Habitat use by giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca in the Wanglang Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China

Dong-Wei Kang,Lian-Jun Zhao,Hong-Wei Yang,You-Ping Chen,Jun-Qing Li

doi:10.1186/1810-522x-52-23

Dong-Wei Kang, Lian-Jun Zhao + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1810-522x-52-23

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Abstract

Abstract Background To better understand the ecological requirements of the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca in the wild, field surveys were carried out at both the microhabitat scale and foraging site scale in Wanglang National Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. Results The results indicated that (1) at the microhabitat scale, giant pandas usually occupied habitats with a high fallen-log density, lower shrub density, and bamboo coverage of 50% to 75%; (2) at the foraging site scale, pandas usually used sites with higher bamboo densities and taller and larger-diameter bamboo; and (3) giant pandas may abandon plots when the proportion of young bamboo decreases below average in the environment. Conclusions The availability of young bamboo is an important driving force in habitat selection by giant pandas, which could provide important reference for the conservation of giant pandas and their habitats.

Highlights

To better understand the ecological requirements of the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca in the wild, field surveys were carried out at both the microhabitat scale and foraging site scale in Wanglang National Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China
We report the results of field surveys on giant panda habitat in the Wanglang Nature Reserve
We identified variables related to giant panda habitat at the microhabitat scale and foraging site scale (Zhang et al 2002b)

Summary

Introduction

To better understand the ecological requirements of the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca in the wild, field surveys were carried out at both the microhabitat scale and foraging site scale in Wanglang National Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. The giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca is a flagship species for efforts related to habitat conservation, is one of the most important rare and endangered species in the world, and is a category I protected species on the Red List of China (Wei et al 2000). By studying foraging sites used by giant pandas, we aimed to draw some general conclusions related to factors that drive habitat selection. These insights should deepen our understanding on the habitat requirements of giant pandas and facilitate identification of appropriate management strategies in this area

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