Effect Of Climate Change On Giant Pandas And Habitats In The Minshan Mountains

Climate change has already affected global biological communities. However, We don’t know how climate change affect giant pandas and habitats. The research objective was to explore the distribution pattern of giant pandas under climate change and estimate potential migration in the future. The research methods was using MAXENT models and data from466field survey samples of giant pandas distribution and environment variables including climate, topography, vegetation and human impact factor to simulate current and future distributions in different emissions scenarios based on meteorological data in the past50years and climate change range in the next90years, to analysis habitat suitability on giant pandas in the Minshan and every county and dynamic during habitats of different suitability, to quantify migration of giant pandas at the altitude and latitude gradients and to propose responding preservation and restoration measures according to status in quo. The research conclusions were including the following aspects.1. Compared with the current area, optimal and relatively suitable habitat area of giant pandas is decreased in the different emission scenarios, but unsuitable habitat area will show the increasing trend.2. All of seven counties in the Minshan Mountains, only in Qingchan and Mao county, the optimal habitat area of giant pandas will increased in the different emission scenarios and other counties is opposite.3.About66.75percent of the giant pandas will migrate to high altitude and33.25percent of them will move to low altitude at the altitude gradient. At the latitude gradient, they will diffuse towards high latitude.In conclusion, due to climate change, suitable habitats of giant pandas will lose dramatically. Giant pandas in the Minshan Mountains have to diffuse towards high altitude and high latitude. More challenges will be faced in carrying on preserving and restoring habitats of giant pandas in the Minshan Mountains.