Habitat use by giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca in the Wanglang Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China

Abstract

Abstract Background To better understand the ecological requirements of the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca in the wild, field surveys were carried out at both the microhabitat scale and foraging site scale in Wanglang National Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. Results The results indicated that (1) at the microhabitat scale, giant pandas usually occupied habitats with a high fallen-log density, lower shrub density, and bamboo coverage of 50% to 75%; (2) at the foraging site scale, pandas usually used sites with higher bamboo densities and taller and larger-diameter bamboo; and (3) giant pandas may abandon plots when the proportion of young bamboo decreases below average in the environment. Conclusions The availability of young bamboo is an important driving force in habitat selection by giant pandas, which could provide important reference for the conservation of giant pandas and their habitats.