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

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 Qiong L-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.

Need of a paradigm shift to conserve endangered species in China’s national park system

CHINAS EVOLVING NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATIONS AND SINGLE LARGE PROTECTED AREA OR SEVERAL SMALL PROTECTED AREAS(SLOSS)DEBATE As of 2021,the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated that there are over 6,000 national parks(NPs)in more than 100 countries,most of which are strongly focused on endangered species.1 Over the past 6 years,China has invested US$20million in developing the Giant Panda National Park(GPNP)and a furtherUS$16million in establishing theNortheast China Tiger and Leopard National Park(NCTLNP).

Functional zoning and space management of Three-River-Source National Park

Functional zoning is a key step for the integrated planning and scientific management of a national park.Selecting the Three-River-Source National Park(TNP)as the study area,this paper establishes an evaluation system including 13 evaluation indexes which are classified into four categories,namely:ecosystem services;potential distribution of key species habitats;ecological sensitivity;and ecological resilience through the comprehensive analysis on the regional eco-environmental features in the study area.The results of the comprehensive analysis,combined with the functions and requirements of management of national parks,indicate that TNP is divided into the first-level zone(the core conservation area,the ecological restoration area and the traditional utilization area)with definite targets of space management and the second-level zone with implementation of control measures.This method of functional zoning lays a solid foundation for the scientific planning of TNP;moreover,our study provides new insights into other national parks’functional zoning.

The Synergism between Methanogens and Methanotrophs and the Nature of their Contributions to the Seasonal Variation of Methane Fluxes in a Wetland:The Case of Dajiuhu Subalpine Peatland

Wetland ecosystems are the most important natural methane(CH_(4))sources,whose fluxes periodically fluctuate.Methanogens(methane producers)and methanotrophs(methane consumers)are considered key factors affecting CH_(4)fluxes in wetlands.However,the symbiotic relationship between methanogens and methanotrophs remains unclear.To help close this research gap,we collected and analyzed samples from four soil depths in the Dajiuhu subalpine peatland in January,April,July,and October 2019 and acquired seasonal methane flux data from an eddy covariance(EC)system,and investigated relationships.A phylogenetic molecular ecological networks(pMENs)analysis was used to identify keystone species and the seasonal variations of the co-occurrence patterns of methanogenic and methanotrophic communities.The results indicate that the seasonal variations of the interactions between methanogenic and methanotrophic communities contributed to CH_(4)emissions in wetlands.The keystone species discerned by the network analysis also showed their importance in mediating CH_(4)fluxes.Methane(CH_(4))emissions in wetlands were lowest in spring;during this period,the most complex interactions between microbes were observed,with intense competition among methanogens while methanotrophs demonstrated better cooperation.Reverse patterns manifested themselves in summer when the highest CH_(4)flux was observed.Methanoregula formicica was negatively correlated with CH_(4)fluxes and occupied the largest ecological niches in the spring network.In contrast,both Methanocella arvoryzae and Methylocystaceae demonstrated positive correlations with CH_(4)fluxes and were better adapted to the microbial community in the summer.In addition,soil temperature and nitrogen were regarded as significant environmental factors to CH_(4)fluxes.This study was successful in explaining the seasonal patterns and microbial driving mechanisms of CH_(4)emissions in wetlands.

Structural and Histochemical Features of the Slow-Growing Perennial Coptis chinensis Franch.(Ranunculaceae)

Huanglian(Coptis chinensis Franch.)is a slow-growing perennial medicinal herb with considerable economic value.This study aimed to determine the structural characteristics and the levels of berberine deposits in the organs and tissues of Huanglian using light and epifluorescence microscopy.The adventitious roots are composed of primary and secondary structures with endodermis,exodermis,and phellem.The rhizome structures are composed of primary and secondary structures with cuticle and phellem.The leaves are composed of sclerenchymatous rings,isolateral mesophyll,and thin cuticles.We detected berberine in the xylem walls of the roots and rhizomes as well as in the sclerenchymatous rings of the petioles.We postulate that as the exodermis is developed,the deposition of berberine in the xylem closest to the root tips may affect water and nutrient absorption and transfer.Leaf blades had a thin cuticle and isolateral mesophyll,suggesting shade tolerance.These structural and histochemical features suggest that Huanglian is adapted to the slow growing nature of a shady environment.

一窝三趾啄木鸟雏鸟的死亡事件与双亲育幼的关系(英文)

三趾啄木鸟的夜间孵卵和抱暖通常由雄性亲鸟承担。我们使用两台数码相机同时对1个三趾啄木鸟巢口和巢室进行了监视,记录了该窝雏鸟的死亡过程。该窝1只雏鸟在孵出的第1天死亡,并在第2天被雌性亲鸟移出巢外。其余两只雏鸟连续两个晚上没有亲鸟的照料,于第9天死亡。在这个巢内,由于雄鸟未归,使得雌鸟不得不连续两个晚上照顾雏鸟;而突发的暴风雨可能是导致雄鸟回巢失败的原因[动物学报52 (2) : 410 -414 , 2006]。

Seismic sentinel? An analysis of captive giant panda behavior in response to the Lushan earthquake in China

It is widely believed that various animal species can sense and respond to the geophysical stimuli that precede earthquakes,especially electromagnetic fields,although supporting field evidence is mostly anecdotal.Here we report on the reactions of four female giant pandas under observation over the three days prior to the Lushan(30.1°N,103.0°E)magnitude 7.0 earthquake that occurred in Sichuan province,China,on April 20,2013.We observed no significant generalized behavioral anomalies indicative of them perceiving an impending earthquake.We also observed no startle behaviors in the 5 s prior to tremors commencing,indicating that these pandas either did not detect or did not respond to precursor P-waves.Our findings suggest that although giant pandas have evolved in,and continue to occupy exclusively,a seismically active range in central China,they do not appear to perceive pre-earthquake geophysical warning signs.

How to Keep National Parks Green?A Hainan Example

Developing the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is a major task assigned by President Xi Jinping and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.During his visit to Hainan on April 11–13 this year,Xi pointed out that Hainan is a province of ecological resources and building the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is a top priority.He said the park has great bearing on the development of China as a whole.

Habitat restoration is the greatest challenge for population recovery of Hainan gibbons(Nomascus hainanus)

Hainan gibbons are among the world’s most critically endangered primates,with a remaining population of only 35 individuals distributed across 5 social groups in the Bawangling Branch of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park,China.Habitat conversion and forest fragmentation over the past 40 years have reduced their geographical distribution by 95%.In the absence of a quantitative assessment of the availability of remaining suitable habitat,it is unclear whether this species can survive to the end of this century.We used behavioral observations,ArcGIS,remote sensing,stereo optical imagery,and MaxEnt modeling to identify patterns of Hainan gibbon range use and compare changes in the distribution of suitable forest types and areas of forest fragmentation over the past 20 years(2000–2020).The results indicate that the combined range of the 5 extant Hainan gibbon groups totaled 14.89 km2.The home range of the smallest group(Group E,3 individuals)was 1.51 km2,which likely represents the minimum home range size for this species.The remaining area of highly suitable and moderately suitable habitat totals 26.9 km2.However,habitat connectivity across the gibbon range is very low(less than 0.5),limiting the ability of Hainan gibbons to move between forest patches.The results of this study indicate that the availability of suitable habitat in Bawangling is insufficient to allow for future Hainan gibbon population growth.Therefore,immediate action must be taken to restore,reforest,and establish ecological corridors to reconnect areas of suitable habitat for these critically endangered gibbons.

生物多样性和环境因素对亚热带森林树木生物量和生物量生长的解耦影响

生物多样性与生态系统功能之间的关系已成为森林生态系统研究的核心问题。然而,在具有不同人类干扰历史的亚热带森林群落中,关于环境因子对生物多样性与生态系统功能关系影响的研究仍然较少。在本研究中,选择位于中国东部浙江省的34个亚热带森林样地,在考虑样方中的环境因子的基础上,利用线性模型,分析样地中木本植物多样性(物种、功能和谱系多样性)与样方内木本植物生物量或生物量变化量之间的关系。物种多样性和功能多样性,并非谱系多样性,与生物量和生物量的变化量之间存在显着相关性。生物量或生物量变化量与年平均温度和海拔高度之间存在显著的正相关关系。此外,在考虑环境因子和森林群落的演替阶段时,生物量变化量与功能多样性的关系显著强于生物量变化量与谱系多样性或物种多样性之间的关系。这些研究结果表明,生物多样性与生态系统功能之间的关系可能取决于生物多样性指数的选择和环境条件。