Impact of an enclosure rotation on the activity budgets of two zoo-housed giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca): An observational case study

Abstract Background: The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a threatened endemic Chinese species and a flagship species of national and global conservation concern. Life history theory proposes that reproduction and immunity can be mutually constraining and interrelated. Knowledge of immunity changes of male giant pandas during the breeding season is limited.Results: Here, we researched peripheral blood gene expression profiles associated with immunity. Thirteen captive giant pandas, ranging from 9 to 11 years old, were divided into two groups based on their reproductive status. We identified 318 up-regulated DEGs and 43 down-regulated DEGs, which were enriched in 87 GO terms and 6 KEGG pathways. Additionally, we obtained 45 immune-related genes with altered expression, mostly up-regulated, and identified four hub genes HSPA4, SUGT1, SOD1, and IL1B in PPI analysis. These 45 genes were related to pattern recognition receptors, autophagy, peroxisome, proteasome, natural killer cell, antigen processing and presentation. SUGT1 and IL1B were related to pattern recognition receptors. HSP90AA1 was the most up-regulated gene and is a member of heat shock protein 90 family. HSP90 contributes to the translocation of extracellular antigen. KLRD1 encodes CD94, whose complex is an inhibitor of the cytotoxic activity of NK cells, was down-regulated. IGIP, which has the capability of inducing IgA production by B cells, was down-regulated, suggesting low concentration of IgA in male giant pandas. Our results suggest that most immune-related genes were up-regulated and more related to innate immune than adaptive immune. Conclusions: Our results indicated that breeding male giant pandas presented an immunoenhancement in innate immunity, enhanced antigen presentation and processing in cellular immunity compared to non-breeding males. The humoral immunity of male giant pandas may show a tendency to decrease during the breeding season. This study will provide a foundation for further studies of immunity and reproduction in male giant pandas.

Download Full-text

Landscape features influence gene flow as measured by cost-distance and genetic analyses: a case study for giant pandas in the Daxiangling and Xiaoxiangling Mountains

BMC Genetics ◽

10.1186/1471-2156-11-72 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 72 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Lifeng Zhu ◽

Xiangjiang Zhan ◽

Tao Meng ◽

Shanning Zhang ◽

Fuwen Wei

Keyword(s):

Gene Flow ◽

Genetic Analyses ◽

Giant Pandas ◽

Landscape Features ◽

Cost Distance

Download Full-text

Role of New Nature Reserve in Assisting Endangered Species Conservation - Case Study of Giant Pandas in the Northern Qionglai Mountains, China

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0159738 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. e0159738 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Tian-Pei Guan ◽

Jacob R. Owens ◽

Ming-Hao Gong ◽

Gang Liu ◽

Zhi-Yun Ouyang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endangered Species ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Giant Pandas

Download Full-text

Anogenital gland secretions code for sex and age in the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z04-144 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 82 (10) ◽

pp. 1596-1604 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Hong Yuan ◽

Dingzhen Liu ◽

Lixing Sun ◽

Rongping Wei ◽

Guiquan Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Giant Panda ◽

Fatty Acid Esters ◽

Ailuropoda Melanoleuca ◽

Giant Pandas ◽

Analog Form ◽

Males And Females ◽

Relative Abundances ◽

Anogenital Gland Secretions ◽

Acid Esters ◽

Form Information

Anogenital gland secretions play a major role in chemical communication by giant pandas, Ailuropoda melanoleuca (David, 1869). We analyzed 45 samples of anogenital gland secretions collected from 24 captive pandas (5 male adults, 6 female adults, 6 male subadults, and 7 female subadults) by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The secretions contained over 95 compounds. Based on 56 common compounds (relative abundances >0.1%) shared by more than three individuals, we identified steroids, long-chain fatty acids, fatty-acid esters, aldehydes, alkanes, alkenes, amines, terpenes, and furans. The chemical composition of each secretion was individual-specific. Although none of these individual compounds was age- or sex-specific, the relative abundances of several compounds differed between males and females and between adults and subadults. This result shows that information about sex and age could be coded in analog form. Information about age but not gender could also be digitally coded by the presence or absence of some of the 56 compounds, in addition to the analog coding.

Download Full-text

Climate change and landscape-use patterns influence recent past distribution of giant pandas

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2020.0358 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 287 (1929) ◽

pp. 20200358

Author(s):

Junfeng Tang ◽

Ronald R. Swaisgood ◽

Megan A. Owen ◽

Xuzhe Zhao ◽

Wei Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Large Scale ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Ailuropoda Melanoleuca ◽

Seasonal Temperature ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Giant Pandas ◽

Use Patterns ◽

Changing Climate ◽

Temperature And Precipitation

Climate change is one of the most pervasive threats to biodiversity globally, yet the influence of climate relative to other drivers of species depletion and range contraction remain difficult to disentangle. Here, we examine climatic and non-climatic correlates of giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) distribution using a large-scale 30 year dataset to evaluate whether a changing climate has already influenced panda distribution. We document several climatic patterns, including increasing temperatures, and alterations to seasonal temperature and precipitation. We found that while climatic factors were the most influential predictors of panda distribution, their importance diminished over time, while landscape variables have become relatively more influential. We conclude that the panda's distribution has been influenced by changing climate, but conservation intervention to manage habitat is working to increasingly offset these negative consequences.

Download Full-text

Comparative analysis of gut microbiota among the male, female and pregnant giant pandas (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca)

Open Life Sciences ◽

10.1515/biol-2019-0032 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 288-298

Author(s):

Siyue Zhao ◽

Caiwu Li ◽

Guo Li ◽

Shengzhi Yang ◽

Yingming Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Comparative Analysis ◽

16S Rrna ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Vital Role ◽

Ailuropoda Melanoleuca ◽

Its Sequencing ◽

Giant Pandas ◽

Host Health ◽

Rrna Sequencing

AbstractThe giant panda (GP) was the most endangered species in China, and gut microbiota plays a vital role in host health. To determine the differences of the gut microbiota among the male, female and pregnant GPs, a comparative analysis of gut microbiota in GPs was carried out by 16S rRNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing. In 16S rRNA sequencing, 435 OTUs, 17 phyla and 182 genera were totally detected. Firmicutes (53.6%) was the predominant phylum followed by Proteobacteria (37.8%) and Fusobacteria (7.1%). Escherichia/Shigella (35.9%) was the most prevalent genus followed by Streptococcus (25.9%) and Clostridium (11.1%). In ITS sequencing, 920 OTUs, 6 phyla and 322 genera were also detected. Ascomycota (71.3%) was the predominant phylum followed by Basidiomycota (28.4%) and Zygomycota (0.15%). Purpureocillium (4.4%) was the most prevalent genus followed by Cladosporium (2.5%) and Pezicula (2.4%). Comparative analysis indicated that the male GPs harbor a higher abundance of phylum Firmicutes than female GPs with the contribution from genus Streptococcus. Meanwhile, the female GPs harbor a higher abundance of phylum Proteobacteria than male GPs with the contribution from genus Escherichia/ Shigella. In addition, the shift in bacteria from female to pregnant GPs indicated that phylum Firmicutes increased significantly with the contribution from Clostridium in the gut, which may provide an opportunity to study possible associations with low reproduction of the GPs.

Download Full-text