Complex effects of habitat amount and fragmentation on functional connectivity and inbreeding in a giant panda population

Connor, Thomas; Qiao, Mu; Scribner, Kim T.; Zhang, Jindong; Hull, Vanessa; Bai, Wenke; Shortridge, Ashton; Li, Rengui; Zhang, Hemin; Liu, Jianguo

doi:10.1111/cobi.13828

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…This unique population exhibits a relatively high level of genetic diversity (Hu, Qi, et al, 2010; Hu, Zhan, et al, 2010), which is vital for safeguarding the long‐term survival and adaptive capacity of the species (Hoban et al, 2021). Moreover, the isolated, fragmented habitat conditions found in the Liangshan Mountains (Sichuan Forestry Department, 2015; Wang et al, 2010) present both challenges for population existence (Connor et al, 2022; Fahrig, 2003; Wei et al, 2018) and opportunities for devising innovative conservation approaches (Knight et al, 2008). The unique geographic position of this population, being at the (rear) edge of the species distribution range, renders it particularly valuable for investigating and facilitating adaptive responses to climate change (Habibzadeh et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giant pandas are losing their edge: Population trend and distribution dynamic drivers of the giant panda

Li,

Rao,

Gai

et al. 2023

Global Change Biology

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Comprehending the population trend and understanding the distribution range dynamics of species are necessary for global species protection. Recognizing what causes dynamic distribution change is crucial for identifying species' environmental preferences and formulating protection policies. Here, we studied the rear‐edge population of the flagship species, giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), to (1) assess their population trend using their distribution patterns, (2) evaluate their distribution dynamics change from the second (1988) to the third (2001) survey (2–3 Interval) and third to the fourth (2013) survey (3–4 Interval) using a machine learning algorithm (eXtremely Gradient Boosting), and (3) decode model results to identify driver factors in the first known use of SHapley Additive exPlanations. Our results showed that the population trends in Liangshan Mountains were worst in the second survey (k = 1.050), improved by the third survey (k = 0.97), but deteriorated by the fourth survey (k = 0.996), which indicates a worrying population future. We found that precipitation had the most significant influence on distribution dynamics among several potential environmental factors, showing a negative correlation between precipitation and giant panda expansion. We recommend that further research is needed to understand the microenvironment and animal distribution dynamics. We provide a fresh perspective on the dynamics of giant panda distribution, highlighting novel focal points for ecological research on this species. Our study offers theoretical underpinnings that could inform the formulation of more effective conservation policies. Also, we emphasize the uniqueness and importance of the Liangshan Mountains giant pandas as the rear‐edge population, which is at a high risk of population extinction.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giant pandas are losing their edge: Population trend and distribution dynamic drivers of the giant panda

Li,

Rao,

Gai

et al. 2023

Global Change Biology

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“…Giant pandas are distributed in six mountain ranges: Minshan, Qionglai, Qinling, Liangshan, Daxiangling, and Xiaoxiangling, mainly in southwestern China ( Zhu et al, 2011 ). Although the conservation status of the giant panda has been downgraded from “endangered” to “vulnerable” ( Swaisgood et al, 2016 ), they are still threatened by even more severe habitat loss and fragmentation ( Xu et al, 2017 ; Connor et al, 2022 ). Small isolated populations caused by the habitat fragmentation are particularly vulnerable to environmental factors, including disease and parasite outbreaks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A snapshot of climate drivers and temporal variation of Ixodes ovatus abundance from a giant panda living in the wild

Fan¹,

Ma²,

Yue³

et al. 2023

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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“…We know that maintaining genetic connectivity in human‐impacted landscapes is key to wildlife conservation (Brady & Richardson, 2017; Fusco et al, 2021; Johnson & Munshi‐South, 2017; Miles et al, 2019). By creating a patchwork of small isolated populations with reduced exchange (Fusco et al, 2021; Miles et al, 2019; Riley et al, 2006), linear transport infrastructure networks have now been shown to cause a range of genetic consequences for species, including increased inbreeding (Connor et al, 2022; Larison et al, 2021), increased genetic drift (Miles et al, 2019) and decreased effective population size ( N e ) (Trumbo et al, 2019), all of which can have deleterious consequences on species (Margan et al, 1998). While these studies have provided a significant step toward understanding the genetic consequences of human‐induced habitat fragmentation on wildlife retrospectively, its study would benefit from understanding its effect on patterns of genetic diversity while population subdivision is taking place.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the genetic consequences of population subdivision as it unfolds and how to best mitigate them: A rare story about koalas

et al. 2023

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The genetic consequences of the subdivision of populations are regarded as significant to long‐term evolution, and research has shown that the scale and speed at which this is now occurring is critically reducing the adaptive potential of most species which inhabit human‐impacted landscapes. Here, we provide a rare and, to our knowledge, the first analysis of this process while it is happening and demonstrate a method of evaluating the effect of mitigation measures such as fauna crossings. We did this by using an extensive genetic data set collected from a koala population which was intensely monitored during the construction of linear transport infrastructure which resulted in the subdivision of their population. First, we found that both allelic richness and effective population size decreased through the process of population subdivision. Second, we predicted the extent to which genetic drift could impact genetic diversity over time and showed that after only 10 generations the resulting two subdivided populations could experience between 12% and 69% loss in genetic diversity. Lastly, using forward simulations we estimated that a minimum of eight koalas would need to disperse from each side of the subdivision per generation to maintain genetic connectivity close to zero but that 16 koalas would ensure that both genetic connectivity and diversity remained unchanged. These results have important consequences for the genetic management of species in human‐impacted landscapes by showing which genetic metrics are best to identify immediate loss in genetic diversity and how to evaluate the effectiveness of any mitigation measures.

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Complex effects of habitat amount and fragmentation on functional connectivity and inbreeding in a giant panda population

Abstract: Article impact statement: Habitat amount and fragmentation have nonlinear effects on gene flow and inbreeding and are best managed at intermediate levels for pandas.

Cited by 15 publications

References 73 publications

Giant pandas are losing their edge: Population trend and distribution dynamic drivers of the giant panda

Giant pandas are losing their edge: Population trend and distribution dynamic drivers of the giant panda

A snapshot of climate drivers and temporal variation of Ixodes ovatus abundance from a giant panda living in the wild

Evaluating the genetic consequences of population subdivision as it unfolds and how to best mitigate them: A rare story about koalas

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