Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Giant Panda Habitat
Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are one of the most widely recognized endangered species globally. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main threats, and climate change could significantly impact giant panda survival. We integrated giant panda habitat information with general climate models...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Hindawi Limited
2012-01-01
|
Series: | International Journal of Ecology |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/108752 |
id |
doaj-0276d0e7f54f450e871ec06ff889c5d8 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-0276d0e7f54f450e871ec06ff889c5d82020-11-24T23:20:35ZengHindawi LimitedInternational Journal of Ecology1687-97081687-97162012-01-01201210.1155/2012/108752108752Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Giant Panda HabitatMelissa Songer0Melanie Delion1Alex Biggs2Qiongyu Huang3Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA 22630, USAConservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA 22630, USAConservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA 22630, USAGeography Department, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USAGiant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are one of the most widely recognized endangered species globally. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main threats, and climate change could significantly impact giant panda survival. We integrated giant panda habitat information with general climate models (GCMs) to predict future geographic distribution and fragmentation of giant panda habitat. Results support a major general prediction of climate change—a shift of habitats towards higher elevation and higher latitudes. Our models predict climate change could reduce giant panda habitat by nearly 60% over 70 years. New areas may become suitable outside the current geographic range but much of these areas is far from the current giant panda range and only 15% fall within the current protected area system. Long-term survival of giant pandas will require the creation of new protected areas that are likely to support suitable habitat even if the climate changes.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/108752 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Melissa Songer Melanie Delion Alex Biggs Qiongyu Huang |
spellingShingle |
Melissa Songer Melanie Delion Alex Biggs Qiongyu Huang Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Giant Panda Habitat International Journal of Ecology |
author_facet |
Melissa Songer Melanie Delion Alex Biggs Qiongyu Huang |
author_sort |
Melissa Songer |
title |
Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Giant Panda Habitat |
title_short |
Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Giant Panda Habitat |
title_full |
Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Giant Panda Habitat |
title_fullStr |
Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Giant Panda Habitat |
title_full_unstemmed |
Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Giant Panda Habitat |
title_sort |
modeling impacts of climate change on giant panda habitat |
publisher |
Hindawi Limited |
series |
International Journal of Ecology |
issn |
1687-9708 1687-9716 |
publishDate |
2012-01-01 |
description |
Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are one of the most widely recognized endangered species globally. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main threats, and climate change could significantly impact giant panda survival. We integrated giant panda habitat information with general climate models (GCMs) to predict future geographic distribution and fragmentation of giant panda habitat. Results support a major general prediction of climate change—a shift of habitats towards higher elevation and higher latitudes. Our models predict climate change could reduce giant panda habitat by nearly 60% over 70 years. New areas may become suitable outside the current geographic range but much of these areas is far from the current giant panda range and only 15% fall within the current protected area system. Long-term survival of giant pandas will require the creation of new protected areas that are likely to support suitable habitat even if the climate changes. |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/108752 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT melissasonger modelingimpactsofclimatechangeongiantpandahabitat AT melaniedelion modelingimpactsofclimatechangeongiantpandahabitat AT alexbiggs modelingimpactsofclimatechangeongiantpandahabitat AT qiongyuhuang modelingimpactsofclimatechangeongiantpandahabitat |
_version_ |
1725574381004914688 |