Evaluating Past Range Shifts and Niche Dynamics of Giant Pandas Since the Last Interglacial
Yadong Xu, Xiaoan Liu, Aimei Yang, Ziyi Hao, Xuening Li, Dan Li, Xiaoping Yu, Xinping Ye

TL;DR
This study examines how giant pandas have shifted their range and adapted to climate changes over thousands of years, offering insights for their future conservation.
Contribution
The study provides new insights into the historical range and niche dynamics of giant pandas in response to past climate changes.
Findings
Giant pandas experienced a 28.27% range contraction during the Last Glacial Maximum followed by a 75.8% expansion.
Their climatic niche remained stable until the Mid-Holocene, after which both distribution and niche changed significantly.
The findings suggest giant pandas can adapt to future climate changes by shifting their distribution to suitable niches.
Abstract
Understanding how species respond to climate change is essential for conservation. Giant pandas, an iconic species endemic to China, have experienced significant climate fluctuations since the Late Pleistocene, impacting their distribution. This study analyzed the distribution and climatic niche of giant pandas during major climate periods, including the Last Interglacial, Last Glacial Maximum, Mid-Holocene, and present day. Results reveal that while giant pandas faced range contractions and expansions, their climatic niche remained relatively stable, suggesting niche conservatism. However, since the Mid-Holocene, both their distribution and climatic niche have significantly changed, with their current niche representing only a fraction of their historical range. This indicates that giant pandas can adapt to future climate changes by shifting their distribution to track suitable…
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Taxonomy
TopicsSpecies Distribution and Climate Change · Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies · Isotope Analysis in Ecology
