圈养大熊猫野化培训期的生境选择特征

Abstract

大熊猫(<em>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</em>)是我国特有的珍稀物种,也是世界上最濒危的野生动物之一。为了将人工繁育的部分大熊猫个体重引入其历史分布区或复壮野生种群,中国保护大熊猫研究中心从2003年开始进行圈养大熊猫的野外放归工作,通过野化培训以提高圈养大熊猫适应和选择野外环境的能力。对野化培训大熊猫"淘淘"的生境选择研究表明:该野化培训大熊猫幼仔经常活动于新笋密度较大的区域[生境与对照:(2.68±1.14)对(1.58±0.66)],却避开成竹密度过大[(9.91±2.51)对(12.18±4.68)]、竹子较高[(4.57±1.09) m对(4.98±0.66) m]以及枯死竹过多[(2.52±0.86)对(3.39±1.33)]的区域;喜欢活动于离水源[(1.59±0.67)对(2.19±0.87)]和隐蔽场所较近[(5.37±2.14) m对(8.35±7.76)m],以及距离乔木较远[(3.09±0.69) m对(2.70±0.42) m]和郁闭度较低[(1.85±0.57)对(2.10±0.47)]的区域(<em>P</em> < 0.05),新笋密度大小是该栖息地在整个野化培训期间是否被利用的最重要因素。该野化培训大熊猫幼仔保持着与带仔母兽相近的生境选择特征,对竹子环境的选择也与卧龙野生大熊猫相似,野化培训对该大熊猫幼仔产生了积极的作用。野化培训大熊猫幼仔形成的家域和核域面积分别为9.21 hm² 和1.93 hm²,占野化培训圈面积的51.95%和10.89%,其中家域面积仅有卧龙野生大熊猫的1.4%-2.4%,所以在以后的野化培训过程中需要采取增加野化培训圈中环境丰富度等方式,促进野化培训大熊猫形成较大的家域面积。;The giant panda (<em>Ailuropoda melanoleuca</em>)is a rare endangered species listed on the IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources)Red List of Threatened Species and in the Appendices of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The giant panda has encountered risks of gene loss and local extinction of metapopulations due to habitat loss as a result of both biogeological and anthropologenic disturbance. One way to save endangered species is to reintroduce captive animals to sparsely populated regions of their historical distribution area. However, in order for reintroduction to succeed, captive animals must be able to select habitat that ensures their survival in the wild, a crucial skill that can be honed during pre-release training. We conducted research involving pre-release training of a giant panda in an enclosure in an area of natural habitat at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in Wolong Nature Reserve. We found that the panda selected areas with a high density of <em>Fargesia robusta </em>bamboo shoots (means±standard deviation of habitat plots and control plots: 2.68±1.14 vs. 1.58±0.66), but avoided areas with a high density of adult bamboo (9.91±2.51 vs. 12.18±4.68) dead bamboo (2.52±0.86 vs. 3.39±1.33) and areas with higher bamboo culms ((4.57±1.09) m vs. (4.98±0.66) m). The panda was found in areas near water ((1.59±0.67) m vs. (2.19±0.87) m) and shelter ((5.37±2.14) m vs. (8.35±7.76) m) more often than other areas, but avoided areas close to trees ((3.09±0.69) m vs. (2.70±0.42) m) and areas with higher canopy cover (1.85±0.57 vs. 2.10±0.47) (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Logistic regression showed that the density of new bamboo shoots was the main factor predicting habitat use by the pre-released giant panda. The pre-released giant panda had similar habitat selection patterns as its mother, suggesting that it may be able to learn skills from its mother, an important factor that can impact the success of the reintroduction. The pre-released giant panda also displayed similar habitat selection patterns as wild giant pandas in Wolong Nature Reserve, suggesting that it may be prepared for foraging in the wild. The fact that the pre-released giant panda selected areas close to the shelter suggests it might have learned predator avoidance skills from pre-release training, which could have a positive effect on its survival in the wild. Home range and home range core areas were 9.21 hm² and 1.93 hm², about 51.95% and 10.89% of the pre-release training enclosure respectively, while the home range was only 1.4%-2.4% of home ranges of wild giant pandas in Wolong Nature Reserve. It is essential to enrich the bamboo species richness of the pre-release training enclosure (such as by including <em>Bashania faberi </em>in the enclosure) in the future.