Grazing-Induced Habitat Degradation: Challenges to Giant Panda Survival Resulting from Declining Bamboo and Soil Quality.

ABSTRACT: Grazing is the primary human-induced disturbance affecting giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitats and has a severe impact on the long-term sustainability of the giant panda population. To address the lack of quantitative studies on grazing's impact on habitat quality, we selected China's most heavily grazed giant panda nature reserve. Utilizing the Maxent model and stoichiometric analysis, we investigated habitat quality degradation caused by grazing and quantified changes in bamboo nutritional quality and soil physicochemical properties. The results indicate that grazing has significantly reduced the suitable habitat area for giant pandas from 101.87 km² to 80.64 km². Specifically, high-suitability habitats declined by 14.14%, moderate-suitability habit

SUBMITTER: Tian H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11758315 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature