Abstract
Giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca are obligate bamboo grazers that inhabit montane and subalpine forests in south-western China. Knowledge of factors influencing bamboo abundance is crucial for panda ecology and identifying how human activities change panda habitat. This study follows bamboo regeneration from seed over seven years in panda habitat in clearcut and closed forest. Bamboo seedling density was significantly lower in clearcuts in 1984, 1985, and 1990 than beneath forest, and few seedlings remain in clearcuts. It appears that bamboo will not replace itself in clearcuts, reducing the extent of bamboo forest for pandas. Beneath forest, bamboo seedlings take 15–20 years to grow back to full height.
Published Version
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