in landscape fragmentation, connectivity, and diversity. Random forest regression models were then used to evaluate the spatial relationships between landscape metrics and giant panda density, with the aim of identifying whether a time lag effect exists. The results revealed the following: (1) The random forest classification achieved high land use classification accuracy. Forests remained the dominant land cover, occupying approximately 97% of the study area throughout the period, with only minor fluctuations observed among other land use types. (2) Landscape metrics indicated increasing landscape fragmentation, connectivity, and diversity. While increased landscape fragmentation can negatively impact giant panda habitat, improvements in landscape connectivity and diversity could mitigate these effects by preserving movement corridors and enhancing habitat accessibility. (3) The strongest correlations between giant panda density and landscape metrics were observed when the time points aligned. Landscape metrics from 2010 showed the highest correlation with the 4th NGPS (around 2010), and landscape metrics from 2000 had the highest correlation with the 3rd NGPS (around 2000). The results revealed that giant panda density responded most strongly to contemporary landscape pattern changes, suggesting an immediate response. However, correlations with earlier landscape metrics also suggest that a relatively weak time lag effect may be present. All landscape metrics were derived from remote sensing data, enabling scalable and repeatable GIS-based analysis. These findings highlight the utility of spatial landscape indicators for monitoring species distribution patterns and underscore the importance of maintaining and enhancing habitat connectivity within giant panda conservation efforts. Full article

Nowadays, new data-driven science paradigms have been revolutionizing the way of acquiring knowledge and its derivatives. In addition, understanding the knowledge structure of a specific domain is valuable to the application/transformation of science in practice, especially in the era where biodiversity is given top priority. This study combines both performance analysis and science mapping to detect, quantify, and visualize the predominant themes covered by research on giant pandas and their conservation, collected from the Web of Science during the period of 1929–2022. In total, 1456 publications were analyzed with 2090 valid keywords. Twenty-four main themes were detected using co-word analysis. The most productive themes were WOLONG-NATURE-RESERVE, CLIMATE-CHANGE, CARNIVORA, NATURE-RESERVE, and ECOSYSTEM-SERVICES, according to the number of published documents, and the most impacting ones were WOLONG-NATURE-RESERVE, CARNIVORA, CLIMATE-CHANGE, ECOSYSTEM-SERVICES, DNA, and BACTERIA according to the citations, whereas the h-index indicates that the top six themes were: WOLONG-NATURE-RESERVE, CARNIVORA, CLIMATE-CHANGE, ECOSYSTEM-SERVICES, NATURE-RESERVE, and AILURUS-FULGENS. As a result, this indicates worthwhile prospects for the future study of giant panda conservation, which will focus more on the following hot themes: GUT-MICROBIOTA, ECOSYSTEM-SERVICES, HABITAT, and CLIMATE-CHANGE. Meanwhile, WOLONG still takes center stage in giant panda research. Therefore, by building a more comprehensive conceptual structure of giant panda research, this study contributes to current and future developments in this field. Full article

Grazing is the primary human-induced disturbance affecting giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitats and has a severe impact on the long-term sustainability of the giant panda population. To address the lack of quantitative studies on grazing’s impact on habitat quality, we selected China’s most heavily grazed giant panda nature reserve. Utilizing the Maxent model and stoichiometric analysis, we investigated habitat quality degradation caused by grazing and quantified changes in bamboo nutritional quality and soil physicochemical properties. The results indicate that grazing has significantly reduced the suitable habitat area for giant pandas from 101.87 km² to 80.64 km². Specifically, high-suitability habitats declined by 14.14%, moderate-suitability habitats declined by 22.70%, and low-suitability habitats declined by 22.88%. Grazing has forced pandas to move to higher altitudes (2650–3057 m) with taller (12–20 m) trees, denser (28–55 plants) shrubs, and sparser (30–69%) bamboo. Additionally, the soil water content has decreased, while soil bulk density, total N, available N, and pH have significantly increased. Reductions in crude protein and ether extract, along with increased crude fiber and ash, have lowered bamboo’s nutritional value and palatability. This study elucidates how grazing degrades giant panda habitat quality and provides a scientific basis for its conservation management. Full article

This study analyzed survey result data of giant panda populations and habitats in the third and fourth giant panda surveys to reveal the population size–habitat area relationship and assess the habitat status at the county and nature reserve levels. Results showed that a significant linear relationship existed between the logarithm of population size (lnS) and the logarithm of habitat area (lnA), with an equation of lnS = 1.145 × lnA − 4.022. Based on this relationship, this study determined that 557.43 km² was the minimum habitat area for maintaining a sustainable survival population of 25 pandas (the minimum population size to ensure sustainable survival with a relatively low extinction probability). This study selected 20 counties and 16 nature reserves containing ≥25 pandas and found that 30.0% of counties and 87.5% of reserves had habitat areas less than 557.43 km². More habitat restoration efforts are needed to increase the habitat. The habitat area remained stable in the selected counties but decreased in the selected reserves between the third and fourth surveys. The causes of habitat decline in counties and reserves should be identified so that targeted conservation measures can be implemented. This study provides a theoretical basis and scientific reference for giant panda conservation and habitat management. Full article

In October 2021, China established its first group of national parks, representing a milestone in enhancing the country’s nature reserve system and aligning with global trends in ecological conservation. This study aims to assess habitat quality changes and identify the driving factors in five national parks using multi-temporal land use data from 2000 to 2020. By integrating the land use transfer matrix with the InVEST model, we quantified habitat quality changes, while the geographical detector method was employed to analyze the key natural and socioeconomic drivers. Results showed that grassland and cultivated land were predominantly converted into forestland, leading to improvements in habitat quality in some parks. Specifically, Wuyishan National Park exhibited the highest and most stable habitat quality index, while Three-River-Source National Park experienced significant improvement (+34.10%). However, the Giant Panda, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard, and Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Parks experienced habitat degradation, with decreases of 15.15%, 14.50%, and 13.90%, respectively. Key drivers, such as NDVI, temperature, precipitation, elevation, and population density, were found to significantly influence habitat quality across the parks. This study highlights the ecological benefits of forestland restoration and the risks posed by the conversion of forest to cultivated or construction land, providing valuable insights for optimizing conservation strategies in China’s national parks. Full article

Restoring the degraded habitat of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is of paramount importance for the conservation of the species and its forest ecosystem. However, little is known about the impact of ecological restoration interventions on the growth renewal and nutritional quality of Arundinaria faberi in the degraded habitat of the giant panda. Here, we implemented strip thinning and blocky thinning techniques in the Daxiangling mountain range, alongside a control group. A random forest model and multiple linear regression analysis were employed to predict changes in the growth renewal and nutritional quality of bamboo, particularly in the strip-thinned zones. The key findings were as follows: (1) Compared with the control area, strip thinning increased the number of shoots and increased the diameter and height of shoots. (2) The random forest model predicted a decline in bamboo regeneration indices in 2023 compared to 2022 under strip thinning. (3) Through thinning, the palatability and nutritional level of A. faberi were improved. (4) Long-term effects included increased tannin in leaves, decreased tannin and amino acids in shoots and culms, and increased crude fat, with changes in crude protein distribution across bamboo parts. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights for habitat restoration efforts targeting giant panda populations in the low-canopy forest ecosystems of the Daxiangling mountain range. Full article

The red panda (Ailurus), a rare and endangered mammal native to the Himalayan–Hengduan Mountains, has a specialized bamboo diet. Combining morphological and genomic evidence, red pandas have been classified as Ailurus fulgens and Ailurus styani. However, previous studies focused on ecological aspects such as foraging behaviors, habitat use and threats within specific distributions; hence, there is still a gap in quantitative comparative studies on the trophic niches of these two species. In this study, we calculated and compared the isotopic trophic niche widths of A. styani and A. fulgens by measuring carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in hair keratin of 102 red pandas, then conducting a fecal analysis to explore the diet of a population. The results showed that (1) there was no significant difference in δ¹³C values between A. styani (−24.73 ± 1.26‰, N = 86) and A. fulgens (−24.43 ± 1.20‰, N = 16); however, A. styani had 1.4‰ higher average δ¹⁵N value than that of A. fulgens, and the isotopic niche widths converted by Bayesian ellipse model were A. styani SEA_C = 4.40‰², A. fulgens SEA_C = 4.70‰², which might be caused by their lower and narrower altitude distribution. (2) Niche widths of three genetic populations in A. styani were XXL-LS (5.16‰²), EH-GLG (3.40‰²), QL (2.31‰²), and the comparison of the fecal composition suggested their diet diversity, which might imply a degree of competitive pressure with sympatric animals. (3) Sichuan red pandas occupied a lower trophic position compared to other herbivores but higher than giant pandas in the same ecosystem, and the niche width of red pandas was two times larger than that of sympatric giant pandas, which was related to the foraging strategies and microhabitat selection of the giant and red panda. This research provides basic stable isotopic data for red pandas, offers scientific support for the differentiated and refined conservation and management of the red panda and its habitat, and develops the application of stable isotope analysis in the ecological studies of endangered species. Full article

Dwarf bamboo (Fargesia denudata) is a crucial food source for the giant pandas. With its shallow root system and rapid growth, dwarf bamboo is highly sensitive to drought stress and nitrogen deposition, both major concerns of global climate change affecting plant growth and rhizosphere environments. However, few reports address the response mechanisms of the dwarf bamboo rhizosphere environment to these two factors. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of drought stress and nitrogen deposition on the physicochemical properties and microbial community composition of the arrow bamboo rhizosphere soil, using metagenomic sequencing to analyze functional genes involved in carbon and nitrogen cycles. Both drought stress and nitrogen deposition significantly altered the soil nutrient content, but their combination had no significant impact on these indicators. Nitrogen deposition increased the relative abundance of the microbial functional gene nrfA, while decreasing the abundances of nirK, nosZ, norB, and nifH. Drought stress inhibited the functional genes of key microbial enzymes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, but promoted those involved in galactose metabolism, inositol phosphate metabolism, and hemicellulose degradation. NO₃⁻-N showed the highest correlation with N-cycling functional genes (p < 0.01). Total C and total N had the greatest impact on the relative abundance of key enzyme functional genes involved in carbon degradation. This research provides theoretical and technical references for the sustainable management and conservation of dwarf bamboo forests in giant panda habitats under global climate change. Full article

The Giant Panda National Park (GPNP) and its surrounding areas constitute a comprehensive ecosystem aimed at protecting the natural habitat of giant pandas, maintaining biodiversity, and ensuring ecological balance. Investigating the spatial correlation between landscape pattern indices and ecological sensitivity (ES) in this area is a crucial step in the construction of ecological civilization and contributes significantly to ecological conservation, restoration, and environmental management. This study utilized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Fragstats software to select nine ecological evaluation factors and four landscape pattern indices to comprehensively evaluate the ES and landscape patterns of the GPNP and its surrounding areas. This study discovered that the ecological sensitivity of the GPNP is substantially higher than that of the neighboring areas, with the northern Qionglai Mountain area and the western Minshan area showing the highest concentrations of exceptionally high sensitivity. Highly sensitive areas account for 35.22% of the study region, concentrated in areas within the national park, except the Qinling area, as well as the western and southern surrounding areas. The distribution of moderately sensitive areas is more uniform, while low and insensitive areas are found primarily in the northern and eastern areas, along with the national park’s environs. Patch density (PD) within the GPNP is lower than in surrounding areas, with higher PD in the northern and central parts. The landscape division index (DIVISION) decreases from west to east, and the landscape disturbance index (LDI) is significantly lower within the national park than in surrounding areas, with small areas of high LDI in the entire study region. Moran’s index analysis of the GPNP and its surrounding areas shows that ecological sensitivity is positively correlated with landscape pattern indices (PD, SPLIT, DIVISION, and LDI), with the strongest correlation between DIVISION and ecological sensitivity. Spatially, the internal areas of the national park have lower landscape pattern indices but higher ecological sensitivity, while the eastern region exhibits severe landscape fragmentation. Major clusters of high and low values are found around the Qionglai-Daxiangling area, indicating that these areas of high ecological sensitivity have complex landscape structures, numerous habitat edges, and significant impacts on biodiversity and ecological processes. Overall, the areas surrounding the GPNP exhibit lower ecological sensitivity levels and higher landscape fragmentation, emphasizing the need for focused ecological protection in the northern part of the QLS region and the western part of the MS region. Additionally, attention should be given to the impact of landscape fragmentation in the surrounding areas in the interior of the GPNP. These results provide scientific evidence for the sustainable development of the GPNP and its surrounding areas. Full article

Climate change has triggered a series of global problems, posing a huge threat to the distribution of many plants and animals, especially endangered species such as the giant panda. Therefore, predicting the distribution of habitat quality under climate change conditions is of great significance for protecting these species. In this study, we examined the correlation between suitable habitat index and ecosystem services using 260 occurrence records and 13 environmental factors with giant pandas as the model species. The species distribution models can also be employed to predict and compare the potential geographical distribution of giant pandas at present and in the 2050s and 2090s in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi Province. The results show the following: (1) The relationship between suitable habitat index and ecosystem services of giant panda is not uniform. (2) From 2040 to 2100, the existing habitats may decrease by 47.8% to 98.5%. (3) The main direction of change in the center of the distribution of the giant panda’s habitat is to migrate first eastward and then northwestward. Our results regarding the potential distribution pattern of giant pandas in the Qinling Mountains and their response to climate change can provide important references for optimizing the conservation and habitat management of wild giant pandas in the Qinling Mountains. Full article

Flagship species’ conservation strategies hold significant prominence in biodiversity preservation. The giant panda, a globally recognized species, has drawn attention to its benefits and constraints as a flagship species. This study aimed to assess the potential benefits of a dual flagship strategy using both the giant panda and snow leopard, compared to an approach solely using the giant panda. We identified the number of potential beneficiary species based on their habitat overlap with the giant panda and snow leopard in Sichuan and Gansu, China. Subsequently, we examined public preferences for these two flagships and their influencing factors through questionnaire surveys within and outside China. The dual flagship strategy covered the habitats of more species and amplified existing protection for those species already benefiting from giant panda conservation efforts. The giant panda was commonly perceived as “Adorable”, “Innocent”, and “Rare”, while perceptions of the snow leopard leaned towards “Mighty”, “Mysterious”, and “Rare”. Though the giant panda is widely favored, the survey indicates a notable preference for snow leopards among a proportion of respondents. The dual flagship strategy offers expanded wildlife habitat coverage and benefits a broader range of species. Moreover, the combined appeal of the snow leopard and giant panda, each possessing unique charm and symbolism, holds the potential to garner broader societal interest and support. This study may serve as a reference for policy decisions in the Giant Panda National Park and other similar protected areas, optimizing conservation management and outreach initiatives for flagship species strategies. It may also benefit conservation strategies centered on other flagship species. Full article

Climate change is a significant driver of changes in the distribution patterns of species and poses a threat to biodiversity, potentially resulting in species extinctions. Investigating the potential distribution of rare and endangered species is crucial for understanding their responses to climate change and for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem management. The Szechwan rat snake (Euprepiophis perlacea) is an endemic and endangered species co-distributed with giant pandas, and studying its potential distribution contributes to a better understanding of the distribution pattern of endangered species. In this study, we confirmed seven presence points of this species in the Yingjing Area of the Giant Panda National Park, and selected eleven key factors to predict the potential distribution of E. perlacea under current and future scenarios using MaxEnt models. Our study consistently achieved AUC values exceeding 0.79, meeting the precision requirements of the models. The results indicated that the high potential distribution area of E. perlacea is mainly located near Yunwu mountain and the giant panda rewilding and reintroduction base, accounting for approximately 12% of the protected area. Moreover, we identified the primary environmental factors influencing the distribution of E. perlacea as the distance from streams and the slope degree, with their contribution rates exceeding 41% and 31%, respectively. In comparison to the current scenario, the potential habitat range for E. perlacea did not show an overall reduction in the context of future climate scenarios. To ensure the long-term preservation of E. perlacea, it is advisable to validate its actual distribution based on the models’ results. Particular attention should be given to safeguarding its core distribution areas and raising awareness among residents within the potential distribution range about the conservation of E. perlacea. Full article

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is the flagship species of animal conservation worldwide, and the number of captive pandas reached 673 in 2021. According to the Fourth National Survey Report on the Giant Panda, there are 1864 wild pandas, segregated into 33 local populations, and 25 of these populations are too small to be self-sustaining. In addition to the conservation and restoration of panda habitats, conservation translocations, an approach that has been shown to be effective in slowing or reversing biodiversity loss, are highly desirable for panda conservation. The captive-bred panda population has grown rapidly, laying the foundation for releasing captive-bred pandas into the wild. This paper reviews the scientific advances in conservation translocations of pandas. Studies have shown that before translocation conservation programs are implemented, we should determine what factors are causing the depletion of the original population at the release site. The selection of suitable release sites and individuals will help to improve the survival rate of released individuals in the wild. Pre-release training and post-release monitoring are essential to ensure successful releases. We also see the great potential for increasing applications of Adaptive Management to improve the success of giant panda conservation translocation programs. This review provides theoretical guidance for improvement of the success rate in conservation translocations for captive pandas, and uses the panda as a model species to provide a global reference for the conservation translocations of rare and endangered species. Full article