Study On The Habitat Use Of Giant Pandas In Xiaohegou Nature Reserve Of Sichuan Province

Giant panda is a national treasure of China,after years of protection efforts,remarkable achievements have been achieved in giant panda protection but habitat loss and fragmentation are still the main factors threatening the survival of giant panda.Xiaohegou Nature Reserve is mainly established for the protection of giant panda,but few systematic and detailed researches on the habitat use of giant panda have been made,which restricts the protection effect.To understand the habitat use characteristics of giant panda under the condition of shorter recovery time after forest logging and less human disturbance,we studied the habitat use of giant panda from aspects of plant community(including three scales of microhabitat,resting site and foraging bamboo),habitat use of sympatric species and the use of artificial forest.The aim of this study was to understand the habitat requirements of giant panda in this area,discuss if artificial forests can meet the habitat requirements of giant panda,and provide an important reference for habitat protection.The results of this study mainly include:1.From the natural environment of Xiaohegou Nature Reserve,the microhabitat of giant panda was characterized by lower canopy,higher bamboo density,smaller shrub dispersion.The resting site use of giant panda was related to the bamboo.The height of the foraged bamboo remnant was more than half a meter from the ground.Good shading condition and abundant bamboo are important conditions for the habitat use of giant panda,it should pay attention to the protection of trees and bamboo in habitat protection2.Giant panda,takin and Sichuan golden monkey showed both similarities and differences in habitat use.Giant panda’s habitat was characterized by lower canopy and tree density,higher bamboo coverage and bamboo density.Giant panda has more habitat requirements than takin and monkey,it should pay more attention to giant panda in biodiversity conservation.3.No trace of giant panda was found in the artificial forest plot.Compared with giant panda habitat,artificial forest was characterized by higher tree density,lower in shrub and bamboo density.The artificial forest is hard to meet the habitat requirements of giant panda,and it should fully consider the habitat requirements giant pandas in habitat restoration.