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Article

Characteristics and Roles of Large Trees in Giant Panda Habitat of Wanglang Nature Reserve

by
Zihan Yang
1,
Xiaorong Wang
2 and
Dongwei Kang
1,*
1
School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
2
Wanglang National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau, Mianyang 622553, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Forests 2023, 14(10), 1993; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101993
Submission received: 21 August 2023 / Revised: 1 October 2023 / Accepted: 2 October 2023 / Published: 4 October 2023
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
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Abstract

:
Specific studies of large trees in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitats are currently lacking. To fill this research gap, a field survey on large trees in Wanglang Nature Reserve of China was conducted. According to a previous definition of a large tree (DBH ≥ 60 cm), a total of 19 large trees, composed of Abies fargesii var. faxoniana (73.7%), Betula albosinensis (15.8%), and Juniperus saltuaria (10.5%), were found in 50% of 30 10 m × 10 m giant panda habitat plots (contained feces of giant panda). Compared to the habitat where large trees were absent, the giant panda habitat where large trees were present was characterized by larger-sized tree diameter and more bamboo clumps. The mean proportion of large trees in the basal area of the tree layer in habitats where large trees were present was 65.5%. Considering large trees are a scarce resource and play a crucial role in habitat composition and habitat use, large trees and their habitats need to be given priority protection. To achieve more accurate protection, continuous and dynamic monitoring of large trees is needed, and the investigation of large trees should form a part of future national surveys of giant pandas.

1. Introduction

The giant panda is a national treasure of China. After several decades of protection efforts, both the population size and the habitat area of giant pandas have grown [1]. However, due to the impact of various anthropogenic activities, such as logging, livestock grazing, road construction, and mining [2,3,4,5], large areas of giant panda habitat have become degraded and fragmented, thereby threatening the sustainable survival of giant panda [6]. To effectively protect this species, it is vital to protect its existing habitat.
Although the habitat composition of giant panda habitat is complex, it can be generally described as dense bamboo and tall trees. Bamboo is almost the only food source for giant pandas and is a key component of their habitat. However, the growth of some bamboo appropriate for giant pandas requires a certain tree environment [7,8,9]. More generally, giant pandas tend to use forest habitats [10,11,12,13,14,15]. Therefore, trees are important in the habitat composition and habitat use of giant pandas, and must be protected.
Many studies have emphasized the role of trees, such as in scent marking [16,17,18], resting [11,12], and providing den tree holes [19]. These aspects of tree use provide important information for understanding tree characteristics in giant panda habitats. Despite being an extremely important part of the plant community in this habitat, there is no systematic and specialized research on large trees. The lack of information regarding the large trees (such as standard, number, species, distribution, and role) leads to habitat protection loopholes, potentially threatening the protection of giant pandas. It is urgent to begin a targeted study of large trees.
In this study, a field survey of large trees in Wanglang Nature Reserve was conducted. We selected Wanglang for the following reasons: (1) Wanglang is a famous giant panda reserve, and is representative; (2) there has been no large-scale logging after the early 1960s, and as a result, the forest is relatively intact; and (3) Wanglang plays important habitat connection roles among different reserves such as Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, and Wujiao. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify large trees and their role in the giant panda habitats, and (2) describe the characteristics of the giant panda habitat where large trees were present. Based on the characteristics and roles of large trees, this study proposes targeted monitoring and protection strategies.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Area

Wanglang Nature Reserve is located in Sichuan Province, China, which is the heartland of the Minshan Mountains. The reserve was established in 1965, and currently, it is included in the Giant Panda National Park. The reserve covers about 323 km2, with elevation ranging from 2300 m to 4890 m. The altitude of the Muyangchang, where the management bureau is located, is 2560 m. The annual precipitation is 862.5 mm, and the annual average temperature is 2.9 °C [20]. Wanglang is a forest ecosystem type nature reserve, and is home to 28 giant pandas [21]. The main forest type includes coniferous forest and mixed coniferous broad-leaved forest.
Historically, Wanglang has been affected by earthquakes. Among them, the Songpan-Pingwu earthquake in 1976 had a significant impact on the reserve. Many landslide scars caused by this earthquake are distributed along river banks and valleys of Wanglang. The impact of the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 on the reserve was relatively light. Due to large-scale logging in the 1950s [22] and earthquakes in the 1970s [20], a lot of vegetation was severely damaged. After several decades of natural recovery, large areas of secondary forests were formed. The main bamboo is arrow bamboo (such as Fargesia denudata), and a large area of bamboo flowering occurred in the 1970s.
There are three main valleys in Wanglang, namely Dawodang, Zhugencha, and Changbaigou. Giant pandas are found in all of these three valleys, but they are not evenly distributed, with the highest distribution occurring in Changbaigou. In terms of altitude, giant pandas are mainly distributed between 2400 m and 3300 m. Regarding forest type, they use not only the primary forests but also the secondary forests [23]. They rarely, or not at all, use the artificial forests [24]. To protect giant pandas, the staff regularly patrol and monitor their habitats in the reserve.

2.2. Field Survey

Giant pandas in Wanglang are mainly distributed in Changbaigou, Changpo, Tiebanfang, Shuizhagou, Nangou, Zhuzuoyi, Yidaoqiao, Huitouxian, Sandaoqiao, Wuzhuagou, Tianmiaogou, and Dawodang. To investigate the large trees in the giant panda habitat, we searched for activity traces of giant pandas in the above areas under the guidance of reserve staff. This study used the presence of giant panda feces as the basis for determining giant panda habitats. During the field investigation, when giant panda feces was found at a site, a 10 m × 10 m giant panda habitat plot containing the feces was established. A total of 30 giant panda habitat plots (Figure 1; Table S1) that contained feces were established, and surveys were conducted in July and August 2019. To ensure the independence of different sample plots, the distance between any two plots was ≥100 m. This study mainly considered woody plants and bamboo when characterizing the habitat, and for each plot, the species name and size of all woody plants, and the species name, number, and height of all bamboo clumps were recorded and measured. To facilitate the study, woody plants with a height ≥ 5 m were defined as the tree layer, those with a height between 1.3 m and 5 m were defined as the shrub layer, and those with a height < 1.3 m were defined as the regeneration layer. To measure bamboo size, four 1 m × 1 m bamboo sites were established in the centers of four 5 m × 5 m squares in each plot. In each bamboo site, five bamboo stems were randomly selected and their basal diameters were measured.

2.3. Data Analysis

2.3.1. Number and Composition of Large Trees in Giant Panda Habitats

To describe the characteristics of large trees in the giant panda habitat, a large tree was defined as an individual tree with a DBH ≥ 60 cm [25]. The basic data of the large trees (such as number, proportion, and composition) were counted and calculated.
To explore the large tree standard of typical tree species in the giant panda habitat, the relative basal area (RBA) [26] and the number of all woody plants in the tree layer were calculated and counted. In this study, a typical tree species was defined as a species with a RBA ≥ 0.10 and an individual number ≥ 30 in the tree layer. For each determined typical tree species, all DBH data in the tree layer were extracted from the giant panda habitat plots and ordered by size. Finally, only individuals in the top 5% of DBH [27] were retained for further analysis.
To study the characteristics of habitats with large trees, all giant panda habitat plots were divided into two types, where large trees (DBH ≥ 60 cm) were present or where large tree were absent. Furthermore, to analyze the role of large trees in the habitat, for the habitat plots with large trees, the proportion contributed by large trees to the basal area of tree layer in each plot was calculated.

2.3.2. Species Diversity and Community Structure of Giant Panda Habitats with Large Trees

Species Composition

To describe the species composition of giant panda habitats with and without large trees, the total species number of woody plants in all plots and different layers of these two types of habitats were counted. Then, the similarity was studied using the Sorensen index. Finally, the dominant species composition of the two habitats was compared.
The relative basal area (RBA) value was used to represent the importance value (IV) of the tree layer, the mean value of the RBA and the relative density (RD) was used to represent the IV of the shrub layer, and the mean value of the RD and relative height (RH) was used to represent the IV of the regeneration layer [26]. The Sorensen index was calculated as follows:
SI = 2c/(a + b),
where SI is the Sorensen index, a and b are the number of species in plots with and without large trees, respectively, c is the number of species common to both plots with and without large trees [28].

Species Diversity

To compare the species diversity of giant panda habitats with and without large trees, variables of species richness (number of species), the Shannon–Weiner index, and the Simpson index in different layers were used in this study. Then, these variables in each plot were calculated. Finally, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) or the Mann–Whitney U test was used to test the differences between habitats with and without large trees [29,30]. For the calculation of Shannon–Wiener and Simpson, the following formulas were used:
H’ = −Σpilnpi,
D = 1 − Σpi2,
where H’ is the Shannon–Wiener index, D is the Simpson index, pi is the proportion of the ith species in an individual number [31,32].

Community Structure and Bamboo

To compare the plant community and bamboo growth characteristics of giant panda habitats with and without large trees, six community structure variables and three bamboo growth variables were defined and used (Table 1). Then, these nine variables in each plot were calculated. Finally, the ANOVA or the U test was used to test the differences between the two habitats [29,30].

3. Results

3.1. Large Trees and Their Role in Giant Panda Habitats

A total of 19 large trees were found in the 30 10 m × 10 m giant panda habitat plots, accounting for 5.8% (19 of 325) of the woody plants surveyed in the tree layer. The DBH of the large trees ranged from 60.0 cm to 85.0 cm. Large trees included AF (73.7%), BA (15.8%), and JS (10.5%) (Figure 2).
These 19 large trees were present in 15 giant panda habitat plots. The proportion of the basal area of large trees in the tree layer of each giant panda habitat plot with large trees ranged from 32.3% to 89.4%, with a mean proportion of 65.5%. Notably, 86.7% (13 of 15) of the plots had a proportion >50%.
The RBA value of two species in the tree layer was >0.10. These species were AF (RBA = 0.68) and BA (RBA = 0.16). The individual number of three species in the tree layer was >30. These species were AF (87 individuals), BA (85 individuals), and Acer caudatum (33 individuals). Thus, the large tree standard of AF and BA was further analyzed.
Four individuals of AF were in the top 5% of DBH, and they ranged from 72.0 cm to 85.0 cm. For individuals of BA, four of them were in the top 5% of DBH, and they ranged from 44.1 cm to 70.5 cm. Thus, a size of 72.0 cm and 44.1 cm was determined as the standard for large trees of AF and BA in the giant panda habitat of Wanglang, respectively.

3.2. Characteristics of Giant Panda Habitat with Large Trees

The 30 giant panda habitat plots were divided into two types of habitat plots depending on the presence or absence of large trees. There was a sample size of 15 for each of these two types of habitat plots.

3.2.1. Species Composition Characteristics

A total of 26 and 34 species were present in giant panda habitat plots with and without large trees, respectively. The total similarity value was 0.80.
For the tree layer, 14 and 20 species were present in plots with and without large trees, respectively. The common dominant species in the tree layer were AF and BA (Table 2). The similarity value of the tree layer was 0.65.
For the shrub layer, 18 and 20 species were present in plots with and without large trees, respectively. The common dominant species in the shrub layer were AF and PI (Table 2). The similarity value of the shrub layer was 0.74.
For the regeneration layer, 20 and 28 species were present in plots with and without large trees, respectively. The common dominant species in the regeneration layer was RS (Table 2). The similarity value of the regeneration layer was 0.75.
Furthermore, the bamboo species in plots with and without large trees were Fargesia denudata.

3.2.2. Species Diversity Characteristics

Regarding the nine variables used to reflect the species diversity of different layers, although there were some differences in values, none of them differed significantly between plots with and without large trees (p > 0.05, Table 3).

3.2.3. Community Structure Characteristics

Regarding the six variables used to reflect the community structure of different layers, only tree size differed significantly between the two habitats (Table 4). Compared to the habitat where large trees were absent, the giant panda habitat where large trees were present was characterized by larger tree diameter (p < 0.05, Table 4).

3.2.4. Bamboo Growth Characteristics

Regarding the three variables used to reflect bamboo growth characteristics, only bamboo clump number differed significantly between the two habitats (Table 4). Compared to the habitat where large trees were absent, the giant panda habitat where large trees were present was characterized by a greater number of bamboo clumps (p < 0.05, Table 4).

4. Discussion

Large trees have received much attention in recent decades [33,34,35], and the understanding of large trees is extensively discussed [25,34,36,37]. Surprisingly, despite being an extremely important component of the plant community in giant panda habitats, there is no systematic research on large trees. Based on previous definitions of large trees, this study is the first attempt to specifically examine large trees in the giant panda habitat. Based on the definition of large trees as having a DBH ≥ 60 cm [25], only 19 large trees were found in the giant panda habitat, indicating they are a scarce resource, and special conservation measures should be taken to protect them.
Studying large trees using the unified standard contributes to an overall understanding of the status of large trees in a community. However, different tree species have different biological characteristics, and the standards for large trees vary [27,37]. In this study, based on the principle of the top 5% in DBH [27], 72.0 cm and 44.1 cm were determined as the large tree standards of AF and BA in the giant panda habitat of Wanglang, respectively. Knowledge of these standards provides basic information for studying the growth characteristics and status of these two tree species.
Based on specific tree size and percentage in DBH determined in previous studies [25,27], this study preliminarily discussed the composition and characteristics of large trees in the giant panda habitat. However, previous research standards based on forests may not necessarily be fully applicable to the giant panda habitat. Therefore, this study suggested that consideration should be given to developing large tree standards specifically for giant panda habitat based on the habitat requirements of giant pandas. Furthermore, giant pandas have diverse habitat requirements in terms of aspects such as resting, birthing, and marking [38]. Considering that the habitat requirements of giant pandas may vary in different scenarios, the standards for large trees in their habitats may have different connotations, so further research is needed.
Species composition and diversity are important elements in characterizing the plant community [32]. The total similarity between giant panda habitats with and without large trees reached a high level of 0.80, and the dominant species in the tree layer was consistent. Although there were differences in dominant species composition in both shrub and regeneration layers, the similarity of these two layers reached a relatively high level of >0.70. In terms of species diversity, for the nine variables used in this study, there was no significant difference between habitats with and without large trees. Thus, giant panda habitats with and without large trees have many similar characteristics in terms of species composition and diversity.
In terms of habitat composition, sufficient bamboo is an essential condition for constituting the giant panda habitat [38]. Some studies have also emphasized the role of large-sized trees in the giant panda habitat [12,16,19]. In this study, habitats in which large trees were present had significantly larger tree size and more bamboo clumps. These characteristics suggest that habitats with large trees offer more suitable conditions. Therefore, it is important to protect the habitats with large trees. However, the specific relationship between giant panda habitat use and large trees and bamboo clumps is not clear, and should be a key focus of future work.
Many studies on the roles of large trees have been conducted [34,39,40,41]. However, few are related to giant panda habitats. In this study, for giant panda habitat where large trees were present, the mean percentage of large trees in the basal area of the tree layer was >65%, indicating that large trees are constructive species of the plant community, and play a critical role in habitat composition and structure. In addition, half of the giant panda habitat had large trees present, suggesting there is a close relationship between large trees and habitat use. To clarify this relationship, more studies should be conducted to quantify the relation of different large trees and the frequency and intensity of giant panda habitat use.
The giant panda is a forest-dwelling wild animal and the forest is its primary habitat [8,42]. This study found that large trees are a scarce resource in giant panda habitats. However, they play a crucial role in the plant community composition, and have a close relationship with habitat use. This study aimed to provoke, and even call for, increasing attention to the monitoring and protection of large trees in the giant panda habitat. Giant pandas are distributed in many nature reserves. Considering the difference in vegetation type in different areas, it is necessary to conduct basic investigations on the large trees in different nature reserves. The understanding such studies would produce more precise information for habitat conservation. To achieve the goal of overall conservation, the Giant Panda National Park, established in 2021, should consider the unified survey of large trees within the scope of the national park.
The activity range of giant panda and the survival and growth of large trees is variable. To ensure effective protection and to track the relationship and changes between giant panda and large trees, it is necessary to carry out continuous and dynamic monitoring. Such monitoring would facilitate timely adjustments and allow for strategies to be effectively updated. Furthermore, anthropogenic disturbance in the giant panda habitat is very frequent and diverse [8]. Human activities such as road construction, illegal logging, mining, and using fire potentially threaten the protection of large trees. To effectively protect large trees, it is necessary to strengthen the patrolling and monitoring of habitats where large trees are present, and take targeted measures on different types of prevalent anthropogenic disturbances.
National surveys on giant pandas provide information on the species population size and habitat status [8]. China carries out a national survey on the giant panda about every ten years. Thus far, four national surveys have been conducted. However, there has been no specific investigation on the large trees in previous surveys. To provide more accurate information, the investigation of large trees should be included in future surveys. For example, during the vegetation surveys, the basic information of large trees encountered should be investigated and recorded in detail.

5. Conclusions

Based on a study in Wanglang Nature Reserve, 19 large trees composed of AF, BA, and JS were found in 50% of the 30 10 m × 10 m giant panda habitat plots. Large trees are a scarce resource in giant panda habitats. Giant panda habitats with and without large trees have many similar characteristics in species composition and diversity. Giant panda habitats where large trees were present were characterized by significantly larger tree size and more bamboo clumps. Large trees contributed significantly to the basal area of tree layer in habitats where large trees were present. To facilitate more accurate conservation, large trees and their habitats should be well protected. Furthermore, continuous and dynamic monitoring should be conducted for both large trees and habitat use of giant pandas in different nature reserves and the Giant Panda National Park, and large tree surveys should be included in future national surveys of giant pandas.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/f14101993/s1, Table S1: Location of giant panda habitat plot.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, D.K.; methodology, D.K.; formal analysis, Z.Y. and D.K.; investigation, D.K. and X.W.; writing—original draft preparation, Z.Y. and D.K.; funding acquisition, Z.Y. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates of Beijing Forestry University, grant number 202210022238.

Data Availability Statement

The data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

We thank all of the people who participated in the field survey and the warm support from the Wanglang National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Distribution of sampled plots.
Figure 1. Distribution of sampled plots.
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Figure 2. Large trees in the 30 10 m × 10 m giant panda habitat plots (AF: Abies fargesii var. faxoniana; BA: Betula albosinensis; JS: Juniperus saltuaria).
Figure 2. Large trees in the 30 10 m × 10 m giant panda habitat plots (AF: Abies fargesii var. faxoniana; BA: Betula albosinensis; JS: Juniperus saltuaria).
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Table 1. Definition of community structure and bamboo growth variables.
Table 1. Definition of community structure and bamboo growth variables.
VariableDefinition
Tree numberNumber of woody plants in tree layer of a plot
Tree size (cm)Average DBH of woody plants in tree layer of a plot
Shrub numberNumber of woody plants in shrub layer of a plot
Shrub size (cm)Average DBH of woody plants in shrub layer of a plot
Regeneration numberNumber of woody plants in regeneration layer of a plot
Regeneration size (mm)Average basal diameter of woody plants in regeneration layer of a plot
Bamboo clump numberNumber of bamboo clumps in a plot
Bamboo height (cm)Average height of all bamboo clumps in a plot
Bamboo size (mm)Average basal diameter of bamboo stems in four bamboo sites of a plot
Table 2. Dominant species of different layers in habitats with large trees present or absent.
Table 2. Dominant species of different layers in habitats with large trees present or absent.
LayerDominant Species and Importance Values
Large Tree Plot (n = 15)Non-Large Tree Plot (n = 15)
Tree layerAF (0.71), BA (0.17)AF (0.57), BA (0.13)
Shrub layerAF (0.22), PI (0.20), RG (0.13)BA (0.17), LT (0.13), PI (0.13), AF (0.11), RO (0.10)
Regeneration layerRG (0.21), AC (0.14), RS (0.12)LT (0.18), AF (0.12), RS (0.12)
AF: Abies fargesii var. faxoniana; BA: Betula albosinensis; PI: Philadelphus incanus; RG: Ribes glaciale; LT: Lonicera tangutica; RO: Rosa omeiensis; AC: Acer caudatum; RS: Ribes setchuense.
Table 3. Tests for nine species diversity variables in habitats with large trees present or absent (a: U test; b: ANOVA).
Table 3. Tests for nine species diversity variables in habitats with large trees present or absent (a: U test; b: ANOVA).
LayerVariableMean (SD)F or Zp
Large Tree Plot (n = 15)Non-Large Tree Plot (n = 15)
Tree layerSpecies richness a3 (2)4 (2)−1.4370.151
Shannon–Wiener b0.724 (0.583)1.076 (0.484)3.2310.083
Simpson a0.400 (0.285)0.576 (0.218)−1.7480.080
Shrub layerSpecies richness a3 (3)4 (3)−1.2750.202
Shannon–Wiener b0.811 (0.774)1.232 (0.589)2.6220.117
Simpson a0.407 (0.338)0.624 (0.233)−1.6180.106
Regeneration layerSpecies richness a5 (4)6 (4)−1.3590.174
Shannon–Wiener a0.926 (0.827)1.303 (0.611)−1.3320.183
Simpson a0.439 (0.353)0.617 (0.230)−1.3320.183
Table 4. Tests for community structure and bamboo growth variables in habitats with large trees present or absent (a: U test; b: ANOVA).
Table 4. Tests for community structure and bamboo growth variables in habitats with large trees present or absent (a: U test; b: ANOVA).
VariableMean (SD)Zp
Large Tree Plot (n = 15)Non-Large Tree Plot (n = 15)
Tree number a9 (6)13 (7)−1.4150.157
Tree size a30.8 (15.4)12.8 (6.2)−3.4630.001
Shrub number a7 (8)11 (13)−1.0420.298
Shrub size a2.1 (1.3)2.2 (1.6)−0.1380.890
Regeneration number a22 (23)27 (30)−0.6030.547
Regeneration size a3.39 (1.82)3.82 (1.62)−0.7470.455
Bamboo clump number a27 (15)16 (12)−2.1390.032
Bamboo height a275 (68)296 (42)−0.3060.760
Bamboo size b7.53 (1.48)8.00 (2.02)0.4920.489
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Yang, Z.; Wang, X.; Kang, D. Characteristics and Roles of Large Trees in Giant Panda Habitat of Wanglang Nature Reserve. Forests 2023, 14, 1993. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101993

AMA Style

Yang Z, Wang X, Kang D. Characteristics and Roles of Large Trees in Giant Panda Habitat of Wanglang Nature Reserve. Forests. 2023; 14(10):1993. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101993

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yang, Zihan, Xiaorong Wang, and Dongwei Kang. 2023. "Characteristics and Roles of Large Trees in Giant Panda Habitat of Wanglang Nature Reserve" Forests 14, no. 10: 1993. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101993

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