Evaluating the efficacy of zoning designations for protected area management

Protected areas worldwide are facing increasing pressures to co-manage human development and biodiversity conservation. One strategy for managing multiple uses within and around protected areas is zoning, an approach in which spatial boundaries are drawn to distinguish areas with varying degrees of allowable human impacts. However, zoning designations are rarely evaluated for their efficacy using empirical data related to both human and biodiversity characteristics. To evaluate the effectiveness of zoning designations, we developed an integrated approach. The approach was calibrated empirically using data from Wolong Nature Reserve, a flagship protected area for the conservation of endangered giant pandas in China. We analyzed the spatial distribution of pandas, as well as human impacts (roads, houses, tourism infrastructure, livestock, and forest cover change) with respect to zoning designations in Wolong. Results show that the design of the zoning scheme could be improved to account for pandas and their habitat, considering the amount of suitable habitat outside of the core zone (area designated for biodiversity conservation). Zoning was largely successful in containing houses and roads to their designated experimental zone, but was less effective in containing livestock and was susceptible to boundary adjustments to allow for tourism development. We identified focus areas for potential zoning revision that could better protect the panda population without significantly compromising existing human settlements. Our findings highlight the need for evaluating the efficacy of zoning in other protected areas facing similar challenges with balancing human needs and conservation goals, not only in China but also around the world.     

野化培训大熊猫夜宿地结构特征的初步观察

2004年3～9月,我们对卧龙自然保护区核桃坪基地野化培训大熊猫个体＂祥祥＂的夜宿地组成结构进行了初步观察,并采用主成分分析（PCA）对471组夜宿地数据所涉及的7种结构因子（廊道、竹林、余竹堆、岩石、乔木、倒木、灌草丛）进行了统计分析。结果表明：在大熊猫＂祥祥＂的夜宿地结构中,＂廊道＂、＂竹林＂和＂乔木＂是最主要的3个因子。经单因素方差分析检验表明,在对地势的选择中,＂祥祥＂偏爱坡度5°～30°的缓坡竹林（P〈0.01）;环境温度增加是造成＂祥祥＂选择在树上休息的主要原因（P〈0.05）;在拐棍竹发笋期,随着活动的增加,夜宿地数量明显增多（P〈0.01）。观察结果反映出＂祥祥＂对自然环境的主动适应,对夜宿地的分析研究结果对今后的野化培训选址和培训方式提供了有益启示。     

Adjuvant effects of recombinant giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) IL-18 on the canine distemper disease vaccine in mice

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a morbillivirus known to cause morbidity and mortality in a broad range of animals. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), especially captive ones, are susceptible to natural infection with CDV. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a powerful adjuvant molecule that can enhance the development of antigen-specific immunity and vaccine efficacy. In this study, a giant panda IL-18 gene eukaryotic expression plasmid (pcAmIL-18) was constructed. Female BALB/c mice were muscularly inoculated with the plasmids pcAmIL-18, pcDNA3.1 and PBS, respectively. They were subsequently injected with an attenuated CDV vaccine for dogs, and the induced humoral and cellular responses were evaluated. The results showed that pcAmIL-18 remarkably improved the level of specific antibody, IFN-γ and IL-2 in mice sera, the T lymphocyte proliferation index and the percentage of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells. These data indicated that pcAmIL-18 is a potential adjuvant that promotes specific immunity.     

圈养秦岭大熊猫两种主食竹中元素含量初探

采用原子吸收光谱法测定了人工圈养秦岭大熊猫的2种主食竹种——淡竹(Phyllostachysglauca)和箬竹(Indocalamuslongiauritris)中Fe,Cu,Zn,Mn,Ca,K,Mg等7种元素的含量。结果显示,淡竹不同部位各元素含量无明显差别,2年生淡竹的元素含量较1年生有所增加;无论是淡竹还是箬竹,叶和笋中除Cu元素外,其余元素含量均高于枝和秆中,箬竹中Mn含量较淡竹明显增高,为淡竹的31.2倍,其余6种元素含量在两竹种中差别不大。     

大熊猫适宜栖息地恢复指标研究

该文从地形因子、森林群落因子和主食竹因子3方面,建立了大熊猫栖息地退化与恢复的指标体系.地形因子指标主要包括海拔、坡度、坡向等;森林群落指标主要包括:林木高度、灌木高度、灌木株数、林木株数、灌木种类、云冷杉林木组成比例、灌木盖度和森林郁闭度.竹子密度、竹子基径、幼竹比例和竹子高度则是衡量主食竹质和量的主要指标.研究结果表明,四川省王朗自然保护区大熊猫栖息地恢复的标准是:生长在海拔2 600～3 000 m之间、坡度为25°～45°的西坡、西南坡和西北坡的中坡部位的森林.这种森林的林木高度<15 m,灌木高度<2 m,灌木株数> 5 000株/hm2,林木株数<300株/hm2,灌木种类>5种以上,云冷杉林木组成>50%以上,灌木盖度80%～100%,森林郁闭度<50%,竹子密度为 35～102株/m2,竹干基径>4.4 mm,幼竹比例>25%,竹子高度为1.8～2.8 m的森林环境.在此基础上,提出了保护、恢复和修复3种恢复大熊猫栖息地途径.     

Ecological scale and seasonal heterogeneity in the spatial behaviors of giant pandas

We report on the first study to track the spatial behaviors of wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) using high‐resolution global positioning system (GPS) telemetry. Between 2008 and 2009, 4 pandas (2 male and 2 female) were tracked in Foping Reserve, China for an average of 305 days (± 54.8 SE). Panda home ranges were larger than those of previous very high frequency tracking studies, with a bimodal distribution of space‐use and distinct winter and summer centers of activity. Home range sizes were larger in winter than in summer, although there was considerable individual variability. All tracked pandas exhibited individualistic, unoriented and multiphasic movement paths, with a high level of tortuosity within seasonal core habitats and directed, linear, large‐scale movements between habitats. Pandas moved from low elevation winter habitats to high elevation (>2000 m) summer habitats in May, when temperatures averaged 17.5 °C (± 0.3 SE), and these large‐scale movements took <1 month to complete. The peak in panda mean elevation occurred in Jul, after which they began slow, large‐scale movements back to winter habitats that were completed in Nov. An adult female panda made 2 longdistance movements during the mating season. Pandas remain close to rivers and streams during winter, possibly reflecting the elevated water requirements to digest their high‐fiber food. Panda movement path tortuosity and first‐passage‐time as a function of spatial scale indicated a mean peak in habitat search effort and patch use of approximately 700 m. Despite a high degree of spatial overlap between panda home ranges, particularly in winter, we detected neither avoidance nor attraction behavior between conspecifics.     

峨眉山和神农架地区森林环境与野生大熊猫栖息地特征的比较

本文通过自然地理环境、竹类分布特征以及植被中植物区系的属分布区类型的比较,分析了现今野生大熊猫（Ailuropoda melanoleuca）分布区域与原有大熊猫分布的峨眉山以及大熊猫早已绝迹的神农架自然保护区的差异.结果表明：峨眉山属于大熊猫分布区域,而神农架的地理经度超出了大熊猫分布区域,其它环境因子与野生大熊猫分布地区无显著性差异（p＞0.05）;竹子种类也分布有大熊猫喜食的中小径竹;同时植物区系的属分布区类型之间没有明显的差异,森林植被的垂直分布格局极为相似.因此,造成大熊猫现在在峨眉山和神农架地区没有自然分布可能是历史上社会经济的不断发展和人为干扰程度的增加等综合作用的结果.     

分布区最北缘大熊猫生存威胁因素与保护对策

2006年9月~2007年6月,我们对太白山大熊猫进行了全面调查。结果表明,太白山自然保护区内共有大熊猫11只,是秦岭大熊猫一块新增栖息地。太白山大熊猫的发现,在动物地理演化分布上具有重要科学价值。本文分析了威胁太白山大熊猫生存的主要因素,并提出了今后保护管理对策,为有效保护太白山大熊猫及其栖息地提供科学依据。     

秦岭地区圈养大熊猫对投食竹种的选择研究

大熊猫在长期的历史进化过程中形成了高度特化的以竹类为主要食物的采食习性,高山竹类成为大熊猫一年四季的主要食物。笔者在查阅秦岭地区竹类资源的基础上,开展了圈养大熊猫投食竹选择研究,发现大熊猫对竹种的选择范围较宽。通过差异显著性检验,大熊猫对不同投喂竹种具有选择性,文中进一步运用Forage ratio选择指数分析了大熊猫对不同竹种的取食倾向,即大熊猫对投喂的不同竹种是喜好、回避还是随机选择。     

陕西佛坪自然保护区大熊猫主食竹巴山木竹林间伐后的质量状况分析

本研究旨在探索大熊猫主食竹竹林老化后的人工辅助更新方式.以陕西佛坪国家自然保护区为研究区域,利用非参数统计法对间伐后第一年巴山木竹竹笋的数量、基径和高度以及当年生竹的株数、基径、高度和营养成分进行了分析研究.结果表明:①间伐使巴山木竹林的发笋数增加129.20%,竹笋平均高度增加38.20%,当年生竹株数增加339.32%;而未对巴山木竹的竹笋基径、当年生竹的基径和高度以及营养状况起到促进作用;②不同间伐带宽 (1 m,2 m,3 m)的间伐产生了不同的更新效果:2 m间伐带宽的竹笋的密度和平均高度高于1 m和3 m间伐带宽的.而平均基径低于3 m间伐带宽的;对于当年生竹,1 m间伐带宽的效果最好,其当年生竹的密度、平均基径和平均高度都高于2 m和3 m间伐带宽的.人工间伐更新使竹笋和当年生竹数量增加,有利于大熊猫春季和冬季的取 食保证.