观音山自然保护区和佛坪自然保护区大熊猫种群的分布格局

2007年10月和2008年4月,对佛坪自然保护区和观音山自然保护区内大熊猫的活动痕迹进行了样线调查,研究了该区内大熊猫种群及其同域主要伴生动物的分布情况,并分析了影响大熊猫活动分布格局的环境因素.结果表明：观音山和佛坪自然保护区的大熊猫及同域主要伴生野生动物的分布格局基本一致,大熊猫在观音山自然保护区的活动痕迹密度、范围均小于佛坪自然保护区;研究区内2个大熊猫高密度等级的活动中心均分布在佛坪自然保护区内;观音山自然保护区内的大部分地区无大熊猫活动;羚牛、斑羚、野猪等大熊猫主要伴生动物在观音山自然保护区内的活动痕迹数量高于佛坪保护区;人类干扰可能对大熊猫种群活动的分布格局产生影响.     

秦岭地区大熊猫种群空间利用消长状态以及道路影响研究

研究大熊猫种群空间利用的消长动态及其干扰因素对识别大熊猫潜在生境、保护大熊猫种群可持续增长具有重要的现实意义。本文收集了第三次和第四次秦岭大熊猫种群及栖息地调查数据,借助地理信息系统空间分析工具,对比分析了大熊猫种群的空间利用变化格局,并探究了道路干扰对大熊猫种群空间利用格局的影响。结果显示：（1）2000-2012年间,佛坪、长青核心密集区大熊猫种群空间利用密度西北方向增加,东南方向减少,即黄柏塬保护区呈增加趋势,而佛坪、观音山和周至保护区交界处呈减少趋势。其中,局部高密度区面积减少,但整体空间利用面积增大,并呈向外围扩散趋势。种群空间利用密度最大增长达3.05痕迹点/ km²,最大减小密度达2.71痕迹点/km²。（2）距国道、省道和县道2000 m以内种群空间利用密度增幅上升,距乡村道路2000 m外种群空间利用密度变化减小,且距高速公路3500 m大熊猫种群空间利用密度由减转增。深入探讨大熊猫种群空间利用格局可为建设优良栖息地和潜在栖息地提供参考,其结论将有助于优化道路选址和保护区规划,缓解人为活动和野生动物之间的冲突。     

佛坪大熊猫的分布与数量

作者于1990年11—12月对佛坪自然保护区境内大熊猫的分布和数量进行了调查。结果得知在区内293平方公里中共有大熊猫64只,平均密度为0.22只/平方公里。与1974、1983、1988年3次的调查结果比较,表明佛坪大熊猫现有种群基本稳定。     

卧龙与佛坪大熊猫产仔巢穴的比较

产仔巢穴的选择和利用是大熊猫繁殖行为的重要表现之一。它关系到产仔的方便、顺利和母仔的安全。巢穴的选择与大熊猫种群密切有关。对1980—1990年在卧龙自然保护区(以下称卧龙)和佛坪门然保护区(以下称佛坪)发现的18处大熊猫巢穴进行了比较,结果如下:     

秦岭中段南坡景观格局与大熊猫栖息地的关系

景观格局是各种生态过程在不同尺度上作用的结果 ,同时景观格局强烈影响着生境内种群的生物学过程 ;种群的结构和分布状况同栖息地景观格局之间存在一定的联系。借助遥感和地理信息系统软件 ,对秦岭中段南坡地区 3个保护区 (佛坪、长青和观音山 )大熊猫栖息地的景观格局及其与大熊猫活动痕迹密度之间的关系进行了研究。该研究首先绘制了景观类型格局图并进行总体斑块格局分析 ,其次分别从保护区尺度和 1km2 尺度分析平均斑块分维数、破碎度指数和香农多样性指数 ,以进行比较 ;最后在 1km2尺度上统计分析大熊猫活动密度同景观格局指数分布的相关性。研究结果表明 :(1)各自然保护区内的景观格局存在着差异性 ,佛坪保护区景观多样性水平较高 ,长青保护区居中 ,观音山保护区最低 ;(2 )各保护区内部受人为干扰和生境恢复程度不同 ,使得景观破碎化程度在佛坪保护区最低 ,长青保护区居中 ,观音山保护区最高 ;(3)大熊猫活动密度有集中分布的趋势 ,高密度区域主要分布在佛坪中部和长青北部 ;(4 )在 1km2尺度 ,3个保护区大熊猫活动痕迹密度同景观指数格局之间存在不同的相关性 ,说明不同的景观格局会影响到大熊猫的活动和生境利用。     

从长期监测数据看佛坪自然保护区大熊猫种群的发展趋势与生态习性

野生动物监测在保护管理自然资源以确保可持续利用上占有关键地位,在西方一些发达国家已成为濒危物种乃至生物多样性保护的一项重要内容。在我国,对大型哺乳动物的长期监测基本尚未纳入常规,针对野生种群的监测报道迄今罕见。本文以佛坪自然保护区2000 ～ 2006 年大熊猫监测数据为基础,通过大熊猫遗留的新鲜粪便等痕迹指标探讨了该地大熊猫种群的发展趋势与监测数据所反映的大熊猫生态习性。结果显示该保护区内大熊猫种群略显缓慢增加的趋势(t = 1.98,P = 0. 082),不同季节痕迹的海拔变化表明,该地大熊猫有季节性垂直迁移的生态习性。此外,监测数据所反映的大熊猫空间分布等亦与其他相关研究大致吻合,表明该保护区所采用的监测方法有在全国其他大熊猫保护区推广利用的潜在价值。     

秦岭佛坪自然保护区短柄枹栎种群的数量特征

在佛坪国家级自然保护区选取具有代表性的短柄枹栎林群落进行调查,采用空间序列代替时间变化的方法,划分年龄结构,编制静态生命表,绘制存活曲线和死亡率曲线,同时进行生存分析及谱分析,以揭示秦岭佛坪短柄枹栎种群的数量特征。结果显示:(1)佛坪自然保护区的短柄枹栎种群以中幼林为主体,老龄个体较少,种群年龄结构呈倒J型,属增长型种群。(2)短柄枹栎种群的死亡峰值出现在第Ⅰ龄级(胸径0~5cm)和第Ⅵ龄级(胸径25~30cm),生命期望在第Ⅱ龄级(胸径5~10cm)时达到最大;短柄枹栎种群存活曲线属于Deevey-Ⅱ型,可视为稳定种群。(3)短柄枹栎种群动态存在着周期性,基本周期较长,且大周期内存在小周期。研究表明,佛坪自然保护区短柄枹栎种群目前处于稳定增长的状态。     

佛坪大熊猫的移动习性

１９９１年４月１９９２年４月,在佛坪自然保护区采用无线电遥测方法,对大熊猫移动进行了研究。结果表明,佛坪大熊猫有季节性能垂直移动习性。海拔２２００米以上的松花竹林为夏居地,１３００－１９００米的巴山木竹林为冬居地。每年６－９月熊猫向上移动至夏居地,１０月至次年５月在冬居地活动。熊猫的移动与气候和食物的变化有关。     

秦岭南坡两个大熊猫活动密集区的生境特征及大熊猫对生境的选择

对秦岭佛坪和长青2个保护区的大熊猫活动密集区的系列生境因子(包括海拔、坡度、坡向、水系密度、生境类型、竹子种类)进行了研究,并分析了其与大熊猫痕迹点的关系。结果表明：佛坪和长青保护区的生境特征既有相似性又有差异性,故2个保护区的大熊猫对生境的选择也呈相似性和差异性;在长青和佛坪保护区各存在1个大熊猫活动密集区,其具有明显的宏观生境特征;大熊猫活动密集区的生境资源可获得性和大熊猫对生境因子的适应选择对应关系明显;秦岭南坡大熊猫选择的生境特征主要是：海拔1 200～2 600 m,坡度20°～40°,水系密度为2～3条·km^-2,针阔叶混交林,巴山木竹和秦岭箭竹的分布区。     

野生大熊猫种群数量调查方法研究进展

大熊猫(Ailuropodamelanoleuca)是中国特有珍稀野生动物,被誉为野生动物保护领域的"旗舰物种"。大熊猫种群数量的变化可以实时反应大熊猫种群动态,提供大熊猫分布区域、栖息地质量等最直接的信息,是制定大熊猫保护方案的基础,也是有效实施大熊猫保护措施的前提。综述了几种传统野生大熊猫种群数量调查方法(包括直接计数法、数学模型法、距离-咬节分析法及分子生物学方法),以及近年来最新应用于野生动物种群数量调查的红外相机技术、足迹鉴定法,讨论了传统方法中可能存在的问题、分析新方法的应用前景,并针对今后的野生大熊猫种群数量调查提出了一些建议与展望。     

Impact of road construction on giant panda’s habitat and its carrying capacity in Qinling Mountains

The Qinling giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is an endangered endemic species to China. Despite ongoing efforts to ensure its conservation, concerns about maintaining its populations persist. We used GIS fed with data on land use including road network of 2001, third national giant panda survey, and a digital elevation model (DEM) to assess the impact of road construction on giant panda habitat, and estimate the carrying capacity of the Qinling Mountain area. We assessed habitat suitability with a mechanistic model, and conducted correlation analysis to evaluate relationship between the extent of giant panda habitat and amount of sites occupied by pandas within of 5 km × 5 km grid. We also estimated the carrying capacity of the Qinling Mountainous Area.
Our results revealed a significant correlation (R² = 0.447, P < 0.01) between the number of sites with signs left by giant panda and the extent of habitat within of 5 km × 5 km grid. The minimum habitat area that can support one panda was 10 km². Before the road network construction, the area of habitat suitable for the panda amounted about 1561 km² and that of marginally suitable habitat about 1499 km². The corresponding carrying capacity represented about 240 individuals. After the road network construction, the suitable habitat area was reduced by nearly 30% to 1093 km². Marginally suitable habitat and unsuitable habitat have both increased by 17% and 1%, respectively. As a result, the potential population size which the habitat could support was reduced to 217 individuals. The study results also suggested that most impacts on habitat from road construction took place in the high elevation areas above 1500 m. However, regarding the impact on the giant panda habitat, road networks developed much more inside the current nature reserves than outside of them.     

Impact of road construction on giant panda’s habitat and its carrying capacity in Qinling Mountains

The Qinling giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is an endangered endemic species to China. Despite ongoing efforts to ensure its conservation, concerns about maintaining its populations persist. We used GIS fed with data on land use including road network of 2001, third national giant panda survey, and a digital elevation model (DEM) to assess the impact of road construction on giant panda habitat, and estimate the carrying capacity of the Qinling Mountain area. We assessed habitat suitability with a mechanistic model, and conducted correlation analysis to evaluate relationship between the extent of giant panda habitat and amount of sites occupied by pandas within of 5 km × 5 km grid. We also estimated the carrying capacity of the Qinling Mountainous Area.
Our results revealed a significant correlation (R² = 0.447, P < 0.01) between the number of sites with signs left by giant panda and the extent of habitat within of 5 km × 5 km grid. The minimum habitat area that can support one panda was 10 km². Before the road network construction, the area of habitat suitable for the panda amounted about 1561 km² and that of marginally suitable habitat about 1499 km². The corresponding carrying capacity represented about 240 individuals. After the road network construction, the suitable habitat area was reduced by nearly 30% to 1093 km². Marginally suitable habitat and unsuitable habitat have both increased by 17% and 1%, respectively. As a result, the potential population size which the habitat could support was reduced to 217 individuals. The study results also suggested that most impacts on habitat from road construction took place in the high elevation areas above 1500 m. However, regarding the impact on the giant panda habitat, road networks developed much more inside the current nature reserves than outside of them.     

马边大风顶自然保护区大熊猫种群生存力模拟分析

采用漩涡模型Vortex mondel 713 , 模拟了马边大风顶自然保护区大熊猫种群在未来100年内的变动趋势。结果显示: 在无交配限制、无密度制约、无近亲交配衰退等条件下, 马边大风顶自然保护区大熊猫种群数量呈下降趋势; 在考虑近交衰退的影响后, 遗传多样性水平降低, 灭绝率提高; 竹子开花虽能加速大熊猫种群的绝灭, 但由于保护区分布有多个竹种,因此并不会对大熊猫种群产生灾难性影响; 但是人为捕杀可迅速减少大熊猫种群数量, 加速其灭绝过程。因此, 对该保护区大熊猫进行保护的最重要措施就是严格控制人为捕杀, 并保护栖息地及走廊带。     

Genetic evidence of recent population contraction in the southernmost population of giant pandas

Anthropogenic habitat loss and fragmentation have been implicated in the endangerment and extinction of many species. Here we assess genetic variation and demographic history in the southernmost population of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) that continues to be threatened by habitat degradation and fragmentation, using noninvasive genetic sampling, mitochondrial control region sequence and 12 microsatellite loci. Compared to other giant panda populations, this population has medium-level genetic diversity based on the measure of both mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Mitochondrial DNA-based demographic analyses revealed that no historical population expansion or contraction has occurred, indicating a relatively stable population size. However, a Bayesian-coalescent method based on the observed allele distribution and allele frequencies of microsatellite clearly did detect, quantify and date a recent decrease in population size. Overall, the results indicate that a population contraction in the order of 95-96% has taken place over the last 910-999 years and is most likely due to anthropogenic habitat loss. These findings highlight the need for a greater focus on habitat protection and restoration for the long-term survival of this giant panda population.     

四川小相岭山系大熊猫种群及栖息地调查

小相岭山系是现存大熊猫种群数量最少的山系之一。根据全国第3次大熊猫及其栖息地调查结果,小相岭山系大熊猫栖息地分布在石棉、冕宁和九龙三县,栖息地总面积802.04 km²,大熊猫种群数量有32只。大熊猫在3个位于小相岭山系的自然保护区内种群数量和栖息地面积分别为:四川冶勒自然保护区9只,栖息地面积168.01 km²;四川栗子坪自然保护区14只,栖息地面积306.38 km²;四川贡嘎山自然保护区1只,栖息地面积15.19 km²。在3个保护区大熊猫栖息地总面积为489.58 km²,占各山系大熊猫栖息地总面积的61.05%;有大熊猫24只,占大熊猫种群数量的75.0%。小相岭山系大熊猫meta种群栖息地片段化比较严重,它由2个种群和2个孤立分布点组成。南北方向从成都至昆明的108国道以东的种群A有大熊猫13只,栖息地面积263.54 km², 完整性较好,大熊猫分布比较集中。108国道以西的种群B有大熊猫19只,栖息地面积为538.50 km²,栖息地破碎。该山系大熊猫数量少,栖息地片段化严重,需加强保护。
     

Considering threats to population viability of the endangered Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) using VORTEX

Population viability analysis (PVA) has frequently been used in conservation biology to predict extinction rates for threatened or endangered species. In this study, we used VORTEX to model Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) using previously collected ecological data. We focused on modelling population extinction, mean population size and heterozygosity. The minimum viable population size was found to be at least 50 gorals for 100 years, regardless of carrying capacity. However, populations with fewer than 50 gorals could not remain successful in the model. Inbreeding depression, catastrophes and supplementation also affected patterns of population extinction, mean population size and heterozygosity. Supplementation with new individuals had the strongest effect on extinction, mean population size and heterozygosity, followed by initial population size, inbreeding, catastrophes and carrying capacity. These results suggest that a supplementation by extra goral individuals from goral proliferation facilities would be the most helpful means for the restoration programme. More Korean goral-specific information regarding demographic and habitat parameters is needed for further PVA of the species.     

卧龙自然保护区大熊猫生境评价

生物的生境是指生物生活繁衍的场所,由生物与非生物环境构成。近几个世纪以来,物种绝灭的速度加快,生物多样性丧失最重要的原因是生物生境的人为破坏。对保持生物的生境评价,是分析这些物种种群减少,濒危原因的重要手段,还能为制定合理的保护对策提供依据。根据大熊猫生境分布特点提出了大熊猫生境结构理论模型,将影响卧龙大熊猫生境质量的因素分为物理环境因素、生物环境因素和人类活动因素,探讨了生境评价的程序与卧龙大熊猫生境评价准则,运用地理信息系统技术与空间模拟方法分析了卧龙大熊猫生境质量。在人类活动影响下,卧龙自然保护区内适宜大熊猫生存的生境面积有57597.3hm^2,其中最适生境面积为6256.1hm^2,主要分布在海拔2300－2800m的平缓山坡与台地。     

Important population viability analysis parameters for giant pandas (Aliuropoda melanoleuca)

Population viability analysis(PVA) is a tool to evaluate the risk of extinction for endangered species and aid conservation decision-making.The quality of PVA output is dependent on parameters related to population dynamics and life-history;however,it has been difficult to collect this information for the giant panda(Aliuropoda melanoleuca),a rare and endangered mammal native to China,confined to some 30 fragmented habitat patches.Since giant pandas are long-lived,mature late,have lower reproductive rates,and show little sexual dimorphism,obtaining data to perform adequate PVA has been difficult.Here,we develop a parameter sensitivity index by modeling the dynamics of six giant panda populations in the Minshan Mountains,in order to determine the parameters most influential to giant panda populations.Our data shows that the giant panda populations are most sensitive to changes in four female parameters:initial breeding age,reproductive rate,mortality rate between age 0 and 1,and mortality rate of adults.The parameter sensitivity index strongly correlated with initial population size,as smaller populations were more sensitive to changes in these four variables.This model suggests that demographic parameters of females have more influence on the results of PVA,indicating that females may play a more important role in giant panda population dynamics than males.Consequently,reintroduction of female individuals to a small giant panda population should be a high priority for conservation efforts.Our findings form a technical basis for the coming program of giant panda reintroduction,and inform which parameters are crucial to successfully and feasibly monitoring wild giant panda populations.     

Population genetics reveals high connectivity of giant panda populations across human disturbance features in key nature reserve

The giant panda is an example of a species that has faced extensive historical habitat fragmentation, and anthropogenic disturbance and is assumed to be isolated in numerous subpopulations with limited gene flow between them. To investigate the population size, health, and connectivity of pandas in a key habitat area, we noninvasively collected a total of 539 fresh wild giant panda fecal samples for DNA extraction within Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. Seven validated tetra‐microsatellite markers were used to analyze each sample, and a total of 142 unique genotypes were identified. Nonspatial and spatial capture–recapture models estimated the population size of the reserve at 164 and 137 individuals (95% confidence intervals 153–175 and 115–163), respectively. Relatively high levels of genetic variation and low levels of inbreeding were estimated, indicating adequate genetic diversity. Surprisingly, no significant genetic boundaries were found within the population despite the national road G350 that bisects the reserve, which is also bordered with patches of development and agricultural land. We attribute this to high rates of migration, with four giant panda road‐crossing events confirmed within a year based on repeated captures of individuals. This likely means that giant panda populations within mountain ranges are better connected than previously thought. Increased development and tourism traffic in the area and throughout the current panda distribution pose a threat of increasing population isolation, however. Maintaining and restoring adequate habitat corridors for dispersal is thus a vital step for preserving the levels of gene flow seen in our analysis and the continued conservation of the giant panda meta‐population in both Wolong and throughout their current range.