Space use by endangered giant pandas

Hull, Vanessa; Zhang, Jindong; Zhou, Shuiqin; Huang, Jinyan; Li, Rengui; Liu, Dian; Xu, Weihua; Huang, Yan; Ouyang, Zhiyun; Zhang, Hemin; Liu, Jianguo

doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyu031

Cited by 66 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…2014 a ; Hull et al. ). Fine‐scale movement data show that most daily movements by pandas are characterized by short tortuous movements within a habitat patch, infrequent long‐distance movements to gain access to other habitat patches, and avoidance of steep slopes.…”

Section: Movement Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, it is unsurprising that the advent of geographic positioning system (GPS) tracking revealed larger home range and core area sizes than radio tracking. (Zhang et al 2014a;Hull et al 2015). Fine-scale movement data show that most daily movements by pandas are characterized by short tortuous movements within a habitat patch, infrequent long-distance movements to gain access to other habitat patches, and avoidance of steep slopes.…”

Section: Movement Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas

Wei

Swaisgood

et al. 2015

Conservation Biology

166

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Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) conservation is a possible success story in the making. If extinction of this iconic endangered species can be avoided, the species will become a showcase program for the Chinese government and its collaborators. We reviewed the major advancements in ecological science for the giant panda, examining how these advancements have contributed to panda conservation. Pandas' morphological and behavioral adaptations to a diet of bamboo, which bear strong influence on movement ecology, have been well studied, providing knowledge to guide management actions ranging from reserve design to climate change mitigation. Foraging ecology has also provided essential information used in the creation of landscape models of panda habitat. Because habitat loss and fragmentation are major drivers of the panda population decline, efforts have been made to help identify core habitat areas, establish where habitat corridors are needed, and prioritize areas for protection and restoration. Thus, habitat models have provided guidance for the Chinese governments' creation of 67 protected areas. Behavioral research has revealed a complex and efficient communication system and documented the need for protection of habitat that serves as a communication platform for bringing the sexes together for mating. Further research shows that den sites in old-growth forests may be a limiting resource, indicating potential value in providing alternative den sites for rearing offspring. Advancements in molecular ecology have been revolutionary and have been applied to population census, determining population structure and genetic diversity, evaluating connectivity following habitat fragmentation, and understanding dispersal patterns. These advancements form a foundation for increasing the application of adaptive management approaches to move panda conservation forward more rapidly. Although the Chinese government has made great progress in setting aside protected areas, future emphasis will be improved management of pandas and their habitat.

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Section: Movement Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Movement Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas

Wei

Swaisgood

et al. 2015

Conservation Biology

166

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Understanding how a species selects its habitat and where and why it is distributed is a fundamental part of applied and theoretical research in animal ecology (Hull et al, ; Manly et al, ; Nielsen, McDermid, Stenhouse, & Boyce, ). It necessitates an understanding of dispersal mechanisms, behavioral plasticity, and habitat occupancy at fine‐spatial resolution across large landscapes (Hull et al, ; Kernohan, Gitzen, & Millspaugh, ; Powell, ). Studies of habitat occupancy based on coarse data such as weather stations and/or landscape features fail to account for fine‐scale habitat features, which may lead to erroneous conclusions about species distribution (Austin & Van Niel, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Red panda fine‐scale habitat selection along a Central Himalayan longitudinal gradient

Bista

Paudel²,

Jnawali

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Red panda Ailurus fulgens , an endangered habitat specialist, inhabits a narrow distribution range in bamboo abundance forests along mountain slopes in the Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains. However, their habitat use may be different in places with different longitudinal environmental gradients, climatic regimes, and microclimate. This study aimed to determine the habitat variables affecting red panda distribution across different longitudinal gradients through a multivariate analysis. We studied habitat selection patterns along the longitudinal gradient in Nepal's Himalaya which is grouped into the eastern, central, and western complexes. We collected data on red panda presence and habitat variables (e.g., tree richness, canopy cover, bamboo abundance, water availability, tree diameter, tree height) by surveys along transects throughout the species’ potential range. We used a multimodal inference approach with a generalized linear model to test the relative importance of environmental variables. Although the study showed that bamboo abundance had a major influence, habitat selection was different across longitudinal zones. Both canopy cover and species richness were unimportant in eastern Nepal, but their influence increased progressively toward the west. Conversely, tree height showed a decreasing influence on habitat selection from Eastern to Western Nepal. Red panda's habitat selection revealed in this study corresponds to the uneven distribution of vegetation assemblages and the dry climatic gradient along the eastern‐western Himalayas which could be related to a need to conserve energy and thermoregulate. This study has further highlighted the need of importance of bamboo conservation and site‐specific conservation planning to ensure long‐term red panda conservation.

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“…If they used only 10% of the bamboo resources a year, then 1 km 2 would support 22 giant pandas, and that is for just one species of bamboo in that reserve. However, the home range of a giant panda4445 is usually 3.0 to 6.0 km 2 . There must be limitations in the biology of the giant panda that go beyond the bamboo supply, since that size home range provides a density of giant pandas that is 1 to 2% of what would be supported by bamboo alone.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic rates of giant pandas inform conservation strategies

Fei

Hou

Spotila

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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The giant panda is an icon of conservation and survived a large-scale bamboo die off in the 1980s in China. Captive breeding programs have produced a large population in zoos and efforts continue to reintroduce those animals into the wild. However, we lack sufficient knowledge of their physiological ecology to determine requirements for survival now and in the face of climate change. We measured resting and active metabolic rates of giant pandas in order to determine if current bamboo resources were sufficient for adding additional animals to populations in natural reserves. Resting metabolic rates were somewhat below average for a panda sized mammal and active metabolic rates were in the normal range. Pandas do not have exceptionally low metabolic rates. Nevertheless, there is enough bamboo in natural reserves to support both natural populations and large numbers of reintroduced pandas. Bamboo will not be the limiting factor in successful reintroduction.

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Space use by endangered giant pandas

Cited by 66 publications

References 35 publications

Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas

Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas

Red panda fine‐scale habitat selection along a Central Himalayan longitudinal gradient

Metabolic rates of giant pandas inform conservation strategies

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