关键词: 卧龙大熊猫, 拐棍竹, 分段取食, 基径, 选择

Abstract: The shoots of Fargesia robusta are the most important food source for giant pandas in Wolong nature reserve in spring. We conducted three line transects in the springs of 2014, 2015, and 2016. We found that giant pandas preferred to forage on lower elevation shoots and avoided foraging in areas with heavy grazing and other human actives. There was a significant positive correlation with the lowest foraging elevation used by giant pandas and the amount of anthropogenic disturbance. When shoots reached a height greater than two meters, giant pandas left to forage on food patches at higher elevation. Giant pandas preferentially selected areas with bigger bamboo shoots and within a bamboo forest they foraged on the largest shoots available particularly when stands were composed mostly of small diameter shoots (P<0.05). When the majority of the shoots were bigger, giant pandas switch to foraging shoots randomly (P>0.05). Pandas foraged on a higher percentage of shoots in areas containing larger shoots, (F=20.12, P<0.05), and foraged fewer shoots at higher elevations because shoots were thinner in diameter and taller. There was a significant positive correlation between the height of the shoot stub and the shoot itself (r=0.50, P<0.001). To encourage giant pandas to forage on Fargesia robusta shoots, managers should limit anthropogenic disturbances in spring, especially at elevations between 2100-2400 meters where giant pandas preferentially feed.

Key words: Base diameter, Fargesia robusta, Forage shoot, Giant panda of Wolong, Selection