大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)生境选择研究进展

在回顾大熊猫生境选择研究历史的基础上,总结了大熊猫生境选择的考察因子、研究方法,概括了大熊猫对对觅食条件、隐蔽条件和气候条件的选择机制,并探讨了大熊猫生境选择的灵活性及大熊猫和与其同域分布的动物种的共存机制.作者认为,野外调查误差大、研究尺度单一等是目前大熊猫生境选择研究中存在的主要问题,应用目前较流行的已被证明比较优良的资源选择函数法、DNA指纹技术、无线电遥测、红外线自动感应照相系统、GIS与遥感成像等先进技术,并融合景观生态学理论,从较大尺度空间来研究大熊猫的生境选择,应是今后的发展方向.     

大熊猫（Ailuropoda melanoleuca）生境选择研究进展

在回顾大熊猫生境选择研究历史的基础上,总结了大熊猫生境选择的考察因子、研究方法,概括了大熊猫对对觅食条件、隐蔽条件和气候条件的选择机制,并探讨了大熊猫生境选择的灵活性及大熊猫和与其同域分布的动物种的共存机制。作者认为,野外调查误差大、研究尺度单一等是目前大熊猫生境选择研究中存在的主要问题,应用目前较流行的已被证明比较优良的资源选择函数法、DNA指纹技术、无线电遥测、红外线自动感应照相系统、GIS与遥感成像等先进技术,并融合景观生态学理论,从较大尺度空间来研究大熊猫的生境选择,应是今后的发展方向。     

生态位因子分析在大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)生境评价中的应用

生态位因子分析是研究物种地理分布的一种多变量分析方法,其最大优点是模型计算只需物种"出现点"的数据,而不需要"非出现点"数据,在生境评价与生境预测中得到广泛应用.将该方法应用于大熊猫生境适宜性评价中,利用大熊猫活动痕迹点和遥感数据分析了平武县大熊猫生境分布现状,综合评价了该县自然保护区的分布状况和存在的保护空缺.研究结果表明,大熊猫偏好在中高海拔(＞2128 m)的针叶林和针阔混交林中活动,而避免在落叶阔叶林和灌丛林中活动,避免在有人为干扰的地区活动,农田是对大熊猫活动影响强度最大的人为干扰因子.平武县大熊猫生境主要分布在该县西部和北部地区,总面积为234033 hm2,其中适宜生境为106345 hm2,次适宜生境为127688 hm2.目前该县已建的3个大熊猫自然保护区使47.2%的大熊猫生境得到保护(包括49.2%的适宜生境和45.6%的次适宜生境),尽管如此,保护区之间连接性差,存在严重的保护空缺.该县北部的白马乡、木座乡是大熊猫的主要分布区,却没有得到保护区的有效保护,建议在该地区新建自然保护区.     

大相岭山系大熊猫生境评价与保护对策研究

从长远来看,从山系或更大尺度上来开展大熊猫(Ailuropodamelanoleuca)生境的研究与保护更有意义。本研究通过野外调查,在地理信息系统(GIS)和遥感(RS)技术支持下,利用大熊猫生境结构理论模型,选取海拔、坡度、植被类型、竹子分布、道路和居民点的分布等评价因子,系统地研究了大相岭山系大熊猫生境的分布、生境质量与空间格局,以及生境保护现状,在此基础上提出了该山系生境保护与自然保护区建设的对策。遥感数据分析结果表明,与大熊猫生境密切相关的阔叶林与针叶林的面积为344,970hm2,占该地区总面积的58.4%,灌丛占18.4%,其他的土地利用与土地覆被类型占23.2%。综合评价结果表明,大相岭山系的大熊猫潜在生境为118,749hm2,由于森林及矿产资源的开发、交通以及农业活动等的影响导致生境面积减少为93,115hm2,且尚存的生境被隔离为两个互相独立的生境单元,使荥河与瓦屋山这两个种群的交流受到严重阻碍,而现有的保护区仅保护了生境总面积的28.0%。为了有效地保护该山系的大熊猫,应该注意从三个方面加强对大熊猫生境的规划与保护:(1)扩大自然保护区的保护范围,使大熊猫生境的集中分布区都得到保护;(2)以退耕还林和天然林保护工程为契机,加强被隔离生境的联系,促进大熊猫种群之间的交流;(3)控制海拔1,800–2,700m之间人类活动对大熊猫生境的影响。     

生态位因子分析在大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)生境评价中的应用

生态位因子分析是研究物种地理分布的一种多变量分析方法,其最大优点是模型计算只需物种“出现点”的数据,而不需要“非出现点”数据,在生境评价与生境预测中得到广泛应用。将该方法应用于大熊猫生境适宜性评价中,利用大熊猫活动痕迹点和遥感数据分析了平武县大熊猫生境分布现状,综合评价了该县自然保护区的分布状况和存在的保护空缺。研究结果表明,大熊猫偏好在中高海拔（>2128 m）的针叶林和针阔混交林中活动,而避免在落叶阔叶林和灌丛林中活动,避免在有人为干扰的地区活动,农田是对大熊猫活动影响强度最大的人为干扰因子。平武县大熊猫生境主要分布在该县西部和北部地区,总面积为234033 hm2,其中适宜生境为106345 hm2,次适宜生境为127688 hm2。目前该县已建的3个大熊猫自然保护区使47.2%的大熊猫生境得到保护（包括49.2%的适宜生境和45.6%的次适宜生境）,尽管如此,保护区之间连接性差,存在严重的保护空缺。该县北部的白马乡、木座乡是大熊猫的主要分布区,却没有得到保护区的有效保护,建议在该地区新建自然保护区。     

基于GIS长春市郊农地土壤肥力综合评价

以长春市郊区农地为例,应用ArcInfo进行空间数据采集、处理与分析,以土地利用类型作为评价单元,采用层次分析法确定评价因素的权重,引入模糊数学方法,建立各评价因素对肥力的隶属函数,计算各个肥力评价因素的评分,最后用指数和法求出各评价单元的综合评价值,根据综合评价值的大小划分土壤肥力等级,并分级统计其面积.应用ArcView GIS绘制了评价结果图.     

用间接遥感方法探测大熊猫栖息地竹林分布

竹子是野生大熊猫赖以生存的唯一食物。探测大熊猫栖息地内的竹林分布状况,有助于深入了解大熊猫及其栖息地的空间分布格局与特点,并为评估其栖息地适宜性、破碎化程度和生态承载力提供科学依据。由于大熊猫的主食竹大都生长于林下,直接通过遥感影像解译的方法很难实现对其分布密度的探测。以佛坪自然保护区的两大优势竹种——巴山木竹和秦岭箭竹为例,在运用遥感和GIS方法获取空间连续的环境变量时,引入了林上和林下的光照条件,通过分析不同竹种与各环境要素之间的关系,建立竹子密度的预测模型,最后在GIS空间分析技术的支持下实现了对林下竹子密度的绘制。研究结果显示:该方法能够比较准确地预测出林下竹子的分布状态,对两种竹子的密度预测精度均可达到70%以上。     

农用地时空变化对大熊猫生境的影响:以岷山中部地区的白草河流域为例

岷山中部地区是我国野生大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)种群分布密度较高的地区之一,但近年来砍伐森林、种植药材等农业活动较为突出,可能对大熊猫及其生境利用造成不利影响.为了明确该地区农用地的时空变化特征,及其对保护区内外大熊猫生境的影响,我们采用遥感影像解析、GIS空间分析和野外调查相结合的方法在白草河流域进行了本项研究.结果表明.该流域的农用地主要分布在海拔1,700 m以下的地区.从1994-2008年,农用地面积呈现先减少后增加的趋势:1994-2001年间,农用地面积减少,减少区域主要在海拔1,700 m以下的地区;2001-2008年间,农用地面积增加明显,增加区域主要在海拔1,700m以上的高海拔地区和自然保护区周边.农用地扩张直接导致1994-2008年间该地区5,281 hm2(6.46%)的大熊猫生境丧失.就保护区内外而言,保护区外部大熊猫生境的丧失比例达21.53%,而保护区内部的生境变化不大.为了有效保护该地区的大熊猫生境,除了禁止在自然保护区内部进行开发外,建议对保护区外部的大熊猫生境进行保护,禁止在海拔1,700 m以上的高海拔地区进行土地开发.     

甘肃大熊猫生境质量评价

本研究以第四次大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)调查、甘肃省森林资源二类清查等数据为基础资料,依据国内外有关大熊猫对生境选择利用的研究成果,结合本地本山系大熊猫分布及活动的实际情况,选取竹子分布、植被类型、海拔、坡度、坡向、道路和居民区等评价因子,建立了大熊猫生境质量评价指标体系和准则,借助Arcgis10.2软件,利用栅格赋值和空间叠加原理系统地研究了甘肃大熊猫生境质量。结果表明,甘肃大熊猫生境质量总体较好,适宜和较适宜生境面积总和占到了69.77%;四个局域种群单元中白水江单元适宜生境面积最大,其次为甘南单元;各大熊猫分布县中,文县的大熊猫生境质量最好,其次为舟曲;甘肃大熊猫适宜生境大都处于保护区中,各保护区适宜生境总和为178 771 hm~2,占全省大熊猫适宜生境的88.72%;各保护区中,白水江国家级自然保护区的适宜生境面积最大,其次为插岗梁省级保护区。     

黄河三角洲国家级自然保护区生态敏感性评价

基于GIS下的网格分析,建立了结合生境适宜性评价和人为干扰特征分析的生态敏感性评价模型.首先建立被列为世界自然保护联盟(IUCN)红色名录濒危等级(截止到2007)的水禽数据库,并结合相关文献及实地调查,识别评价所选物种的生境需求.再基于GIS下的200m×200m网格系统,依据生境适宜性评价模型,从景观水平上进行生境现状评价,提出"综合生境适宜性的概念"并计算综合生境适宜性指数, 再根据综合指数进行生境适宜性评价;然后从已建立的数据库中选取典型物种鹤类作为指示种,同样基于200m×200m的网格,借助GIS技术分析研究区内的人为干扰因子(道路和油井)造成的生境损失;最后在以上的研究基础上,将生境适宜性评价和人为干扰特征分析的结果叠加运算进行生态敏感性分析.结果表明:研究区生态敏感性整体上较高,总的分布规律是靠近沿海的区域敏感性较高,内陆区域的敏感性较低;并按生态敏感度的高低,将研究区划分为极敏感区、敏感区、较敏感区、一般敏感区和不敏感区5个等级,其中极敏感区和敏感区面积共占研究区面积的55.74%,较敏感区约占16.26%,一般敏感区和不敏感区各占22.81%和5.19%.此外,为更有效地保护重要生境,对照保护区现有的功能分区,并结合评价结果,讨论了功能分区调整的相关建议.     

卧龙自然保护区大熊猫空间利用格局动态变化特征

野生动物在长期的栖息地选择过程中,能判断其生境质量,而趋向于选择既能降低能量消耗,又能获得营养价值和能量净收益较高的有利生境。以往的研究多是从统计学方法或宏观尺度对大熊猫生境进行评价,很少考虑到野生动物自身生物学特性及生境选择过程中的空间利用特征。本研究结合家域模型与景观格局分析技术定量分析大熊猫实际空间利用格局的动态变化特征及其破碎化程度,进而反映不同时期大熊猫生境选择模式及栖息地生境适宜性的动态变化。结果表明：卧龙自然保护区大熊猫在对栖息地的实际利用过程中向更适宜的区域集中,使得高适宜等级区域面积有所增大;而边缘生境区域更容易受到自然灾害和人为因素的干扰,破碎化加剧,需要在保护工作中引起足够的重视。从大熊猫行为模式特征出发,在不同时空尺度上,评估大熊猫对生境选择的空间格局变化特征,丰富了野生动物栖息地适宜性评价的时空尺度选择,为更准确地制定保护区管理政策提供了有效的工具。     

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。     

基于野外痕迹点和GIS技术定量评估步道对大熊猫活动的影响

道路建设不仅直接导致野生动物死亡,还能对栖息地形成阻碍效应,导致小种群出现或隔离,增加物种灭绝的风险。生态学家在道路对野生动物影响研究中的一个重要进展是道路影响域(road-effectzone)的提出,但影响域既不能反映道路影响的变化性,也难以满足栖息地评估对数据的要求。为此,我们以大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)为例来探讨道路影响的定量评估方法。在佛坪和长青保护区内选择了3条步道,获取了步道周边1,042个大熊猫的痕迹点数据,通过GIS计算各痕迹点到步道的距离,统计距离步道每20m内的痕迹点数量,以此作为其活动频率。在距步道每100m处设置检测点,通过非参数检验比较检测点前后活动频率分布的变化,寻找道路对大熊猫活动影响的突变点,确定影响变化的阈值距离和评价标准。研究发现在距离步道1,000m内,随距离的增加,大熊猫活动频率逐渐增大,大熊猫有明显的回避效应;在距步道500m、1,000m处发现活动频率发生了显著变化,为影响的阈值距离。本研究基于痕迹点和阈值距离的评估方法可以反映道路影响连续、渐变的特点,使定量、准确评估其影响成为可能。     

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.     

Integrating GIS and expert judgment in a multi-criteria analysis to map and develop a habitat suitability index: A case study of large mammals on the Malayan Peninsula

Many habitat patches in tropical landscapes have become less suitable for wildlife due to an increase in anthropogenic disturbances. An index of habitat suitability based on the ecological factors that collectively determine the suitability of an organism's habitat is important for conservation planning. However, a widely accepted and comprehensive multi-criteria habitat suitability index for umbrella species is still lacking, particularly in areas where information related to the biology and ecology of the species of interest is not available. Therefore we develop preliminary habitat maps and measure the degree of habitat suitability for large mammals, focusing on four umbrella species in the State of Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia: Panthera tigris jacksoni (Malayan tiger), Tapirus indicus (Malayan tapir), Helarctos malayanus malayanus (Malayan sun bear), and Rusa unicolor cambojensis (sambar deer). The former two are endangered and the latter two are vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List. The suitability of habitat patches for each species was measured across the entire study area as well as in nine wildlife protected areas by integrating GIS data and expert opinion. Expert opinions were used as the source of information regarding the stresses faced by the species because there was insufficient information available from ground surveys.We developed an index and maps of habitat suitability for each species, which were then integrated to represent a combined index (ranging from 0 to 27) and spatially explicit maps of the area's habitat suitability for large mammals. The average large mammal habitat suitability index value of the State of Selangor (9) indicates that many habitat patches have become unsuitable for such species. Of the nine wildlife protected areas, Fraser's Hill (22), Sungai Dusun (22), and Bukit Kutu (21) are very suitable; Klang Gate (20) and Templers Park (17) are suitable; and the remaining four are unsuitable for large mammals. We assume that this preliminary habitat suitability index and mapping are useful for conservation planning of wildlife habitats at both landscape and regional scales, as well as providing an initial foundation for revision by future research with significant new information.     

Impact of livestock on giant pandas and their habitat

Livestock production is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity worldwide. However, impacts of livestock on endangered species have been understudied, particularly across the livestock–wildlife interface in forested protected areas. We investigated the impact of an emerging livestock sector in China's renowned Wolong Nature Reserve for giant pandas. We integrated empirical data from field surveys, remotely sensed imagery, and GPS collar tracking to analyze (1) the spatial distribution of horses in giant panda habitat, (2) space use and habitat selection patterns of horses and pandas, and (3) the impact of horses on pandas and bamboo (panda's main food source). We discovered that the horse distribution overlapped with suitable giant panda habitat. Horses had smaller home ranges than pandas but both species showed similarities in habitat selection. Horses consumed considerable amounts of bamboo, and may have resulted in a decline in panda habitat use. Our study highlights the need to formulate policies to address this emerging threat to the endangered giant panda. It also has implications for understanding livestock impacts in other protected areas across the globe.     

Does one size fit all? A multispecies approach to regional landscape corridor planning

Aim

The practical value of the single‐species approach to conserve biodiversity could be minimal or negligible when sympatric species are limited by factors that are not relevant to the proposed umbrella species. In this study, we quantitatively evaluated as follows: (1) habitat suitability and potential movement corridors of a single umbrella species, giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca); (2) habitat suitability of sympatric mammals; and (3) the potential effectiveness of the single‐species corridor planning to preserve suitable habitat and its connectivity of other focal species.

Location

Qinling Mountains, central part of China (15,000 km²).

Methods

We collected species distribution, environmental and anthropogenic data and conducted species occupancy modelling for giant panda and six other sympatric species (i.e., takin Budorcas taxicolor, tufted deer Elaphodus cephalophus, Chinese goral Naemorhedus griseus, Reeve's muntjac Muntiacus reevesi, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis and yellow‐throated marten Martes flavigula). We then conducted circuit models to identify potential corridors for each species and evaluated the effectiveness of giant panda corridors to restore the habitat connectivity for these sympatric mammals.

Results

Occupancy modelling revealed that each species had a unique set of environmental variables associated with its distribution in the Qinling Mountains. We found that giant panda and all other focal species had some degree of fragmentation to their suitable habitat that required restoring habitat connectivity. Among the eight potential giant panda corridors, conservation efforts to reduce anthropogenic impacts would significantly improve the effectiveness of six corridors, while the other two corridors would require altering the vegetation. Five proposed giant panda corridors had remarkable overlap with corridors proposed for other species. We suggest two giant panda corridors as a priority due to their potential to maximize the benefits to both giant panda and a broader suite of mammals.

Main conclusions

Corridor planning in this region of China will likely continue using the single‐species policy, but our results highlight that not all potential giant panda corridors have equal effectiveness for other wildlife species. When offered multiple alternative actions, conservation planners can prioritize corridor development based on a multispecies perspective without loss of connectivity for the priority species. This approach has strong implications to the conservation of wildlife communities in China, and elsewhere, where conservation plans developed for a single‐species garner most available funding and institutional support.

     

Application of ecological-niche factor analysis in habitat assessment of giant pandas

Ecological-niche factor analysis (ENFA) is a multivariate approach to study geographic distribution of species on a large scale with only “presence” data. It has been widely applied in many fields including wildlife management, habitat assessment and habitat prediction. In this paper, this approach was applied in habitat suitability assessment for giant pandas in Pingwu County, Sichuan Province, China. With “presence” data of giant pandas and remote sensing data, habitat suitability of pandas in this county was evaluated based on ENFA model, and spatial distribution pattern of nature reserves and conservation gaps were then evaluated. The results show that giant pandas in this county prefer high-elevation zones (> 2128 m) dominated by coniferous forest, and mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaf forest, and avoid deciduous broadleaf forest and shrubs. Pandas avoid staying at habitats with human disturbances. Farmland is a major factor threatening panda habitat. Panda habitat is mainly distributed in north and west of Pingwu with a total area of 234033 hm², 106345hm² for suitable habitat and 127688 hm² for marginally suitable habitat). 3 nature reserves were located in Pingwu, covering over 49.2% of total suitable habitat and 45.6% of total marginally suitable habitat. Although 47.2% of panda habitat was in reserves under protection, connectivity between reserves was weak and a conservation gap existed in the north part of Pingwu. Thus, a new nature reserve in Baima and Mupi should be established to link the isolated habitats.