1. General Model Information
Name: Giant Panda-Bamboo Popluation Dynamics Model
Acronym: GIANT
Main medium: terrestrial
Main subject: population dynamics, biogeochemistry
Organization level: ecosystem
Type of model: compartment model, ordinary differential equations
Main application:
Keywords: giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, bamboo, population dynamics, conservation biology, extinction, die-off, growth model, STELLA simulation
Contact:
Jacoby Carter
National Wetlands Research Center
700 Cajundome Blvd. Lafayette LA USA, 70503
Phone: 318-266-8620
Fax : 318-266-8586
email: carterj@nwrc.gov
Author(s):
Carter J., Wang, H.
Abstract:
The giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, is a highly specialized carnivore
whose diet consists almost entirely of various species of bamboo. Bamboo is a
family of grass species that often exhibit synchronous semelparity. That is,
all the bamboo of a given species in a given area tend to flower and die at
the same time. This can create localized drops in carrying capacity for the
giant panda.
We create a model using STELLA, a flow modeling language, to examine the
population dynamics of the giant panda and explore long term bamboo panda
interactions.
The model was particularly sensitive to rate changes in birth rates and
juvenile survivorship. The populations in the model were also sensitive to
losses of adult reproductive age individuals. Bamboo die-offs were most
severe when the periods between flowering were longest.
II. Technical Information
II.1 Executables:
Operating System(s): Windows, Mac carterj@nwrc.gov
II.2 Source-code:
Programming Language(s): STELLA carterj@nwrc.gov
II.3 Manuals:
II.4 Data:
From the literature
III. Mathematical Information
III.1 Mathematics
III.2 Quantities
III.2.1 Input
III.2.2 Output
IV. References
Carter, J. & Wang, H. (1993): A model linking the population dynamics of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) with bamboo life history.
in Transactions of the International Union of Game Biologist Congress vol. 21, August 15-20, 1993, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. pg 299-309.
V. Further information in the World-Wide-Web
VI. Additional remarks
Model was created to link bamboo dynamics with giant pandapopulation dynamics. Information about 6 bamboo species wereused. See author for addional information.
Last review of this document by: T. Gabele: 12. 6. 1997 -
Status of the document:
last modified by
Tobias Gabele Wed Aug 21 21:44:44 CEST 2002