Identifying priority protection areas of key food resources of the giant panda

Ying-Jie Ma; Meng Wang; Xiao-Yu Hu; Xiao-Dong Gu; Yu-Mei Li; Fu-Wen Wei; Yong-Gang Nie

doi:10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.526

Volume 44 Issue 5

Sep. 2023

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Article Navigation > Zoological Research > 2023 > 44(5): 860-866

Ying-Jie Ma, Meng Wang, Xiao-Yu Hu, Xiao-Dong Gu, Yu-Mei Li, Fu-Wen Wei, Yong-Gang Nie. Identifying priority protection areas of key food resources of the giant panda. Zoological Research, 2023, 44(5): 860-866. doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.526

Citation:

Ying-Jie Ma, Meng Wang, Xiao-Yu Hu, Xiao-Dong Gu, Yu-Mei Li, Fu-Wen Wei, Yong-Gang Nie. Identifying priority protection areas of key food resources of the giant panda. Zoological Research, 2023, 44(5): 860-866. doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.526

Citation:

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Identifying priority protection areas of key food resources of the giant panda

doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.526

Ying-Jie Ma^{1, 2, 3, #},
Meng Wang^{1, 2, #},
Xiao-Yu Hu^{1, 2, #},
Xiao-Dong Gu⁴,
Yu-Mei Li¹,
Fu-Wen Wei^{1, 2, 5},
Yong-Gang Nie^{1, 2
,
,}

1.
Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
2.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3.
Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, China
4.
Sichuan Giant Panda National Park Administration, Chengdu, Sichuan 610081, China
5.
Center for Evolution and Conservation Biology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, Guangdong 511458, China

#Authors contributed equally to this work

Funds: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32071496, 32225033) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA23080500, QYZDB-SSW-SMC047)

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail: nieyg@ioz.ac.cn
Received Date: 2023-04-06
Accepted Date: 2023-07-31

Published Online: 2023-08-01

Publish Date: 2023-09-18

Abstract

Abstract

Animals that live in seasonal environments adjust their reproduction cycle to optimize seasonal forage quality. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are seasonal altitudinal migrants that feed on bamboo shoots and leaves with different nutritional quality. However, the importance of bamboo shoots to giant pandas, especially small and isolated populations, is not fully appreciated. Here, we explored whether mating time of giant pandas is shaped by bamboo shoot phenology. We also assessed the intensity of ongoing bamboo shoot harvesting by local communities in 42 giant panda reserves based on questionnaire surveys. Varying intensity and protection levels of bamboo shoot harvesting were found. From these data, we developed a priority ranking scheme of protection areas for this key food resource. Our study showed that pandas time their mating behavior to coincide with bamboo shoot phenology due to the high nutritional demands associated with mating and pregnancy. We also found that bamboo shoots were not well protected in many places. Liangshan, Daxiangling, and Xiaoxiangling, containing the most isolated panda populations, were identified as the areas with the most urgent need of protection. Furthermore, equal attention should be paid to the QiongL-B population, as this region holds considerable potential to serve as a corridor between the Minshan and Qionglai populations. To address the challenges posed by bamboo shoot harvesting, we recommend establishing more practical bamboo shoot management policies, increasing public awareness of bamboo shoot protection, and providing alternative sources of income for local communities.
- Giant panda,
- Forage quality,
- Bamboo shoot harvesting,
- Reproduction timing,
- Conservation management

#Authors contributed equally to this work

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References(41)

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