Effects of ecological factors on growth of Arundinaria spanostachya shoots in Liziping National Nature Reserve, China

Bamboo plays important economic and cultural roles in China. While it only takes one growing season to grow to its maximum size, there has been little research investigating the ecological factors that influence the growth of bamboo shoots. This is particularly important as the staple food of wild giant pandas is bamboo. This research aimed to examine the effects of ecological factors on the growth of A. spanostachya shoots in Liziping National Nature Reserve (Liziping NR), China. The results indicated that elevation, distance from water, and adjacent bamboo culms were significantly correlated with total bamboo shoots (T-Shoots), height of bamboo shoots (H-Shoots), and basal diameter of bamboo shoots (BD-Shoots) during the shoot generation period. During the rapid growth period, only basal diameter of annual bamboos (BDA) and total biennial bamboos (TBB) were significantly positively correlated with T-Shoots, while growth time, elevation, distance from water, and adjacent bamboo culms were significantly correlated with H-Shoots and BD-Shoots. Positive correlations were found between T-Shoots, H-Shoots, and BD-Shoots during the shoot generation period, but no distinct correlations existed during the rapid growth period. Distance from water and height of adjacent bamboo culms made significantly greater contribution to T-Shoots, H-Shoots and BD-Shoots during shoots generation period. During the rapid growth period, T-Shoots and BD-Shoots were mainly influenced by adjacent bamboo culms whereas growth time, height of perennial bamboos (HPB) and distance from water were the most important predictors of H-Shoots. These results clearly indicated that different ecological factors influence the development of A. spanostachya shoots in different growth stages. The findings can provide a reference for maintaining the food resources and habitats of giant pandas.