Study On Optimization Of Spatial Pattern Of Nature Researves In Minshan Region

In view of critical concern for the Minshan Region to Chinese and even global biodiversity conservation, the present study explored how to optimize the the spatial pattern of nature reserves in this region from the prospectives of reserve selection and nature reserve group formation using rare and endangered species as study objects.1. About the reserve selection in the Minshan Region. A species distribution model, Maxent, modeled the spatial distribution of 39 rare and endangered species living in the Minshan region using the presence-only data and the environmental variables including biotic factors, terrain factors and human disturbance factors. After that, the priority areas of study species were identified, and the optimization solution of reserve selection in the Minshan region was further raised. The results are as follows:(1) Maxent could predict the distributions of study species excellently with occurrence records below 25; (2) compared with the panda-based reserve selection solution, the multispecies-based reserve slection solution increased the representation of 28 species, especially the important species listed as "near threatened" or above; (3) only 46.58% of priority areas had been protected by the existing nature reserves, and protection gaps existed in the middle and south of Jiuzhaigou County, the north of Pingwu County, the border of the southwest of Pingwu County and the Northeast of Beichuan County. Therefore, it was proposed to build new nature reserves or expand the existing nature reserves in 6 protection gap areas, and to take the priority rank within the areas into account in future planning.2. About the formation of nature reserve groups in the North Minshan. Based on habitat evaluation and connectivity analysis, the approach and method for optimizing nature reserve groups were analyzed using the case study of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) reserves in the North Minshan. Results indicated that:(1) the suitable giant panda habitat covered 5,285 km2, mainly distributed around the border among four counties including Diebu, Zhouqu, Ruoergai and Jiuzhaigou; (2) althought five existing panda nature reserves were connected to each other so as to form a reserve group, their core zones were divided into seven isolated areas; furthermore, they covered only 48.4% of panda habitat and three of five population components. Therefore, it was proposed:(1) to build one new reserve in the north of Jiuzhaigou County and the east of Ruoergai County to cover panda habitat of 1,704 km2 and another two unprotected population components; (2) to expand and merge core zones into two areas, and to include the areas with high connectivity between different panda population sources in the core zones; (3) to construct three linkage areas across the road crossing between S301 and G213 to connect two merged core zones for facilitating panda exchange and movement among different populations.