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Insights from longitudinal patterns of local extinction and colonization in giant pandas
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  • Junfeng Tang,
  • Ronald Swaisgood,
  • Megan Owen,
  • Xuzhe Zhao,
  • Wei Wei,
  • Fuwen Wei,
  • Nicholas Pilfold,
  • XUYU YANG,
  • XIAODONG GU,
  • Mingsheng Hong,
  • Hong Zhou,
  • Jindong Zhang,
  • Han Han,
  • Zenjun Zhang
Junfeng Tang
China West Normal University
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Ronald Swaisgood
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Megan Owen
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Xuzhe Zhao
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Fuwen Wei
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Nicholas Pilfold
San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research
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XIAODONG GU
wildlife conservationg station
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Mingsheng Hong
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Jindong Zhang
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Zenjun Zhang
China West Normal University

Corresponding Author:zhangzejun66@163.com

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Abstract

With the Sixth Mass Extinction becoming an increasingly intractable juggernaut, it is vital to understand the patterns and drivers of local extinction and colonization events of at-risk species under global change. Here, we examine whether observed local colonization and extinctions of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) during three time periods (1985-1988, 1998-2002, 2011-2014) are correlated with protected area status, local rarity and abiotic factors (i.e., climate and land-use variables). We observed a decreased rate of local extinction and a relatively stable rate of local colonization through time, and fount that (i) local extinctions were more likely and local colonization less likely in areas with high local rarity, harsh abiotic (e.g., low proportion of forest cover) and unprotected area status, and (ii) the relative importance of these factors changed over time. These findings provide insights into the factors governing panda recovery and showcase how conservation action can reverse fortunes and facilitate species recovery.