Chinese Red Panda (Ailurus Styani) Population Distribution Change And Habitat Suitability In Sichuan Province

The Chinese red panda(Ailurus styani)occupies a special ecological niche among carnivores due to its highly specialized diet and a series of adaptive characteristics,and is a rare and endangered beast unique to China.Due to the impact of human activities and global changes,the survival of wild red pandas has been threatened.It is particularly necessary to carry out scientific research and protection on red pandas.However,few studies have explored the distribution pattern and habitat evaluation of the Chinese red panda from the landscape scale.In order to fully understand the status of red panda populations and habitats in Sichuan,this study compared the red panda populations in different periods based on the distribution sites of red pandas in the results of the third and fourth national giant panda surveys and the data of supplementary survey sites of red pandas.change in relative abundance.The generalized linear model(GLM)was used to explore the driving factors of the population distribution shrinkage of the red panda in the study area;the maximum entropy model(Max Ent)and the landscape pattern index were used to evaluate the habitat suitability and Changes in the degree of fragmentation.The research results can provide a scientific basis for the protection of the Chinese red panda population and habitat in Sichuan province.The main results of this study are as follows:1.The shrinking distribution of the Chinese red panda population has led to a southward shift of the northernmost line of the global red panda distribution.The population size of red pandas generally showed an increasing trend.The population size of red pandas in the five mountain ranges increased by about 9.47%,of which the population size of Qionglai Mountains increased by about 10.01%,the population size of red pandas in Minshan and Xiaoxiangling Mountains decreased,and the Minshan Mountains were small.The panda population size approaches 0.2.The results of the generalized linear model comprehensively considering the biotic and abiotic factors that affect the distribution shrinkage of the Chinese red panda show that the local rarity index,which indicates the local extinction of species,has a very significant impact on the distribution pattern of the red panda population(P<0.001).The importance is 1.00.The local extinction of the red panda population in the Minshan Mountains is the main reason for the northward shift of the red panda population distribution.3.The results of the Max Ent model show that the habitat suitability index of the Chinese red panda in the study area(except the Minshan Mountains)has increased;the distribution area of the red panda habitat in each mountain series has increased,and the habitat area of the entire study area has increased by about 6 316.11km~2.The area of suitable habitat increased by 28.74%compared with the third survey period;the response curve of environmental factors in different periods shows that the red panda is more sensitive to climate change and human activities.4.During the two surveys,the habitat quality of the Chinese red panda showed a recovery trend.The area of each main vegetation type(coniferous forest,broad-leaved forest and shrub)in the suitable habitat of the red panda increased,the vegetation Patch Density(PD)decreased,the Contagion(CONTAG)increased,and the habitat fragmentation trend got a certain degree.However,the high degree of fragmentation in the study area still exists,and habitat fragmentation is still the main factor restricting the development of the red panda population.