Changes in Plant Diversity and Community Structure of Different Degraded Habitats Under Restoration in the Niba Mountain Corridor of Giant Panda National Park

Abstract

Habitat degradation and fragmentation pose severe threats to biodiversity in protected areas, including the Giant Panda National Park (GPNP). Effective restoration strategies are urgently needed to enhance habitat connectivity and support the recovery of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca David, 1869) populations. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of targeted artificial restoration measures on plant diversity and community structure in four typical degraded habitats within the Niba Mountain Corridor of the GPNP. Over a three-year monitoring period, vegetation surveys and infrared camera trapping were conducted across pure plantations and secondary forests, with/without bamboo, using suitable habitats as controls. The results showed that: (1) Artificial restoration significantly increased shrub layer species richness and Shannon–Wiener index in most degraded habitats, approaching control levels after two years, while herb layer diversity initially increased then declined due to shrub competition. (2) Sorensen’s similarity between degraded and suitable habitats increased over time, rising from 0.08–0.42 to 0.46–0.67 for the shrub layer and from 0.09–0.22 to 0.30–0.40 for the herb layer. (3) Key species showing high variability during restoration included Litsea pungens Hemsl., Actinidia spp., Salix spp., Rubus spp., Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser, Carex spp., and Elatostema involucratum Franch. et Savat. (4) Bamboo regeneration was enhanced with peak live shoots in 2024. (5) Increased activity of medium-to-large mammals, notably the tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus Milne-Edwards, 1872), may indicate initial stages of functional recovery for resources in the restored habitats. The results confirmed that differentiated artificial restoration can effectively promote species diversity recovery and habitat convergence, providing a scientific basis for optimizing GPNP corridor management and improving population connectivity for giant pandas.