Habitat utilization and spatial patterns of pre-released giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

ZHOU Yanshan; HOU Rong; LIU Jiabin; BI Wenlei; Jacob R. Owens; ZHANG Zhihe; HUANG Feng; LUO Wei; QI Dunwu

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.150457

ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA >

2021 , Vol. 41 >Issue 6: 641 - 648

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.150457

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Habitat utilization and spatial patterns of pre-released giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

ZHOU Yanshan ,
HOU Rong ,
LIU Jiabin ,
BI Wenlei ,
Jacob R. Owens ,
ZHANG Zhihe ,
HUANG Feng ,
LUO Wei ,
QI Dunwu

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1 Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu 610081, China;
2 Sichuan Research Institute of Giant Panda, Chengdu 610081, China;
3 Liziping National Nature Reserve Administration, Shimian 635400, China

Received date: 2020-07-19

Revised date: 2021-03-05

Online published: 2021-05-08

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Abstract

Understanding the habitat and space utilization patterns of wildlife provides a foundation for designing effective strategies for successful conservation translocations. To clarify these patterns in captive born giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) being prepared for the wild, the movement data of two pre-released individuals with GPS collars were studied in the Liziping National Nature Reserve. The GPS data were extracted and calculated using animal movement module in the geographic information system (GIS) through a digital elevation model (DEM). We found the following results:the two giant pandas gradually migrated from the broad-leaved forest on the southwest slopes of low altitude areas to the mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests on the high altitude southern slopes. There were significant differences in the slope selection of the two giant pandas, but both of them tended to choose the gentle areas with a slope of 17°-20°. The average daily movement distance of the two giant pandas gradually decreased through the study, then stabilized with time spent in the wild habitat. Their home ranges were also significantly different both within any given month and throughout the study duration. Both individuals had several primary use patches of varied areas and distances between each site, which indicated that the pre-released giant pandas had an unstable random selection mode in the initial stage of acclimation to the wild habitat.

Key words： Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca); Pre-released training; Habitat; Spatial pattern

Cite this article

ZHOU Yanshan , HOU Rong , LIU Jiabin , BI Wenlei , Jacob R. Owens , ZHANG Zhihe , HUANG Feng , LUO Wei , QI Dunwu . Habitat utilization and spatial patterns of pre-released giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2021 , 41(6) : 641 -648 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150457

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