-
种群数量的下降通常会对生态系统的功能和服务产生直接影响[1,2],因此,对种群进行保护是十分重要的。保护行动与保护措施的落地,往往是通过对局域种群及其栖息地进行保护来实现的,所以种群也是保护管理的核心。虽然种群和生境是动态变化的,但是必须根据一定的地理范围,来对保护管理单元进行划分,以确定监测与保护的实体[3]。
遗传学方法经常被用来确定种内单元(intraspecific units),如进化显著单元(evolutionarily significant units, ESUs)和管理单元(management units, MUs)。虽然ESUs和MUs在概念和标准上都得到了理论的认可,但其是否能为切实的保护提供依据,还有待检验[4]。它们虽然可以在概念上识别出不同的种内单元,但是无法给出种内单元的地理空间边界。而从实用意义上看,保护行动总是在特定的地理范围内展开的,所以划定种内单元的空间边界,对于保护管理具有重要意义。
R的habCluster包提供了划分种内单元空间边界的工具[5]。habCluster引入了图论中社区探测(community detection)的思路,通过(1)评估景观中栖息地栅格两两之间的连通性,(2)将具有强连通性的栅格聚集到同一个集群(cluster)中,来划定景观层面上种内单元的边界。
大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)是我国特有的珍稀濒危动物,现仅分布于秦岭、岷山、邛崃山、凉山、大相岭和小相岭六个山系内[6]。其中,大相岭山系是现存大熊猫数量、栖息地面积均较少的山系。许多学者在大相岭山系开展了多种有关大熊猫的研究,从遗传多样性[7]、种群生存力分析[8]、栖息地分布及评价[9,10]、生境廊道规划[11]等方面,为有效保护大熊猫及其栖息地提供科学依据。然而,尚无在景观层面,对大相岭山系的大熊猫种群进行种内单元划分的研究。利用大相岭山系的大熊猫栖息地适宜性指数(habitat suitability index, HSI)图层,使用habCluster包,对种内单元空间边界进行了划分,并与现有保护区进行比较,以期为大相岭山系的大熊猫保护提供依据,为其他区域的野生动物保护管理提供借鉴。
habCluster-based Intraspecific Units Identification of Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in Daxiangling Mountains
doi: 10.12172/202211160001
- Received Date: 2022-11-16
- Available Online: 2023-03-27
- Publish Date: 2023-04-25
-
Key words:
- Daxiangling Mountains /
- Intraspecific units /
- Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) /
- Conservation management
Abstract: Delineating the geographical boundaries of intraspecific units is important for effective conservation management. Using the habitat suitability index (HSI) map of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the Daxiangling Mountains and its surrounding areas, we delineated the intraspecific units for pandas in this region with R package “habCluster”. The results showed that the Daxiangling Mountains was divided into 20 giant panda intraspecific units. These boundary delineations from our results show good performance in detecting areas that are separated by raster cells with low HSI values, thus could serve as good indicator of giant panda habitat patches. The overlap analysis with nature reserves suggested that the Daxiangling Nature Reserve was divided into 3 intraspecific units, the Wawushan Nature Reserve into 4 units, and the Yangziling Nature Reserve into 2 units. For the trans-Daxiangling-Wawushan intraspecific unit, coordinated conservation efforts is needed among the departments of different administrative regions in order to strengthen the protection and management of its wild population. While for the Niba Mountain intraspecific unit, it is indispensable to reduce the negative impacts of the highway that across it, so as to avoid its habitat from further fragmentation. Our study provided a new perspective for the conservation implementation of the giant pandas in the Daxiangling Mountains, and can be applied to wildlife conservation in other regions.