- Ying Zeng1,
- Han Han1,2,
- Yihua Gong3,
- Shibu Qubi3,
- Minghua Chen3,
- Lan Qiu1,
- Youyou Huang1,
- Hong Zhou1,2 &
- …
- Wei Wei1,2
471Accesses
3Citations
3Altmetric
Abstract
Despite retaining a digestive system with carnivorous characteristics, the giant panda has now specialized to eat bamboo. Therefore, research on its feeding habits and foraging strategies has always been an important field in the study of giant panda population ecology. Located in the core distribution area of the giant panda population in the Liangshan mountains, the Meigu Dafengding Nature Reserve acts as the link between the major panda reserves in the Liangshan mountains and the key corridor zone connecting the giant panda populations in the east and west. This study was performed in 2017 and aimed to determine the feeding habits of giant pandas in this region, the heterogeneity of food resources in different seasons, and the selection strategy for foraging patches. To achieve this, we used the line transect method to investigate the giant panda population, collected fresh feces, analyzed the nutritional composition of bamboo samples, and set up a sampling grid of foraging patches in different seasonal distribution areas. It was found that wild giant pandas in the region spend most of the year at lower elevations(1939–3296 m) foraging forYushania maculata andYushania ailuropodina, and only move to higher elevations(2844–3770 m) in summer forBashania fangiana. Their preferred foraging patches(n = 65) had certain topographical features, such as gentle slopes(< 25°) and closer proximity to water sources(< 500 m), and the nutritional quality of bamboo resources in foraging patches was significantly better than in those they avoided or rarely used. The food habits and foraging patch selection strategies of giant pandas in the Liangshan and Qinling mountains are relatively similar, and the results of this study can help provide a scientific basis for the conservation and management of wild giant panda habitats in different mountain regions.
This is a preview of subscription content,log in via an institution to check access.
Access this article
Subscribe and save
- Get 10 units per month
- Download Article/Chapter or eBook
- 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
- Cancel anytime
Buy Now
Price includes VAT (Japan)
Instant access to the full article PDF.



Similar content being viewed by others

Withered on the stem: is bamboo a seasonally limiting resource for giant pandas?

Foraging behavior of the Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) wintering at Shengjin Lake: diet shifts and habitat use
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Data availability
Not applicable.
References
Chen X, Zhang TX, Luo G, Wu YJ, Ran JH, Chen MH, Li L, Gong YH (2019) Bird species and vertical diversity in Meigu Dafengding National Nature Reserve. Sichuan. Sichuan Anim 38(4):7.https://doi.org/10.11984/j.issn.1000-7083.20190024
Cui SQ, Xu L, Wang C (2005) Survey of macrofungi resources in Meigu Dafengding National Nature Reserve. Pract for Technol 5:31–32.https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1671-4938.2005.05.017
Forestry Department of Sichuan Province (2015) The pandas of Sichuan: the 4th Survey Report on Giant Panda in Sichuan Province. Sichuan Science and Technology Press, ChengDu
Gao XY, Liu Y, Liu DZ, Wei FW (2006) Selection of growth indicators of the Qinling giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the winter and spring seasons in a bamboo forest ofBashania fargesiii. Zool Res 27(2):157–162.https://doi.org/10.3321/j.issn:0254-5853.2006.02.005
He L, Wei FW (2000) Nutritional and energetic responses of giant pandas in the xiangling mountains. J Ecol 20:177–183.https://doi.org/10.3321/j.issn:1000-0933.2000.02.001
Hu JC (1986) The giant pandas of the Minshan Mountains. Sichuan Anim 02:25–28
Hu JC, Schaller GB, Pan WS, Zhu J (1985) The giant pandas of Wolong. Sichuan Publishing House of Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
Hu JC, Wang CQ (1993) Food habits of giant pandas in the Liangshan Mountains. J China West Normal Univ (Nat Sci) 14(4):290–295.https://doi.org/10.16246/j.issn.1673-5072.1993.04.003
Jiang GS (2007) Ecological effects of human disturbances on moose and roe deer and their adaptation mechanisms at multiple spatial scales. Northeast Forestry University, Harbin
Jiang H, Zhang ZJ, Wang YZ, Huang YN, Hu JC (2011) Feeding habits and selection of foraging sites of wild giant pandas in Foping Nature Reserve. Proceedings of the Ninth Congress and Tenth Symposium of Sichuan Zoological Society. p 93
Laboratory of basic biochemistry, Department of Biology, Beijing Normal University (1982) People's Education Press, Beijing
Li JY (2015) Abundance of diet plants and seasonal changes of diet nutrients of Rhinopithecus roxellana in Shennongjia Nature Reserve. Beijing Forestry University, China
Liu B (2008) Studies on staple food bamboo and its characteristics of giant panda in the Qinling Mountains. Northwest Sci-Tech University of Agriculture and Forestry
Liu XH (2001) Mapping and modelling the habitat of giant pandas in Foping Nature Reserve. Wageningen University and Research, China
Lv ZH (2020) Foraging strategy, habitat selection and assessment of Tibetan Shou (Cervus wallichii) in Green Grass Period under the Influence of Interspecific Competition. Northeastern Forestry University
Mayntz D, Raubenheimer D, Salomon M, Toft S, Simpson SJ (2005) Nutrient-specific foraging in invertebrate predators. Science 307:111–113.https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1105493
Nie YG, Speakman JR, Wu Q, Zhang CL, Hu YB, Xia MH, Yan L, Hambly C, Wang L, Wei W, Zhang JG, Wei FW (2015) Exceptionally low daily energy expenditure in the bamboo-eating giant panda [J]. Science 349(6244):171–174.https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aab2413
Pan WS (2014) A chance for lasting survival: ecology and behavior of wild giant pandas. Smithsonian Institution
Qiu ZX, Qi GQ (1989) Ancestral fossils of giant pandas from the Late Miocene of Lufeng, Yunnan
Reid DG, Hu JC (1991) Giant panda selection between Bashania fangiana bamboo habitats in Wolong Reserve, Sichuan, China. J Appl Ecol.228-243. https://doi.org/10.2307/2404127
Rothman JM, Raubenheimer D, Chapman CA (2011) Nutritional geometry: gorillas prioritize non-protein energy while consuming surplus protein. Biol Letters 7:847–849.https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0321
Rubenstein DR, Wikelski M (2003) Seasonal changes in food quality: a proximate cue for reproductive timing in marine iguanas. Ecology 84:3013–3023.https://doi.org/10.1890/02-0354
Sichuan University, Sichuan Forestry Research Institute, Sichuan Wildlife Survey and Protection Management Station, (2003) Report on the comprehensive scientific study of Meigu Dafengding Nature Reserve, Chengdu
Tang P, Hu JC (1998) Habitat selection of giant pandas in Yele Nature Reserve. Vertebr Resour Conversation 1:33–36
Tang P, Zhou A (1997) Feeding behavior and nutrition of giant pandas in Yele Nature Reserve. J Sichuan Normal Univ (Nat Sci) 18:1–4.https://doi.org/10.16246/j.issn.1673-5072.1997.01.001
Unno A (2002) Tree species preferences of insectivorous birds in a Japanese deciduous forest: the effect of different foraging techniques and seasonal change of food resources. Ornithol Sci 1:133–142.https://doi.org/10.2326/osj.1.133
Wang GL, Zhou CQ (2012) The effects of deforestation on the growth of Qiongzhuea Macrophylla. J China West Normal Univ (Nat Sci) 33(02):131–134.https://doi.org/10.16246/j.issn.1673-5072.2012.02.002
Wang HR, Zhong HJ, Hou R, Ayala J, Liu GM, Yuan SB, Yan Z, Zhang WP, Liu YL, Cai KL, Cai ZG, Huang H, Zhang ZH, Wu D (2017) A diet diverse in bamboo parts is important for giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Metabolism and Health. Sci Rep 7(1):3377.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-03216-8
Wei FW, Feng ZJ, Wang ZW, Hu JC (2000) Habitat use and separation between the giant panda and the red panda. J Mammal 81:448–455.https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/81.2.448
Wei FW, Feng ZJ, Wang ZW (1999) Habitat selection by giant pandas and red pandas in the Xiangling Mountains. J Zool English 45:57–63.https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-5507.1999.01.009
Wei FW, Hu YB, Yan L, Nie YG, Wu Q, Zhang ZJ (2015) Giant pandas are not an evolutionary cul-de-sac: evidence from multidisciplinary research. Mol Biol Evol 1:4–12.https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msu278
Wei FW, Zhou CQ (1996) Selective use of bamboo resources by giant pandas in Mapian Dafengding Nature Reserve. Acta Zool Sin 16:171–175 CNKI:SUN:SLXX.0.1996-03-002
Wei W (2015) Spatial movement and foraging patch selection strategy of wild giant pandas in Qinling Mountains. Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wei W, Zeng JJ, Han H, Zhou H, Nie YG, Yuan SB, Zhang ZJ (2017) Diet and foraging-site selection by giant pandas in a National Nature Reserve in China. Anim Biol 67:53–67.https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-00002521
Wuxi Institute of Light Industry, Tianjin Institute of Light Industry (1985) Light Industry Press, Tianjin
Xu XM, Yuan CG (1997) Age structure and food resources of giant pandas in Mabian Dafengding. J Sichuan Normal Univ (Nat Sci) 18:175–178.https://doi.org/10.16246/j.issn.1673-5072.1997.03.001
Yan Z(2018) Effects of feeding different parts of bamboo on intestinal microorganisms of captive giant pandas. China West Normal University
Yang S (1983) Feed analysis and feed quality testing techniques. Beijing Agricultural University Press, Beijing
Zhang WQ (2013) Fine time-scale winter nutritional ecology of deer populations in the Lesser Khingan Mountains and Wandashan Mountains. Northeast Forestry University, Northeast China
Zhang ZJ, Hu JC, Wu H (2002) Comparison of habitat selection of giant and red pandas in the Qionglai Mountains. J Vet Sci 22(3):161–168.https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1000-1050.2002.03.001
Zhang ZJ, Wei FW, Hu JC (2007) Habitat selection of giant pandas and habitat partitioning with red pandas. J China West Normal Univ (nat Sci) 28:111–116.https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1673-5072.2007.02.001
Zhang ZJ, Wei FW, Li M, Zhang BW, Liu XH, Hu JC (2004) Microhabitat separation during winter among sympatric giant pandas, red pandas, and tufted deer: the effects of diet, body size, and energy metabolism. Can J Zool 82:1451–1458.https://doi.org/10.1139/z04-129
Zhang ZJ, Zhan XJ, Yan L, Li M, Hu JC, Wei FW (2009) What determines selection and abandonment of a foraging patch by wild giant pandas (Ailuropodamelanoleuca) in winter? Environ Sci Pollut Res 16(1):79–84.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-008-0066-4
Zhao HB, Yang JR, Xu HL, Zhang JZ (2010) Pseudogenization of the umami taste receptor gene Tas1r1 in the Giant panda coincided with its dietary switch to bamboo. Mol Biol Evol 27(12):2669–2673.https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msq153
Zhong LQ (2020) Winter foraging and nutritional strategy, feeding habitat suitability assessment of sympatric Red Deer(Cervus elaphus) and Sika Deer(Cervusnippon) in the Muling Forest Region. Northeast Forestry University, Northeast China
Zhou CQ, Hu JC, Yuan CG, Wei FW (1997) Age structure of giant pandas and their food resources in Mabian Dafengding Nature Reserve. J Sichuan Normal Univ (Nat Sci) 18(3):175–8.https://doi.org/10.16246/j.issn.1673-5072.1997.03.001
Zhou H, Yuan SB, Yang ZS, Zheng LS, Yang Y, Gu XD, Yang XY, Zhang ZJ (2014) Relationship between dietary habits and staple bamboo biomass of giant pandas in summer in Liziping Nature Reserve. Sichuan. Acta Zool Sin 34(1):93–99.https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.2014.01.012
Zhou ZX (2014) The Spatial Behavior and Foraging Strategy of Wild Giant Panda in Qinling Mountains. Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the staff of the Meigu Dafengding National Nature Reserve for their assistance with field data collection. We express our great thanks for the support from following projects: National Natural Science Foundation of China (32070524, 31801992, 41901224), Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (2022JDJQ0060, 2022JDR0033), and the Second Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Comprehensive Scientific Survey (2019QZKK05010502).
Funding
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32070524, 31801992), Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (2022JDJQ0060, 2022JDR0033), and the Second Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Comprehensive Scientific Survey (2019QZKK05010502).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, China
Ying Zeng, Han Han, Lan Qiu, Youyou Huang, Hong Zhou & Wei Wei
Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, Nanchong, China
Han Han, Hong Zhou & Wei Wei
Sichuan Meigu Dafengding National Nature Reserve Administration, Meigu, China
Yihua Gong, Shibu Qubi & Minghua Chen
- Ying Zeng
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
- Han Han
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
- Yihua Gong
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
- Shibu Qubi
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
- Minghua Chen
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
- Lan Qiu
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
- Youyou Huang
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
- Hong Zhou
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
- Wei Wei
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
Contributions
W. W and H. Z designed this project. Y. G, S. Q, and M. C conducted field investigation. W. W and Y. Z conducted the data query and statistics. Y. Z and H. Z wrote the manuscript, with contributions from W.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Correspondence toWei Wei.
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Zeng, Y., Han, H., Gong, Y.et al. Feeding habits and foraging patch selection strategy of the giant panda in the Meigu Dafengding National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China.Environ Sci Pollut Res30, 49125–49135 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25769-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date: