Temporal and Spatial Responses of Chinese Red Pandas to Anthropogenic Disturbance in Meigu Dafengding National Nature Reserve, Sichuan

ABSTRACT

Global biodiversity decline is increasingly driven by anthropogenic disturbances. This study focuses on the endangered Chinese red panda ( Ailurus styani ) in the Sichuan Meigu Dafengding National Nature Reserve, using an integrated approach that combined kernel density estimation, occupancy modeling, and generalized additive models to systematically investigate the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on this species. The results showed that the Chinese red panda exhibited a diel activity rhythm with a midday peak, and its seasonal activity intensity was low in spring and high in summer, autumn, and winter. Spatially, the species preferred high‐elevation areas and showed spatial avoidance of cattle (Species Interaction Factor (SIF) = 0.81) and sheep (SIF = 0.60), but co‐occurred with domestic dogs (SIF = 1.53) and horses (SIF = 1.80). Generalized additive model results further confirmed that anthropogenic disturbance had a significant negative impact on the Chinese red panda. These findings provide important insights for the conservation of this species and for understanding wildlife behavioral responses to anthropogenic disturbance.