Research On The Population Change And Habitat Growth And Decline Of Giant Pandas In Qinling Mountains

Though giant panda population has recovered from endangered to vulnerable,its protection is still urgent due to habitat destruction,uneven distribution of nature reserve,and human disturbance.Based on data collected from the 3^rd and the 4^th“National Giant Panda Population and Habitat Survey”,software Geographic Information System?GIS?,and Maxent model,this paper analyses spatial distribution,habitat suitability and conservation lack of giant panda,and concludes about its growth and decline tendency and habitat in Qinling Mountains.Then reasons for the changes are analyzed in order to determine what adjustments should be made and what disturbance should be controlled.The area of high-density panda spatial utilization decreased in size,as pandas spread out over a wider area.During the two periods,giant panda's spatial utilization density increased to the west and decreased to the east.The maximum increase in utilization density was 3.05 tracks/km² and the maximum decrease in utilization density was 2.71 tracks/km².The results indicated that the intensity and impact of disturbance declined.Quantitatively,main disturbance is logging,bamboo shoots collecting,herbs collecting and farming.As for road disturbance,increasing rate of giant pandas'spatial utilization density rose within 2000 m in national,provincial and county roads,and 3500 m in highways.The maximum intensity value reduced from 66 to 36.During these two surveys,the area of strong disturbance decreased by 74.16 km²,while strong impact on giant panda population decreased by 95.16%,mainly in new nature reserves.Suitable habitat area increased,while contribution factors varied.Previously,six main factors affected the quality of habitat were bamboo type,elevation,bamboo shoots collecting,slope,tree cover and roads,then these factors changed to bamboo type,elevation,slope,tree cover,bamboo shoots collecting and grazing.The results of the Maxent model showed that giant panda habitat bettered from moderate suitable,unsuitable to suitable and most suitable grade.During the two surveys,the area of habitat increased,but habitat fragmentation became worse.Habitat area in Qinling Mountains increased by 500.8 km²,while potential habitat area decreased by 398.1 km².On one hand,forest and grassland were two main habitat types;path density of farmland and grassland increased.On the other hand,the area of farming and residents was increasing.In combination with population and habitat research,results of the two surveys showed that the construction of nature reserves achieved remarkable success,though somehow insufficient.In the future,the scope of Sangyuan,Motianling and Niuweihe Nature Reserves could be expanded and new protected areas should be added between Tianhuashan and Huangguanshan Nature Reserves,west of Sangyuan Nature Reserves and southwest of Changqing Nature Reserves.Expansion of residence,farming,grazing and other human disturbance should be controlled,and more management efforts should be made,especially near nature reserve boundaries.