Authors: Zhang, Wenguang¹; Hu, Yuanman²; Chen, Bingyao³; Tang, Zhonghai⁴; Xu, Chonggang⁵; Qi, Dunwu⁶; Hu, Jinchu⁶

Source: Animal Biology, Volume 57, Number 4, 2007 , pp. 485-500(16)

Publisher: BRILL

Abstract:

Human activities have been a main cause of floral and faunal species extinction and loss of local and global biodiversity. Habitat and population can become fragmented and isolated under anthropogenic disturbances. In this study, we focus on the effect of human activities on the habitat and population of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the north slopes of Daxiangling Mountains, Sichuan province, China. Based on eight months of field investigation in 2004, we found that the distribution of the giant panda population has been limited to remnants of habitat due to human activities such as road construction, mining and hydropower stations. There is 100.60 km² area suitable for the giant panda (including moderately suitable, suitable and most suitable), which only accounts for 21.33% of the bamboo area. Based on a dispersal model COST, there were 79.94 km² areas (17.12%) (including moderately suitable, suitable and most suitable) for giant panda utilization in reality. Only 16.35 km² areas (3.5%) of total bamboo area were most suitable. The areas that suitable for panda had decreased 20.66 km² from 2000 in total due to people activities. The results of this study can be used to provide basic information to build nature reserve for protecting giant panda in Daxiangling Mountains.

Keywords: DAXIANGLING MOUNTAINS; GIANT PANDA; GIS; HABITAT SUITABILITY; LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157075607782232107

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; Institute of Rare and Precious Animal and Plants, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China; Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100 2: Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China 3: Jiansu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097, China 4: The Mianyang Normal College, Mianyang, 621000, China 5: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, 0471102, USA 6: Institute of Rare and Precious Animal and Plants, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China

Publication date: 2007-10-01

More about this publication?

• For more content see: Archives Néerlandaises de Zoologie (Volumes 1-17), Netherlands Journal of Zoology (Volumes 18-52)

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Biology ,  Zoology
• By this author: Zhang, Wenguang ;  Hu, Yuanman ;  Chen, Bingyao ;  Tang, Zhonghai ;  Xu, Chonggang ;  Qi, Dunwu ;  Hu, Jinchu

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers