GIS APPLICATION IN RESEARCH OF WILDLIFE HABITAT CHANGE——A case study of the Giant Panda in Wolong Nature Reserve

The general aim of this study is to find the relationship between the panda distribution and human activities. Comparison of the potential panda habitat and the real panda distribution shows a difference between them. Seven human activities were identified and analyzed. They are settlements, farming, road construction, firewood collection, timber production, mining and Chinese medicinal plant collection. The spatial distributions of these activities were characterized. The analysis of their spatial distributions and the pandas' habitat and distribution revealed that there is a relation existing between the human activities and the panda distribution, and the Giant Pandas have disappeared from the areas where the human activities are concentrated. GIS is the main tool used in this study to collect, store, retrieve, transform and present the spatial data of human activities and panda habitat and distribution in Wolong Nature Reserve.

Analysis on Change Trend and Influencing Factors of Natural Resource Utilization of Community Farmers around the Habitat of Giant Pandas

The habitat of giant pandas borders the living areas of farmers in surrounding communities. Due to the low level of economic development and resource used method, the life of community farmers depends on the natural resources of the habitat of giant pandas. Analyzing the natural resource utilization of farmers in communities around the habitat of giant pandas is conducive to formulating more reasonable management policies and protecting the habitat of giant pandas more effectively. Based on the field survey data, this paper classifies the main ways of community farmers using the natural resources of the habitat of giant pandas, counts the quantity of resources used and analyzes their change trends. On this basis, this paper selects indicators, constructs a model and analyzes the main influencing factors affecting the natural resources utilization of community farmers from three aspects: the individual characteristics of household heads, the family characteristics of community farmers and the residence characteristics of community farmers.

Impact of earthquake-induced landslide on the habitat suitability of giant panda in Wolong,China

Massive geological landslides and unstable landslide areas were triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. These landslides caused deaths, damaged infrastructure and threatened endanger species. This study analyzed the impact of landslides on giant pandas and their habitats from the following aspects: threatening pandas‘ lives, damaging pandas‘ habitat, influencing giant panda behavior, increasing habitat fragmentation; the final aspect, and blocking gene flow by cutting off corridors. A habitat suitability map was created by integrating the landslide factors with other traditional factors based on a logistics regression method. According to the landslide inventory map, there are 1313 landslides, 818 rock debris flows, 117 rock avalanches and 43 mud flows occurred in the study area. A correlation analysis indicated that landslides caused the pandas to migrate, and the core landslides within 1 km2 had greater influence on panda migration. These core landslides primarily occurred in mid-altitude regionscharacterized by high slopes, old geological ages, large areas and large rock mass volumes. The habitat suitability assessment results for the Wolong Natural Reserve had better prediction performance(80.9%) and demonstrated that 14.5%, 15.9%, 20.5%, 47.6% and 1.5% of the study area can be classified as very high, high, moderate, low and very low giant panda suitability areas, respectively. This study can be used to inform panda and panda habitat research, management and protection during post-quake reconstruction and recovery periods in China.

A Remote Sensing-based Analysis on the Impact of Wenchuan Earthquake on the Core Value of World Nature Heritage Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary

In this study,we used remotely sensed data,GIS modeling,and statistical methods to evaluate the damage caused by the Wenchuan Earthquake (May 12,2008) to the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitat in the World Nature Heritage Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary (WHSGPS) in China.A landscape ecological analysis found increases of landscape heterogeneity,complexity,and fragmentation in the giant panda habitat after the earthquake.A terrain analysis found that slope and elevation are directly associated with the distribution of the damaged areas.As slope and elevation increase,the size of the damaged area keeps increase until to a peak,and then starts to drop.The total area of the damaged vegetation in our study area is 114.26 km 2,accounting for 3.78% of the study area;30.46% of that 114.26 km 2 is located in the Core Zone of WHSGPS.There are 18.57km 2 of the damaged vegetation located in the identified suitable giant panda habitat,accounting for 1.75% of the total area of suitable giant panda habitats in the study area.Based on these findings,we conclude that the Wenchuan Earthquake does not have significant impact on the WHSGPS as a whole.

A Graph-theoretic Analysis of Stressors Confronting Giant Panda Habitat across Minshan Mountain Region,China

岷山地区位于四川盆地西北部,是我国生物多样性保护的优先地区,还是保护大熊猫的关键区域。本文以社会-经济-自然复合生态系统为基础,运用图论分析法研究了岷山地区影响大熊猫生境的人类活动方式,以及这些影响因子相互的关系。研究表明:影响大熊猫生境的人类活动的66对组合中,47.0%的因子间存在直接的联系,其中89.2%的影响具有增大效应。这说明人类活动对大熊猫生境的影响具有协同增大效应,并占主导地位。旅游景点开发、公路建设、采矿、高压电线、农业开发、放牧、薪柴采集这些影响因子存在强连通性,它们会将其他人类活动对大熊猫生境的影响放大,加剧对大熊猫生境的不利影响,表明它们是影响岷山地区大熊猫生境的主导人类活动。要想有效地保护岷山地区的大熊猫生境,就必须对这些主导人类活动进行有效的控制。本研究还表明图论分析法有助于明确影响熊猫生境的主导和关键因子,它能为制定有效的大熊猫保护策略提供科学依据。

Evaluating Conservation Effectiveness of Nature Reserves Established for Surrogate Species:Case of a Giant Panda Nature Reserve in Qinling Mountains,China

Many nature reserves are established to protect the habitat needs of particular endangered species of interest but their effectiveness for protecting other species is questionable.In this study,this effectiveness was evaluated in a nature reserve network located in the Qinling Mountains,Shaanxi Province,China.The network of reserves was established mainly for the conservation of the giant panda,a species considered as a surrogate for the conservation of many other endangered species in the region.The habitat suitability of nine protected species,including the giant panda,was modeled by using Maximum Entropy(MAXENT)and their spatial congruence was analyzed.Habitat suitability of these species was also overlapped with nature reserve boundaries and their management zones(i.e.,core,buffer and experimental zones).Results show that in general the habitat of the giant panda constitutes a reasonable surrogate of the habitat of other protected species,and giant panda reserves protect a relatively high proportion of the habitat of other protected species.Therefore,giant panda habitat conservation also allows the conservation of the habitat of other protected species in the region.However,a large area of suitable habitat was excluded from the nature reserve network.In addition,four species exhibited a low proportion of highly suitable habitat inside the core zones of nature reserves.It suggests that a high proportion of suitable habitat of protected species not targeted for conservation is located in the experimental and buffer zones,thus,is being affected by human activities.To increase their conservation effectiveness,nature reserves and their management zones need to be re-examined in order to include suitable habitat of more endangered species.The procedures described in this study can be easily implemented for the conservation of many endangered species not only in China but in many other parts of the world.

Corridor connecting giant panda habitats from north to south in the Min Mountains, Sichuan, China

The giant panda faces severe threats from habitat fragmentation and isolation.Currently,giant panda populations have been fragmented into 30 habitat patches.The disappearance of isolated small populations and studies on the genetic diversity of various populations have shown that small isolated panda populations are at a high risk of dying out completely.Habitat fragmentation has seriously impaired the ability of the giant panda to resist climate changes and other natural disasters,such as large-scale,synchronous bamboo blooming.The Min Mountains have the largest population of pandas in China,numbering 581 individuals and accounting for 52%of the total(1114)in China.Geographic isolation means that giant pandas in the Min Mountains are divided into two populations(population A in the north and population B in the south).Population B,which had only 42 individuals in 1989,is severely threatened by high-density human populations and the loss of genetic diversity.However,we have identified an important corridor connecting the two populations.This paper explains the importance and the feasibility of reestablishing this corridor.Due to the special geographic locations of these two populations(two rivers block the migration of giant pandas between south and north),the corridor is the only passage for giant pandas in the region.Recent studies have also shown an increase of giant panda activity in the area of the corridor.However,vegetation in the corridor has been severely degraded.Bamboo forest must be restored in this area to provide food for the pandas during migration.The effects of human activities must be reduced in order to maintain panda habitat.We believe that a restored corridor will be of great benefit to the survival of giant pandas in the Min Mountains,especially for population B.Successful re-establishment of a corridor will be a valuable model for corridor construction in the future.

Establish a special conservation zone for the captive giant panda

The giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)is recognized worldwide as an icon for wildlife conservation.Since the introduction in 1992 of reliable methods for artificial insemination,the population of captive pandas has grown to approximately 350 individuals in 2013.However,ca ptive panda populations are harmed by environmental pollution,diseases trans-mitted from domestic animals,and other anthropologenic activities.Although the Chinese government has proposed the creation of a Giant Panda National Park,there are at least three reasons that suggest that it is premature to reintroduce captive pandas into this proposed national park.First,habitat fragmentation remains the greatest threat to survival of giant pandas;second,most captive pandas are hybrids of the Sichuan and Qinling subspecies and release of hybrids may lead to further introgression between the two subspecies;and third,captive pandas may be competitively inferior to wild pandas in the region,and may not survive fights for food or mates.As an alternative,we suggest establishing a special con-servation zone in the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve for wild training of captive pandas prior to their reintroduction into the National Park.

The Lushan earthquake and the giant panda:impacts and conservation

Earthquakes not only result in a great loss of human life and property,but also have profound effects on the Earth’s biodiversity.The Lushan earthquake occurred on 20 Apr 2013,with a magnitude of 7.0 and an intensi­ty of 9.0 degrees.A distance of 17.0 km from its epicenter to the nearest distribution site of giant pandas record­ed in the Third National Survey was determined.Making use of research on the Wenchuan earthquake(with a magnitude of 8.0),which occurred approximately 5 years ago,we briefly analyze the impacts of the Lushan earthquake on giant pandas and their habitat.An earthquake may interrupt ongoing behaviors of giant pandas and may also cause injury or death.In addition,an earthquake can damage conservation facilities for pandas,and result in further habitat fragmentation and degradation.However,from a historical point of view,the im­pacts of human activities on giant pandas and their habitat may,in fact,far outweigh those of natural disasters such as earthquakes.Measures taken to promote habitat restoration and conservation network reconstruction in earthquake-affected areas should be based on requirements of giant pandas,not those of humans.

A Framework for Selecting Indicators to Assess the Sustainable Development of the Natural Heritage Site

Sustainable world heritage management represents an approach for managing the resources of a property by integrating environmental, economic, and social issues. It aims to provide sustainable benefits for future generations, while protect the property and minimize the possible adverse social, economic and environmental impacts. Indicators of sustainable development, which summarize information for decision-making, are invaluable to learn the efficiency and effectiveness of property management. Scientists in many fields devised several conceptual models of environmental statistics and indicators, of which, DPSIR (Driving forces – Pressure – State – Impact – Response) is thought to be the best available one in identifying and developing indicators of sustainable development. Based on the DPSIR conceptual model and indicator selection criteria, the present paper proposed a methodology framework for selecting indicators to assess the sustainable development of a natural heritage site. The proposed framework included a multi-level hierarchical structure for various indicators and indexes, a modified DPSIR frame to identify key issues in property management and a set of indicators for evaluating the sustainability in Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries.

气候变化背景下大熊猫生境适宜性时空演变——以大熊猫国家公园岷山片区为例

气候变化导致的物种分布范围变化已对全球生物多样性保护造成严重威胁。为探讨气候变化对珍稀动物大熊猫的影响,研究以大熊猫国家公园岷山片区为例,筛选得到326个大熊猫痕迹点及气候、地形地貌、生物环境、人为干扰4类16项环境变量,应用最大熵模型及CMIP6气候模式数据探讨影响大熊猫分布的主要环境变量,并模拟现在(2004—2020年),预测未来(2050s)低强迫(SSP1-2.6)和高强迫(SSP5-8.5)情景下的大熊猫生境,分析生境适宜性的时空演变特征及趋势。结果表明:(1)气候类变量对岷山片区大熊猫分布有较大影响,其中最暖月最高温(Bio5)、海拔、最暖季度降水量(Bio18)及距道路距离是主要的影响变量;(2)现在气候下,岷山片区生境质量良好,适宜生境面积占片区总面积的67.88%,未来大熊猫适宜生境面积整体呈缩减趋势,SSP1-2.6情景下大熊猫适宜生境面积缩减率为2.03%,SSP5-8.5情景下为33.73%;(3)SSP1-2.6情景下,适宜生境丧失区主要位于岷山片区东部,SSP5-8.5情景下,片区北部和南部也有大量生境丧失。两种未来气候情景下,新增生境均主要位于片区西北部;(4)大熊猫适宜生境的质心向西、西北方向,即高纬度、高海拔区域移动;(5)大熊猫主要在高、中适宜生境活动,现在气候下大熊猫在高、中适宜生境出现的频率分别为67.79%、24.23%,SSP1-2.6情景下为45.09%、27.61%,SSP5-8.5情景下为21.47%、26.69%。研究认为未来亟需关注气候变化下大熊猫生境的丧失和新增区,建议大熊猫国家公园从识别优先保护区、优化生态网络和调整管控分区三个方面加强对大熊猫生境的监测和保护,综合提升区域的气候适应能力。

基于多准则决策分析评价大熊猫受损栖息地恢复优先级

栖息地恢复是大熊猫国家公园建设的一项关键性工作,明确大熊猫受损栖息地恢复优先级是大熊猫国家公园实施栖息地修复的前提和基础。本研究综合考虑栖息地保护和恢复难易程度,采用层次分析-有序加权平均(AHP‑OWA)的多准则决策分析法构建大熊猫受损栖息地恢复优先级评价方法,并以大熊猫国家公园荥经片区为研究区开展试验评价。结果表明:大熊猫国家公园荥经片区9种类型受损栖息地总面积4273.97 hm^(2),占大熊猫国家公园荥经片区总面积的5.11%,其中连片人工纯林、低质次生天然林和矿山受损面积较大;AHP‑OWA多准则决策分析法可以定量揭示“保护-成本”权衡关系,能够提供不同决策情境下的受损栖息地恢复优先级方案,为大熊猫国家公园栖息地保护与恢复提供了充足的决策支持;无论何种情景,国道108沿线头道水流域北侧大熊猫高密度分布区域的低质次生天然林是大熊猫国家公园荥经片区最优先恢复地段。考虑到多种受损类型,未来大熊猫国家公园栖息地恢复应因地制宜,根据植被和土壤特征情况,适当采取如整地、人工植苗、带状皆伐或疏伐等人工恢复措施促进栖息地恢复。

耦合栖息地适宜性和个体扩散过程的大熊猫种群动态模拟

大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)是我国特有珍稀濒危动物和全球生物多样性保护旗舰物种。通过长期的生态保护修复努力,野生大熊猫的种群数量有所增长,受威胁等级从濒危(EN)下降为易危(VU),但其种群仍面临着栖息地破碎化、种群隔离等威胁。为及时掌握大熊猫种群数量和扩散动态,更有效支撑大熊猫种群保护及栖息地恢复,提出了耦合栖息地适宜性和个体扩散过程的大熊猫种群动态模型。并以四川省平武县为案例,模拟了全国第三次大熊猫调查(1999—2003年)至第四次调查(2011—2013年)期间大熊猫数量和分布变化情况。研究结果显示:研究区内大熊猫适宜和较适宜栖息地主要分布在平武县北部和西部,占全县面积的41%。海拔、主食竹分布、降水季节性变异系数、与道路的距离是影响大熊猫栖息地适宜性的主要因素,海拔中等偏高、有主食竹分布、降水季节性变异小、与道路较远的区域大熊猫栖息地适宜性较高。以第三次大熊猫调查的个体数量为初始状态,模拟到第四次调查时的大熊猫个体数量平均值为309只,与实际调查结果的误差率为7.76%。模拟的大熊猫种群密度与实际调查结果之间的Gini系数为0.06,分布匹配指数平均值为0.95,表明大熊猫个体空间分布的模拟结果和调查结果一致性较高。王朗与小河沟之间、王朗与余家山之间大熊猫轨迹密度较高,表明这些区域是大熊猫重要的扩散通道。小河沟与余家山之间轨迹密度低,表明该区域存在扩散障碍。建议通过加强管护、建设生态廊道、制定社区管理办法等措施加强大熊猫种群及栖息地整体保护,促进大熊猫国家公园高质量建设。

白水江国家级自然保护区大熊猫生境特征分析

【目的】以白水江国家级自然保护区为例,利用GIS和RS技术,量化分析研究区大熊猫的生境特征。【方法】通过大熊猫痕迹点与研究区地形因子、植被类型、主食竹和河流分布图叠加,得出大熊猫分布区与物理环境因素和生物环境因素的关系.将居民点进行缓冲分析,与大熊猫痕迹点叠加,分析大熊猫与人类活动因素(居民点)的关系。【结果】研究得出白水江自然保护区大熊猫活动范围多在海拔1 600~2 900 m之间,痕迹点在坡度较缓(<5°)和无坡向的区域出现较多,生境中的主要植被类型是针阔叶混交林,该类型占全区域总面积的30.09%,主食竹为缺苞箭竹和青川箭竹.92.14%的痕迹点落在距水源地700 m以内的范围中,明显回避有干扰的区域,远离居民点(>3 500 m的缓冲区)。【结论】研究结果为白水江自然保护区有效保护提供了基础数据。

马边大风顶保护区森林砍伐后大熊猫栖息地恢复过程

【目的】掌握砍伐后森林的恢复进程,为制定大熊猫栖息地修复措施提供基础依据。【方法】以马边大风顶保护区Landsat系列卫星数据为基础,使用支持向量机分类法,移动窗口法分析该保护区森林砍伐前后40年间森林覆盖度的变化特征,并结合野外实地样方调查评价保护区林地的破碎化和连通性。【结果】1)保护区内的森林遭到严重砍伐,森林面积从295 km^(2)降至230 km^(2),之后逐步恢复到274 km^(2)并于近年达到277 km^(2),森林面积逐渐接近砍伐前水平,恢复速率也随之下降,且小规模偷伐盗伐仍在影响森林恢复。2)保护区内被严重砍伐的区域较为集中,主要分布于丝厂拉达-觉罗豁防火公路沿线区域,以及永红管护区西南部与马拟管护点北方区域,导致保护区高连通性林地被阻隔分为3个区域。3)丝厂拉达-觉罗豁防火公路沿线区域遭受砍伐最严重,该区域具有代表性,区域内的前期修复结果并未达到大熊猫适宜栖息地要求,仍需改进,宜试行森林恢复与保护实验。【结论】保护区内森林破碎化严重,各区块间存在分隔,对照大熊猫原始生境进行栖息地修复,建立大熊猫生境廊道并加强管控是必要且亟需的措施。

基于生境适宜性评价和地灾影响的九寨沟大熊猫栖息地保护重点区域分析

综合海拔、植被类型、主食竹分布等环境因子,基于MaxEnt模型对九寨沟自然保护区进行大熊猫生境的适宜性评价,发现大熊猫偏好海拔2 700~3 500 m、坡度10°左右有竹子分布且郁闭度在75%以上的林地活动。在此基础上叠加地灾影响范围,根据适宜生境的分布特征和地灾影响情况,识别大熊猫栖息地保护的重点区域,以期更有针对性地开展大熊猫及其栖息地的保护工作。

大熊猫国家公园荥经片区大熊猫可食竹生物量模型

2023年4月在大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)国家公园荥经片区不同森林类型下随机抽样,测量记录不同的大熊猫可食竹的生长指标和生物量,通过回归的方法建立大熊猫可食竹生物量模型。结果表明:除冷箭竹(Arundinaria faberi)叶外,以高度和基径为自变量的泥巴山筇竹(Qiongzhuea multigemmia)、短锥玉山竹(Yushania brevipaniculata)和八月竹(Chimonobambusa szechuanensis)不同构件生物量模型均具有统计学意义,其中泥巴山筇竹秆生物量模型和地上生物量模型的拟合效果相对最佳。研究结果对大熊猫国家公园荥经片区大熊猫可食竹生物量调查、种群恢复与栖息地现状评估具有一定的参考价值。

陕西长青自然保护区大熊猫冬居地植物群落结构特征

陕西长青国家级自然保护区是秦岭大熊猫的主要分布区之一,也是秦岭大熊猫保护的重点区域。为了解保护区大熊猫冬居地的植物群落特征,改善大熊猫的生存条件,本研究采用样地调查法和利用物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和均匀度指数对陕西长青自然保护区大熊猫冬季栖息地的植物群落结构组成、特征以及多样性进行了调查研究。结果表明,长青保护区大熊猫冬居地植物群落以锐齿栎林为主,其次是锐齿栎+油松林。植物群落以幼龄林木为主,径阶分布和树龄分布基本一致,平均胸径在12 cm以上,平均高度在10 m以上。锐齿栎林灌木盖度约为50%,草本盖度约为10%,草本盖度随着灌木盖度的增大而减小。在不同林分内,锐齿栎林的物种丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数都较高。冬居地多样性指数表现为亚乔木层>乔木层>草本层>灌木层,而均匀度指数和多样性指数变化大体一致。

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。

岷山地区大熊猫生境评价与保护对策研究

综合运用大熊猫生物学与行为生态学研究成果、遥感数据分析与地理信息系统技术 ,在系统研究岷山地区大熊猫生境分布、生境质量与空间格局的基础上 ,明确岷山地区保护大熊猫的关键区域 ,分析岷山地区大熊猫保护与自然保护区建设的对策 ,以期为岷山地区大熊猫保护及其与岷山地区资源开发与发展的协调提供依据。遥感数据分析结果表明 ,岷山地区以森林为主 ,各类森林面积 1 91 790 3.4 4 hm2 ,占 5 5 .4 2 % ,将与大熊猫生境密切相关的森林植被分为常绿阔叶林、落叶阔叶林、针阔混交林、亚高山针叶林等 ,其中亚高山针叶林面积 5 380 4 9.6 4 hm2 ,占全部森林的占 2 8.0 5 % ,落叶阔叶林面积 4 6 1 35 5 .6 7hm2 ,占2 4 .0 6 % ,针阔混交林面积 4 0 30 36 .2 6 hm2 ,占 2 1 .0 1 %。结果表明岷山地区有大熊猫潜在生境 1 32 3789.1 5 hm2 ,由于森林资源利用、交通、农业活动影响、居民薪柴砍伐 ,以及生境破碎化与生境隔离等导致的生境丧失 5 5 341 3.4 5 hm2 ,目前尚存的大熊猫适宜生境 770 375 .7hm2 ,由于交通等隔离而成为至少 5个相互分隔的生境单元 ,大熊猫种群交流受到严重阻碍。为了有效地保护岷山大熊猫 ,首先应充分注意到各种人类活动 ,尤其交通的建设对大熊猫生境的影响 ;其次要扩大自然保护区范围 ,