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.     

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.     

Seasonal and reproductive variation in chemical constituents of scent signals in wild giant pandas

Seasonally reproducing animals show many behavioral and physiological changes during the mating period, including increased signaling for intrasexual competition and mate attraction. We collected 102 anogenital gland secretions(AGS) from marking trees in Foping Nature Reserve, and used gas chromatography mass spectrometry to analyze these chemical composition. Of these marks, all but one were from males, confirmed with DNA analysis. We found that several chemical constituents, especially volatile compounds, were present only during the mating season and that the relative abundance of many compounds changed as a function of breeding season, whereas nonvolatile compounds were lower in the mating season. This seasonal variation in chemical composition of AGS most likely plays an important role in governing giant panda reproduction, including mate location, attraction, and male-male competition. The chemical properties of many of these putative chemosignals—such as volatility and longevity—are suggestive of these roles, and undoubtedly contribute to successful reproduction for this species with a characteristically sophisticated chemical communication system. We also found a number of important differences between the chemical constituents of AGS from wild pandas and those found in previous studies with captive pandas, suggesting that inappropriate chemosignal composition may contribute to poor reproductive success in captive breeding programs.     

How does tree age influence damage and recovery in forests impacted by freezing rain and snow?

The response and recovery mechanisms of forests to damage from freezing rain and snow events are a key topic in forest research and management. However, the relationship between the degree of damage and tree age, i.e., whether seedlings, young trees, or adult trees are most vulnerable, remains unclear and is rarely reported. We investigated the effect of tree age on the degrees of vegetation damage and subsequent recovery in three subtropical forest types-coniferous, mixed, and broad-leaved —in the Tianjing Mountains, South China, after a series of rare icy rain and freezing snow events in 2008. The results showed that damage and recovery rates were both dependent on tree age, with the proportion of damaged vegetation increasing with age(estimated by diameter at breast height, DBH) in all three forest types and gradually plateauing. Significant variation occurred among forest types. Young trees in the coniferous forest were more vulnerable than those in the broad-leaved forest. The type of damage also varied with tree age in different ways in the three forest types. The proportion of young seedlings that were uprooted(the most severe type of damage) was highest in the coniferous forest. In the mixed forest, young trees were significantly more likely to be uprooted than seedlings and adult trees, while in the broad-leaved forest, the proportion of uprooted adult trees was significantly higher than that of seedlings and young trees. There were also differences among forest types in how tree age affected damage recovery. In the coniferous forest, the recovery rate of trees with broken trunks or crowns(DBH 2.5 cm) increased with tree age. However, in the mixed and broad-leaved forests, no obvious correlation between the recovery rate of trees with broken trunks or crowns and tree age was observed. Trees with severe root damage did not recover; they were uprooted and died. In these forests, vegetation damage and recovery showed tree age dependencies, which varied with tree shape, forest type, and damage type. Understanding this dependency will guide restoration after freezing rain and snow disturbances.     

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) somatic nucleus can dedifferentiate in rabbit ooplasm and support early development of the reconstructed egg

The giant panda skeletal muscle cells, uterus epithelial cells and mammary gland cells from an adult individual were cultured and used as nucleus donor for the construction of interspecies embryos by transferring them into enucleated rabbit eggs. All the three kinds of somatic cells were able to reprogram in rabbit ooplasm and support early embryo development, of which mammary gland cells were proven to be the best, followed by uterus epithelial cells and skeletal muscle cells. The experiments showed that direct injection of mammary gland cell into enucleated rabbit ooplasm, combined with in vivo development in ligated rabbit oviduct, achieved higher blastoeyst development than in vitro culture after the somatic cell was injected into the perivitelline space and fused with the enucleated egg by electrical stimulation. The chromosome analysis demonstrated that the genetic materials in reconstructed blastocyst cells were the same as that in panda somatic cells. In addition, giant panda mitochondrial DNA (     

依赖粪便材料的大熊猫肠道耶尔森氏菌的检测

It is inevitable to develop noninvasive sampling methods to do studies on giant panda even diagnose the diseases since which is so endangered that it's impossible to carry out invasive sampling. A non-invasive sampling method to detect the intestinal pathogen, Yersirda enterocolitica in feces of pandas based designing PCR primers was established in this study. The main procedures are based on bacteria enrichment and cell lysis before binding the pathogen DNA to silica powder at high concentration of Kalium iodide and neutral pH conditions. Before PCR cycles, the binded DNA is washed with 80% ethanol and eluted with diluted EDTA buffer. Restdts showed that the silica-based feces DNA-purification method could remove the inhibitors of PCR so applicable to detect the target pathogen.     

Refuge size variation and potential for sperm competition in Wellington tree weta

Ecological variation in resources can in flue nee the distributi on and en counter rates of potential mates and competitors and, con sequently, the opport unity for sexual selection. Factors that influence the likelihood that females mate multiply could also affect the potential for sperm competition. In Wellington tree weta (Hemideina crassidens, plural "weta"), the size of tree cavities (called galleries) used as refuges affects weta distribution and thus the opport unity for sexual selection and selection on male weaponry size. We examined the predicted effects of gallery size and male weap onry size on the potential for sperm competition. We asked if gallery size in flue need the potential for multiple mating by females and potential for sperm competition, if male weaponry size was associated with relative expected sperm competition intensity (SCI), and if estimated male mating success was correlated with pote ntial SCI. To qua ntify relative competitive envir on merits of males, we created and analyzed networks of potential competitors based on which males could have mated with the same females. We found that small galleries had higher potential for female multiple mating and higher potential for sperm competition. Size of male weaponry was not associated with expected relative SCI. Regardless of gallery size, males with more potential mates were expected to face lower expected relative sperm competition. Thus, in this system, variation in the size of available refuges is likely to in flue nee the pote ntial for sperm competiti on, in a way that we might expect to in crease variation in overall reproductive success.     

圈养大熊猫幼仔的早期体重变化

The mortality rates of captive giant panda cubs at 0 and 1 year old was 12.89% and 18.37% respectively,in order to improve survival rate and the nursing level of captive giant panda cubs,145 cubs born in 2000-2017 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding were analyzed by grouping primarily body weight(W₀<100,100 ≤ W₀<150,150 ≤ W₀<200,W₀ ≥ 200) and gender.The results indicated that(1) the weight curves of giant panda cubs with different primarily body weights during 180d were cubic functions.(2) Gender and primarily body weight of giant panda cubs had no interaction with the weight and average growth rate during 180 d.Gender did not affect the weight and their average growth rate of cubs,but the primarily body weight had a significant impact on the weight during 98 d and the average growth rate at the ascent stage(3-6 d),high-level stage(7-13 d),decline stage(14-45 d) and stabilization stage(46-180 d). The tokinaga of physiological weight loss was(1.77±0.67) d,and the day-age which weight recovered to primarily body weight was(4.59±1.23) d.(3) The primarily body weight and gender of giant panda cubs had no interaction on the maximum weight loss,the rate of maximum weight loss,the day-age of recovery to primarily body weight,the maximum growth rate and the day-age of maximum growth rate,but affected the day of maximum weight loss together.(4) Although the primarily body weight of giant panda cubs had a significant effect on the maximum weight loss,the day of maximum weight loss,the day-age of recovery to primarily body weight,and the maximum growth rate,it did not affect the rate of maximum weight loss and the day-age of maximum growth rate.Gender of giant panda cubs did not affect the maximum weight loss,the day-age of recovery to primarily body weight,the rate of maximum weight loss,the maximum growth rate and the day-age of maximum growth rate,but it did affect the day-age of maximum weight loss.These results indicated that the lower primarily body weight was,the less weight loss(maximum weight loss) would be,the faster speed with bottoming(the day of maximum weight loss) and recovery to primarily body weight(the day-age of recovery to primarily body weight) would be at early age.In addition,the lower primarily body weight was,the greater growth intensity of unit weight would be during the various stages at increasing growth rate,maintaining a high position,decreasing and tending to stabilize.The study revealed the characteristics of captive giant panda cubs in body weight at early age,and it provided abundant references for the early rearing of giant panda cubs.     

Long-term protection effects of national reserve to forest vegetation in 4 decades: biodiversity change analysis of major forest types in Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve, China

The Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve (CNR) was established in 1960 to protect the virgin Korean pine mixed hardwood forest, a typical temperate forest of northeast China. We conducted systematic stud- ies of vascular diversity patterns on the north slope of the CNR mountainside forests (800-1700 m a.s.l.) in 1963 and 2006 respectively. The aim of this comparison is to assess the long-term effects of the protection on plant biodiversity of CNR during the interval 43 years. The research was carried out in three types of forests: mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest (MCBF), mixed coniferous forest (MCF), and sub-alpine coniferous forest (SCF), characterized by different dominant species. The alpha diversity indicted by species richness and the Shannon-Wiener index were found different in the same elevations and forest types during the 43-year interval. The floral composition and the diversity of vascular species were generally similar along altitudinal gradients before and after the 43-year interval, but some substantial changes were evident with the altitude gradient. In the tree layers, the dominant species in 2006 were similar to those of 1963, though diversity declined with altitude. The indices in the three forest types did not differ significantly between 1963 and 2006, and these values even increased in the MCBF and MCF from 1963 to 2006. However, originally dominant species, P. koraiensis for ex- ample, tended to decline, while the proportion of broad-leaved trees increased, and the species turn- over in the succession layers trended to shift to higher altitudes. The diversity pattern of the under canopy fluctuated along the altitudinal gradient due to micro-environmental variations. Comparison of the alpha diversity in the three forests shows that the diversity of the shrub and herb layer decreased with time. During the process of survey, we also found some rare and medicinal species disappeared. Analysis indicates that the changes of the diversity pattern in this region are caused by both nature and human factors. Meteorological records revealed that climate has changed significantly in the past 43 years. We also found the most severe human disturbance to the CNR forests in the process of another field survey that is the exploitation of herb medicines and Korean pine nuts. We hope this research would give some guidance to the future reserve management in Changbai Mountain area.     

Integrating population size analysis into habitat suitability assessment: implications for giant panda conservation in the Minshan Mountains,China

Compared to conventional approaches, the integration of population size analysis with habitat suitability assessment on a large scale can provide more evidence to explain the mechanisms of habitat isolation and fragmentation, and thus make regional conservation plans. In this paper, we analyzed the habitat suitability for giant pandas in the Minshan Mountains, China, using the ecological-niche factor analysis (ENFA) method, and then evaluated the current conservation status of this endangered species. The results showed that (1) giant pandas were distributed in a narrow altitudinal range in which vegetation cover was dominated by coniferous forest, mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaf forest, and deciduous broadleaf forest with scattered bamboo understory, and (2) roads and human settlements had strong negative effects on the panda habitat selection. According to habitat analysis, the total habitat area of giant panda in the Minshan Mountains was 953,173 ha, which was fragmented into 12 habitat units by major roads, rivers, and human settlements. The habitat of the mid-Minshan was less fragmentized, but was seriously fragmented in the north. The panda population size estimation showed that 676 individuals inhabited the study area, and 94.53% of them were in the mid-Minshan, but small panda populations less than 30 individuals inhabited the isolated and fragmented habitat patches in the north. The nature reserves in the Minshan Mountains have formed three conservation groups, which covered 41.26% of panda habitat and protected 70.71% of panda population of the study area, but there still exists two conservation gaps, and the connectivity among these reserves is still weak. Due to habitat isolation and extensive human disturbances, giant pandas in the north (i.e., Diebu, Zhouqu, and Wudou) are facing threats of local extinction. In order to protect pandas and their habitats in this area, some effective conservation approaches, such as establishing new reserves in gap areas, creating corridors among patches, and seasonally controlling traffic flux in key roads, should be implemented in the future to link these isolated habitats together.     

汶川地震对大熊猫栖息地的影响与恢复对策

 大熊猫是生物多样性保护的旗舰种, 保护大熊猫及其栖息地是保护生物多样性和生态系统功能完整性与稳定性的重要保障体现。汶川地震灾区位于大熊猫重点分布区岷山-邛崃山, 地震及其次生灾害导致该区27个大熊猫自然保护区不同程度受损, 8.3%的大熊猫栖息地因地震而被破坏。地震及其次生灾害对大熊猫栖息地的影响主要表现在: 1) 地震埋没和砸毁大熊猫赖以生存的主食竹, 地震可能诱发主食竹开花, 威胁到大熊猫的健康和食物安全; 2) 地震及其诱发的土壤和山石运动显著影响森林的动态特征, 森林大面积丧失或质量下降; 3) 地震改变大熊猫栖息地生境特征, 大熊猫个体交流的廊道阻断, 形成“生殖孤岛”, 遗传多样性降低, 栖息地破碎化进程加快。应对震后大熊猫栖息地恢复的主要对策有: 1) 重新评估震后大熊猫栖息地质量, 并重新规划现有大熊猫保护区群的布局; 2) 应用地理信息系统、遥感及数学模型等手段与野外实地实证研究相结合的方法, 全面查清震后大熊猫栖息地主食竹资源状况及分布规律并及时监测其动态, 复壮更新大熊猫主食竹; 3) 利用天然植被自然恢复和人工重建等措施恢复因地震而退化或丧失的大熊猫栖息地。     

四川小寨子沟自然保护区大熊猫生境植物群落结构特征

通过沿海拔梯度的系统调查,对小寨子沟自然保护区大熊猫生境的植物群落种类组成和结构进行了初步研究。结果表明:(1)小寨子沟大熊猫生境的植被类型有2种:阔叶林和针叶林;(2)小寨子沟自然保护区内分布有青川箭竹、缺苞箭竹、华西箭竹、冷箭竹等多种箭竹,这些作为大熊猫食料的箭竹广布在各种植被类型中,尤其是针阔混交林和亚高山针叶林;(3)大熊猫对生境的群落结构有较广的适宜性,阔叶林、针阔混交林、亚高山针叶林均可作为它的适宜生境;(4)小寨子沟自然保护区内的植被类型是随海拔的升高而自然过渡的,呈现出受人类活动影响较小的自然状态。     

Characterizing the spatial distribution of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in fragmented forest landscapes

Aim To examine the effects of forest fragmentation on the distribution of the entire wild giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) population, and to propose a modelling approach for monitoring the spatial distribution and habitat of pandas at the landscape scale using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro‐radiometer (MODIS) enhanced vegetation index (EVI) time‐series data. Location Five mountain ranges in south‐western China (Qinling, Minshan, Qionglai, Xiangling and Liangshan). Methods Giant panda pseudo‐absence data were generated from data on panda occurrences obtained from the third national giant panda survey. To quantify the fragmentation of forests, 26 fragmentation metrics were derived from 16‐day composite MODIS 250‐m EVI multi‐temporal data and eight of these metrics were selected following factor analysis. The differences between panda presence and panda absence were examined by applying significance testing. A forward stepwise logistic regression was then applied to explore the relationship between panda distribution and forest fragmentation. Results Forest patch size, edge density and patch aggregation were found to have significant roles in determining the distribution of pandas. Patches of dense forest occupied by giant pandas were significantly larger, closer together and more contiguous than patches where giant pandas were not recorded. Forest fragmentation is least in the Qinling Mountains, while the Xiangling and Liangshan regions have most fragmentation. Using the selected landscape metrics, the logistic regression model predicted the distribution of giant pandas with an overall accuracy of 72.5% (κ = 0.45). However, when a knowledge‐based control for elevation and slope was applied to the regression, the overall accuracy of the model improved to 77.6% (κ = 0.55). Main conclusions Giant pandas appear sensitive to patch size and isolation effects associated with fragmentation of dense forest, implying that the design of effective conservation areas for wild giant pandas must include large and dense forest patches that are adjacent to other similar patches. The approach developed here is applicable for analysing the spatial distribution of the giant panda from multi‐temporal MODIS 250‐m EVI data and landscape metrics at the landscape scale.     

繁殖-育幼期雌性大熊猫的空间利用与活动模式特征

繁殖期间的空间利用与活动模式特征是野生动物长期适应环境的具体表现,研究野生动物繁殖期间行为特征与策略是动物生态学研究中最重要的基础问题之一。2010年3月至2012年3月,我们利用内置记录活动水平传感器的GPS项圈记录了1只受孕、产仔并育幼的野生大熊猫（Ailuropoda melanoleuca）的活动位点和活动水平。研究了该大熊猫各繁殖阶段（交配后期、产仔期和育幼期）的空间利用与活动模式特征。结果表明：在交配后期（2010年春季,即4-6月）,雌性大熊猫活动空间范围较大为3.49 km²,其日平均活动距离较大,活动水平也相对较强;在产仔期前后（2010年夏秋季,即7-10月）,雌性大熊猫的活动范围明显缩小为0.42 km²,日平均活动距离和活动水平都明显减低;自2010年冬季（2010年11月至2011年3月）开始雌性大熊猫带仔生活,其家域面积逐渐增大,且趋向稳定 （0.84~1.19 km²）,日平均活动距离和活动水平都开始逐渐增大。雌性大熊猫在求偶交配、受孕、产仔和育幼过程中的空间利用与活动模式特征反映了大熊猫在繁殖期间的行为策略。本研究结果可为繁殖期间大熊猫及栖息地的保护管理政策制定提供科学依据。     

Inbreeding and inbreeding avoidance in wild giant pandas

Inbreeding can have negative consequences on population and individual fitness, which could be counteracted by inbreeding avoidance mechanisms. However, the inbreeding risk and inbreeding avoidance mechanisms in endangered species are less studied. The giant panda, a solitary and threatened species, lives in many small populations and suffers from habitat fragmentation, which may aggravate the risk of inbreeding. Here, we performed long‐term observations of reproductive behaviour, sampling of mother–cub pairs and large‐scale genetic analyses on wild giant pandas. Moderate levels of inbreeding were found in 21.1% of mating pairs, 9.1% of parent pairs and 7.7% of panda cubs, but no high‐level inbreeding occurred. More significant levels of inbreeding may be avoided passively by female‐biased natal dispersal rather than by breeding dispersal or active relatedness‐based mate choice mechanisms. The level of inbreeding in giant pandas is greater than expected for a solitary mammal and thus warrants concern for potential inbreeding depression, particularly in small populations isolated by continuing habitat fragmentation, which will reduce female dispersal and increase the risk of inbreeding.     

利用阴道粘液电阻值进行大熊猫排卵监测的研究初报

对５只大熊猫发情配种期间阴道粘液电阻值进行了检测,结果发现４只发情表现正常的大熊猫发情配种期阴道粘液电阻值呈现相似的Ｖ字形变化曲线,Ｖ形曲线的谷底所代表时期恰好与尿雌酮峰值期吻合,其中３只大熊猫于秋后产仔,结果提示测定大熊猫发情配种期间阴道粘液电阻值可有效用于监测排卵,具有良好的应用前景。     

首例大熊猫秋季发情、配种、产仔

本文记录一只因环境、饲料等因素改变而2001年春季未能发情的雌性大熊猫,于秋季9月中旬发情,并与另一只同期发情的公熊猫自然交配,当年冬季12月17日成功产仔的这一世界首例圈养大熊猫秋季发情配种的行为表现和配种经过,并对该大熊猫秋季发情的原因作了分析。     

育幼经历对圈养成年雌性大熊猫尿液皮质醇含量的影响

为研究育幼期不同的育幼方式对圈养成年雌性大熊猫Ailuropoda melanoleuca福利状况的影响情况,了解圈养育幼模式可能引发成年雌性大熊猫的应激问题,完善育幼期大熊猫的饲养管理和兽舍参数设计,提高育幼过程中圈养大熊猫福利状况,选择成都大熊猫繁育研究基地育幼期采取不同育幼方式管理的成年雌性大熊猫为研究对象,利用...