ORIGINAL RESEARCH
How Potassium Content in Soil Shapes Giant
Panda Distribution
| 1 | College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China |
| 2 | Institute of Ecological Resources and Landscape Architecture, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China |
| 3 | School of Geographic and Environmental, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China |
| 4 | Shandong Agriculture and Engineering University, Jinan, China |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Peihao Peng
College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China, EAST ERXIANQIAO ST. SECTION3 NO.1, 610059 Cheng Du, China
College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China, EAST ERXIANQIAO ST. SECTION3 NO.1, 610059 Cheng Du, China
Submission date: 2017-11-12
Final revision date: 2017-12-23
Acceptance date: 2018-01-02
Online publication date: 2018-10-26
Publication date: 2018-12-20
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(2):973–979
KEYWORDS
potassiumgiant pandastaple food bamboosspatial distributioneco-geologicalenvironmentGeographical Information System (GIS)regression analysis
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Potassium (K), one of main essential macronutrient elements in soil, is vital to the growth
and metabolism of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and its staple food bamboos (SFB). However,
it is still unknown how the content of K in soil shapes giant panda distribution. To address this problem,
we use geographical information system (GIS) and regression analysis to measure their spatial distribution
data and analyze their relationships. Our results show a unimodal relationship between the species
richness of SFB and K (R2 = 0.90, P<0.01), a significant positive linear correlation relationship between
SFB and giant panda (R2 = 0.47, P<0.01), and a significant unimodal relationship between the K and
giant panda (R2 = 0.58, P<0.01). Moreover, results reveal that the giant panda may tend to select habitats
with K in the soil ranging from 2.58 to 3.14 (mg/g). Our study also highlights the important effect
of the eco-geological environment in shaping the distribution of giant panda. Our study suggests that
it is essential to incorporate the beneficial and harmful element factors of an eco-geological environment
into wildlife habitat research and management. It should improve on habitat estimation, corridor
establishment, and biodiversity conservation.
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