Ecological‐Linguistic Overlap: The Spatial Congruence Between Giant Panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) Habitats and Southwestern Mandarin

ABSTRACT This study demonstrates significant ecological‐linguistic overlap between the distribution of the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) and Southwestern Mandarin in China. Analysis of data from China's 4th National Giant Panda Survey reveals that 1745 of the 1864 recorded wild individuals (93.62%) reside in counties where Southwestern Mandarin is the predominant dialect. Spatial analysis confirmed a strong and statistically significant congruence (Schoener's D = 0.92, p = 0.04). Paleontological records further indicate that approximately 80%–90% of giant panda fossils are clustered within these linguistic zones. This ecological‐linguistic overlap may be attributed to shared environmental drivers and bamboo's dual ecological‐cultural role, providing a regional‐scale empirical case consistent with the core tenets of the ecological risk hypothesis. Our findings highlight the potential of linguistic maps as a supplementary layer of information for identifying conservation priorities.