Microhabitat separation between giant panda and golden takin in the Qinling Mountains and implications for conservation

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and golden takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi) are large endangered species that coexist within the southern Qinling Mountains, China. Here, we determined the coexistence mechanisms for these sympatric species by investigating microhabitat selection from May to July and from September to November 2009 in a nature reserve. Our results suggested that each species has a distinct microhabitat selection pattern. We found that abiotic factors (elevation and slope) and biotic factors (bamboo cover, density and herb-cover proportion) are simultaneously responsible for microhabitat separation between giant pandas and golden takins during the summer and the winter. We inferred that pattern of microhabitat separation is influenced by diet, migration time, the annual phenological cycle of food resources, energy expenditure and metabolic requirements. Appropriate conservation strategies should not only focus on giant panda protection, but also be extended to encompass the protection of sympatric species. Our study has significant implications for biodiversity conservation across large tracts of China.