Search Results (23)

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

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

Currently, nearly 70% of giant panda populations are facing survival challenges. The introduction of wild individuals can bring vitality to them. To explore this possibility, we hypothetically introduced giant pandas from Tangjiahe and Wanglang into Liziping and Daxiangling Nature Reserves. We collected feces from these areas and analyzed the genetic diversity and population viability before and after introduction using nine microsatellite loci. The results showed the genetic level and viability of the large populations were better than the small populations. We investigated the effects of time intervals (2a, 5a, and 10a; year: a) and gender combinations (female: F; male: M) on the rejuvenation of small populations. Finally, five introduction plans (1F/2a, 2F/5a, 1F1M/5a, 3F/10a, and 2F1M/10a) were obtained to make Liziping meet the long-term survival standard after 100 years, and six plans (1F/2a, 2F/5a, 1F1M/5a, 4F/10a, 3F1M/10a, and 2F2M/10a) were obtained in Daxiangling. The more females were introduced, the greater the impact on the large populations. After introducing individuals, the number of alleles and expected heterozygosity of the Liziping population are at least 6.667 and 0.688, and for the Daxiangling population, they are 7.111 and 0.734, respectively. Our study provides theoretical support for the translocation of giant pandas, a reference for the restoration of other endangered species worldwide. Full article

Specific studies of large trees in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitats are currently lacking. To fill this research gap, a field survey on large trees in Wanglang Nature Reserve of China was conducted. According to a previous definition of a large tree (DBH ≥ 60 cm), a total of 19 large trees, composed of Abies fargesii var. faxoniana (73.7%), Betula albosinensis (15.8%), and Juniperus saltuaria (10.5%), were found in 50% of 30 10 m × 10 m giant panda habitat plots (contained feces of giant panda). Compared to the habitat where large trees were absent, the giant panda habitat where large trees were present was characterized by larger-sized tree diameter and more bamboo clumps. The mean proportion of large trees in the basal area of the tree layer in habitats where large trees were present was 65.5%. Considering large trees are a scarce resource and play a crucial role in habitat composition and habitat use, large trees and their habitats need to be given priority protection. To achieve more accurate protection, continuous and dynamic monitoring of large trees is needed, and the investigation of large trees should form a part of future national surveys of giant pandas. Full article

An important tool for conserving species and their habitats and achieving sustainable development is the establishment of national parks. The population ecology of the species to be conserved, including their population size and suitable habitat, needs to be assessed prior to integrating protected areas into national parks. The Liangshan Mountains are currently the southernmost habitat of giant pandas and lie outside the newly established Giant Panda National Park (GPNP). The population is threatened with extinction due to severe isolation and human disturbance. However, there has been a ten-year gap in the census of giant pandas in this critical area. This means that conservation managers are unable to keep up to date with population and habitat dynamics. The Meigu Dafengding National Nature Reserve is the core area of the giant panda population in Liangshan and the link for gene exchange. The focus of this study is to assess the spatial distribution pattern of suitable habitat, habitat fragmentation and the habitat selection characteristics of giant pandas in the Meigu Dafengding Nature Reserve in Liangshan in order to lay the foundation for the future inclusion of Liangshan into the national park. A total of 151 giant panda fecal samples were collected in 2023. Using the distance–bamboo stem fragments method, this indicated that nearly 28 to 29 giant pandas exist within the reserve. Based on MaxEnt and FRAGSTATS, the giant panda population is concentrated in Wahei–Yiziyakou. They tend to choose gentle slopes of 10–30°, at altitudes between 2500 m and 3500 m, with average annual temperatures between 8.5 °C and 10 °C. They also select the areas close to roads and settlements for their frequent activities. Unsuitable habitat is widespread and surrounds low-, medium- and high-suitability habitats with poor habitat connectivity. In situ conservation measures are urgently needed due to the restricted distribution of populations and poor habitat suitability. This lays the foundation for the future inclusion of Liangshan into the national park, providing greater protection for the giant panda and other species in the region, and for other national parks to integrate all habitats into a single management unit. This will address conservation gaps and overlapping management, and promote the conservation of rare or endangered species. Full article

The continuous prohibition of commercial logging and intensifying conservation endeavors have encompassed the implementation of the Natural Forest Conservation Program (NFCP) and the Grain-to-Green Program (GTGP) by the Chinese government since 1999. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the commercial logging ban and its effectiveness in halting deforestation remain uncertain. Likewise, the destructive aftermath of the 7.9 magnitude Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 continues to be under scrutiny, necessitating ongoing study and analysis. Thus, there exists a pressing need to comprehensively monitor the spatio-temporal evolution of the forest habitat and assess the ecological status over the past two decades. The Jiudingshan Nature Reserve (JNR) is situated in the upper reaches of the Tuojiang River basin in Sichuan province, China, constituting an integral part of the Giant Panda National Park (GPNP). In this study, we classified land cover types and conducted a meticulous monitoring of forest habitat alterations within JNR, by a multilayer perceptron model (MLP) with a highly learning-sensitive algorithm. To quantify these changes, the Simple Ratio Index (SRI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were computed from Landsat TM/OLI images of four years (i.e., 1997, 2007, 2008, and 2018). Additionally, elevation, slope, aspect, and other topographic data were acquired from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The findings of our study unveil a notable expansion in both the scope and proportion of mixed conifer and broadleaf forest from 1997 to 2004. The growth of coniferous forest and the augmented areas of mixed conifer and broadleaf forest signify a substantial improvement in panda habitat. However, the seismic event of 2008 exhibited a pronounced adverse impact on vegetation, particularly within forested regions. Although there is evidence of forest recovery spanning 21 years, concerns regarding fragmentation linger. It is pivotal to acknowledge the potential long-term adverse implications arising from widespread socio-economic development and a multitude of geohazards. Hence, sustained long-term monitoring coupled with effective management strategies remain pivotal for the preservation and rehabilitation of the Giant Panda National Park (GPNP) and giant panda habitat in the future. Full article

The wild giant panda habitat is inaccessible and far away from the main areas of human activity, so environmental pollutants entering the habitat are mainly the result of external migration and spread through the atmospheric advection and diffusion processes and particulate matter deposition. To research the variation, transmission route, chemical characteristics, and source of PM_2.5 in the habitat of wild giant pandas, we set up a PM_2.5 sampling point near the Shaanxi Foping National Nature Reserve (SFNNR), which is the area with the highest population density of wild giant pandas in the Qinling Mountains. The 12-month average concentration of PM_2.5 was 11.3 ± 7.9 μg/m³ from July 2021 to June 2022, and the 12-month average concentration did not exceed the limit value set in the standard. In the results of our analysis of element concentrations, As and Pb were much lower than the limit standard. Si, S, P, and Cl accounted for 99.60% of nonmetallic elements, while the proportion of the six metallic elements, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, and Fe, was 96.27%. According to the analysis results of enrichment factor (EF) and pollutant emission sources, there were four sources for the total elements in PM_2.5, which were mainly distributed in the areas around the reserve. These included dust, coal combustion, biomass burning, and traffic-related emissions, which contributed 55.10%, 24.78%, 11.91%, and 8.22% of the total element mass in PM_2.5, respectively. Additionally, Pb, Cu, Zn, As, Sc, Co, Ga, Mg, and, especially, Se were severely affected by human activities (coal burning, biomass burning, and traffic-related emissions). In the villages and towns around the wild giant panda habitat, the majority of energy for cooking and heating comes from coal and biomass burning, and older vehicles with high emissions are used more frequently. Therefore, to better protect the health of and reduce the impact of environmental pollution on wild giant pandas, we put forward relevant recommendations, including upgrading the energy structure of towns and villages near the habitat to increase the proportion of clean energy, such as photovoltaic power generation, natural gas, etc.; decreasing the combustion of coal and biomass; encouraging the upgrading of agricultural diesel machines and older vehicles used in these areas; and setting limits on vehicle emissions in areas surrounding the habitat. Full article

The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a flagship species for endangered wildlife conservation and is a specific relic species in China. Its habitat conservation has received widespread attention around the world. Since 2010, the phenomenon of an aging labor force gradually appeared within the Giant Panda Nature Reserve and its surrounding communities. Under the new labor force structure, households’ resource utilization behavior has had different characteristics, which has led an evolution in giant panda habitats. This study is based on a questionnaire and geographic data. It reveals the internal mechanisms of households’ resource utilization behavior impacting giant panda habitat patterns under the ongoing trend of labor force aging. The study shows that labor force aging has promoted rising ecological niche widths and falling ecological niche overlaps. These could drive a growth in giant panda habitat globally. From a spatial perspective, nature reserves with lower comprehensive ecological niche widths and higher ecological niche overlaps face greater conflict between conservation and development. However, the phenomenon of labor force aging mitigates these ecological conflicts to a certain extent. Full article

Aesthetics of natural landscapes and the conservation of forest ecological integrity have received much attention because of the increasing public demand for aesthetic quality and the shift of forest conservation management objectives from single elements to multiple ecosystem services. However, existing research has not adequately addressed the relationship between forest scenic beauty with the color index and ecological integrity. This study aimed to evaluate and quantify the scenic beauty of forests and the vegetation color index using web questionnaires and Python color interpretation, with Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage and Giant Panda National Park in western Sichuan, China, as examples. The relationships between forest scenic beauty with vegetation color and ecological integrity were explored via correlation and linear regression analyses, respectively. The results showed that: (1) The overall scenic beauty of the autumn forests in the study area was at a “medium” level; (2) the scenic beauty of the autumn forest was significantly positively correlated with the saturation and value ratio; and (3) the scenic beauty was not significantly negatively correlated with ecological integrity. This research provides an important reference for the renovation of autumn foliage forests and ecotourism planning. This study also provides a theoretical basis for the transformation of forest conservation management objectives, offering the possibility for nature reserves to achieve the “win-win” management goal of ecological protection and local economic development. Full article

Habitat fragmentation threatens the survival of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca); hence, it is vital to protect its habitat. However, a lack of detailed understanding of different functional habitats and their relationships restricts the protective effect. To reveal the relationship between different functional habitats, we distinguished and investigated giant pandas’ resting and path sites and evaluated the suitability patterns and overlap of resting and path habitats in the Wanglang Nature Reserve using MAXENT and overlay methods. A total of 28 resting sites and 30 path sites were used in this study. The results showed that the areas of suitable resting and path habitats were 42.03 km² and 28.52 km², respectively, and were fragmented due to the existence of roads. A total of 27.81 km² of suitable habitat overlapped, indicating many areas have the dual attributes of suitable resting and path habitats for giant pandas. There were almost no suitable resting and path habitats within 200 m and 300 m from roads, respectively. Therefore, measures should be taken to restore the unsuitable habitats distributed in the roadside area and connect the fragmented habitat patches. The indicators and methods used in this study can be considered in studying different functional giant panda habitats and their relationships. Full article

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a relic species in China and a flagship species in the field of endangered wildlife conservation. The conservation of the giant panda’s habitat has gained widespread attention for this reason. Historically, Chinese Giant Panda Nature Reserves are surrounded by communities and the resource utilization behavior of households disturbs the giant panda habitat. Changes in these communities and in Giant Panda Nature Reserves began around 2010, with the feminization and aging of the farm labor force. These changes brought different resource utilization behaviors that led to different evolutionary tendencies in giant panda habitats. This research study assesses the impact of these tendencies based on data from the fourth survey of the giant panda in the Sichuan Province and from geographic information data. The paper aims to uncover the internal mechanisms of farmers’ resource utilization behavior in terms of the changes wrought to giant panda habitats. The paper simulates the future habitat of the giant panda based on the LUCC (land use/cover change) model to identify anticipated changes in future landscape patterns and the habitat quality of giant pandas under the current scenarios. The paper analyzes the spatial-temporal change of landscape patterns through the land use transfer matrix, based on the Markov model. The results of the scenario analyses illustrate the spatial and temporal difference in habitat quality. The driving mechanism for landscape pattern change is explored using the logistic regression model. The paper simulates the variation tendency of giant panda habitats under differential labor force structures and resource utilization behavior based on the CA (cellular automata) model, with the robustness of the results verified by participatory experiment. Through four scenarios of simulated farm labor force structure and resource utilization behavior, results suggest that the quality of giant panda habitats in the future will be relatively high when workforce feminization and aging is intense and resource utilization behavior is weakened. The simulated results confirm that the current agricultural labor force structure can reduce the intensity of resource utilization behavior. In this scenario, disturbance to giant panda habitats would decrease and their quality would improve. Full article

Effectively managing and mitigating “human–wildlife conflict” (HWC) by adjusting the use of cultivated land to realise the coexistence of humans and wildlife plays an important role in protecting biodiversity, ensuring food security, improving cultivated land use efficiency, and improving the livelihoods of community residents in nature reserves. Based on the “harmful experience–expectation change–behavioural adjustment” theoretical analysis framework and survey data on 1008 farmers in China’s Giant Panda National Park, this paper uses a binary logit model and a mediating utility model to analyse the effect of HWC experience on the cultivated land use of farmers and the action mechanisms. The results show the following: (1) HWC experience increases the probability that farmers’ cultivated land use behaviour will be adjusted, which will not only increase the probability that farmers’ planting structure of cultivated land will be adjusted but also increase the probability that farmers will abandon cultivated land. (2) Farmers in the national park have a higher probability of adjusting their cultivated land use behaviour after experiencing HWCs than those outside the national park. Farmers in the national park mainly prefer to adjust the planting structure, while farmers outside the park are more inclined to abandon cultivated land. (3) Low-income farmers are more likely to adjust their cultivated land use behaviour after experiencing HWCs than high-income farmers. The low-income group mainly tends to adjust the planting structure of cultivated land, while the high-income group is more inclined to directly abandon cultivated land. (4) The farmers in the group with a high degree of dependence on cultivated land for their livelihood have a higher probability of adjusting their cultivated land use behaviour after experiencing HWC than those in the low-dependency group, and they tend to adjust the planting structure. (5) HWC experience mainly improves farmers’ adjustment of cultivated land use behaviour by improving their awareness of future risks of HWC. In other words, “HWC” will change the behavioural decision-making of farmers and the differences in constraints, such as different regions and different income levels, will lead to differences in “HWC” affecting farmers’ behaviours. The conclusions of this paper not only help in understanding the adjustment mechanism of farmers’ cultivated land use behaviour in the context of HWCs but also provide a decision-making reference for actively changing cultivated land use methods to address HWCs. Full article