Factors influencing the natural regeneration of arrow bamboo in giant panda habitat of the north Minshan Mountains, southwestern China

To determine the effects of eco-factors on the regeneration of arrow bamboo in giant panda habitat, a field study was conducted in the Baozuo and Gonggangling Nature Reserves, Sichuan Province, China. A total of 183 quadrats (10 m×10 m) and 717 small quadrats (1 m×1 m) were investigated within the study site. Bamboo seedling density was used as an indicator of natural regeneration. Twelve factors were measured, which included topography and forest factors (elevation, slope aspect, slope degree, slope position, canopy cover, and shrub cover) and microhabitat factors (upper vegetation cover, herb cover, litter layer cover, moss cover, moss thickness, and dead bamboo density). A One-Way ANOVA was used to analyze the effects of topography and forest factors on seedling density, and a GLM (Generalized Linear Model) procedure was performed to examine the relationship between seedling density and microhabitat factors. The results indicated that elevation and canopy cover had highly significant effects on seedling density: bamboo seedling density was highest and showed the best regeneration at middle elevations (2800–3000 m) and under medium to medium-high canopy cover. Moss thickness, moss cover, and dead bamboo density were the most important microhabitat factors influencing the natural regeneration of bamboo: seedling density increased with increasing moss cover and moss thickness and decreased with increasing dead bamboo density. We propose that removal of dead bamboo and controlling grazing activities may accelerate the process of bamboo regeneration.