Effects of construction noise on behavior and cortisol levels in a pair of captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Studies of the effects of ambient noise on animals have found variable results. A study was conducted at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park to determine what effect short‐term demolition work would have on the behavior and cortisol excretion of giant pandas. Behavioral and endocrine differences were examined during the presence and absence of demolition work being conducted on an adjacent exhibit complex. High frequency noise was significantly louder on work days compared to non‐work days. Panda activity budgets differed significantly between work and post‐work periods, although in different ways. The male's use of substrates and locations that might be associated with refuge or shelter changed during the study; the female did not show similar changes. He spent more time in the enclosure adjacent to the work site rather than a more distant enclosure during the demolition period whether work was occurring or not. The behavior of both animals was more often characterized as “restless” during, as opposed to before or after the work period. In general, cortisol excretion increased during the study in both animals but this was likely a seasonal effect in the male. In many cases, significant short‐term increases in cortisol were temporally associated with certain kinds of construction noises or specific physiological events. Variability in cortisol secretion fluctuated during the study for both animals but in differing patterns. These results demonstrate that demolition noise was associated with behavioral and some physiological changes in giant pandas, and these changes were individual‐specific. Zoo Biol 0:1–18, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

育幼经历对圈养成年雌性大熊猫尿液皮质醇含量的影响

为研究育幼期不同的育幼方式对圈养成年雌性大熊猫Ailuropoda melanoleuca福利状况的影响情况,了解圈养育幼模式可能引发成年雌性大熊猫的应激问题,完善育幼期大熊猫的饲养管理和兽舍参数设计,提高育幼过程中圈养大熊猫福利状况,选择成都大熊猫繁育研究基地育幼期采取不同育幼方式管理的成年雌性大熊猫为研究对象,利用...     

野生大熊猫行为谱及PAE编码系统

行为谱是动物行为学研究的基础。大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)是生物多样性保护中的旗舰物种,其行为生态的研究备受关注,然而由于大熊猫数量稀少且警惕性强,很难在野外进行观察,有关其行为谱等基础行为研究结果主要是基于圈养大熊猫的观察研究。为了促进野生大熊猫行为学的深入研究,2015年1月—2016年6月,2018年8月— 2019年4月我们在卧龙自然保护区基于红外相机图片和视频数据,利用PAE编码系统建立了野生大熊猫行为谱和PAE编码系统。研究共计在14种环境背景中记录到大熊猫12种姿势、52种动作、56种行为。一方面,本研究结果基本涵盖了大熊猫的主要行为,并发现了一些未在圈养大熊猫行为谱中记录到的行为,如野生大熊猫利用植物的茎进行自我除雪行为;另一方面丰富了观察大熊猫行为的环境因素。以上结果为深入研究野生大熊猫行为生态学提供了基础信息。       

大熊猫胃内纤毛虫检测初报

Twenty three captive giant pandas, fecal specimens and stomach juice from five captive giant pandas(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)were tested for ciliate in 2004. Of them, ciliates of Epdinium spp.and Entodinium spp.were found in the stomach of five giant panda. Density of ciliates in each stomach of giant pandas were 4.21×10 4 ind./ml, 6.98×10 4 ind./ml, 3.05×10 4 ind./ml, 4.46×10 4 ind./ml and 4.38×10 4 ind./ml respectively. But all the fecal specimens were negative.     

Daily activity of captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) at the wolong reserve

Daytime activity patterns of captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) (n = 21) were observed for 2 week periods during October 1991 and January, April, and July 1992. A daytime bimodal activity pattern was seen with increased activity coinciding with feeding times at 1000 and 1600 h. The animals spent an average of 40 ± 10% of their time sleeping, 21 ± 10% resting, 25 ± 11% eating, 13 ± 9% walking, and 1 ± 3% interacting with other giant pandas. Adult females were less active than males or juveniles. During July, giant pandas were less active during the daytime than during other seasons of the year. There was no difference in activity patterns between pregnant and non-pregnant females. Two infants had similar activity patterns to the adults by the time they were 6 months old. Comparison with wild giant pandas (n = 5) at the Wolong Nature Reserve revealed similar bimodal activity cycles, although the time of peak activity differed and foraging/feeding time was greater for wild pandas than for captive animals. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Behavior of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in captive conditions: Gender differences and enclosure effects

The behavior of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) was studied under captive conditions. Both male and female pandas spent similar amounts of time engaged in eating and locomotion. Males performed anogenital‐marking more but rested less than females, which suggests a sexually dimorphic pattern of behavior. Furthermore, females housed in the seminatural environment spent significantly less time engaged in stereotyped behavior than did females housed in the traditional enclosure, indicating that an enclosure environment affects the behavior of giant pandas. These data illustrate the importance of careful management and facility design for captive giant pandas. Zoo Biol 22:77–82, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Preliminary investigation on iodine nutrition in captive giant pandas

Background/ObjectiveThe giant panda belongs to the family Ursidae and, as a species of bear, still retains the simple digestive system of a Carnivoran. However, under the pressure of a specific habitat they had to adapt to a plant mono-diet consisting of bamboo with different species and growth stages around the year. A plant-based diet has relatively low iodine content with risk of iodine deficiency. Furthermore, bamboo contains cyanogenic glycosides releasing cyanide whose detoxification metabolite the thiocyanate acts as antagonist against iodine uptake and storage in the thyroid. To date very little is known about the iodine nutritional status of the giant panda, thus this study was conducted to receive the first information about the iodine nutrition of captive giant panda.Subjects/MethodsHere we investigated the iodine content of bamboo with different plant parts/vegetation stage and species and further compounds of the captive giant panda diet. Next, the urinary iodine (UI) and urinary thiocyanate (UT) levels of infant, sub-adult, adult and geriatric captive giant pandas was measured during the periods when the pandas consume both bamboo leaves- and culm (bamboo leaf-culm stage). Afterwards, the UI of 19 adult giant pandas was measured again for the different iodine intake during bamboo shoot stage. Finally, in this study part also the fecal iodine concentration was analyzed for calculation of total iodine excretion in relation to the iodine intake.ResultsBamboo leaves had the highest iodine content (453 μg/kg dry matter (DM)), followed by the shoots (84 μg/kg DM, p < 0.05), while bamboo culm had the lowest value (12 μg/kg DM, p < 0.05). During bamboo leaf-culm stage, giant pandas of different age groups had different UI and UT levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, UI and UT were positively correlated among sub-adult, adult and geriatric giant pandas (p < 0.05). In adult giant pandas during bamboo shoot stage, the iodine excretion in feces was not different from that in urine while their total iodine excretion was less than their iodine intake (p < 0.05). Moreover, during bamboo shoot stage, the UI level of adult giant pandas was much lower than noted during bamboo leaf-culm stage (p < 0.05).ConclusionsOur results indicate that UI of captive giant pandas was related to their age as well as to the vegetation stage/part of bamboo they consumed reflecting a different periodic iodine supply. Thiocyanate and fecal excretion should be emphasized when considering the iodine nutrition of giant pandas.     

Innate predator recognition in giant pandas

Innate predator recognition confers a survival advantage to prey animals. We investigate whether giant pandas exhibit innate predator recognition. We analyzed behavioral responses of 56 naive adult captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), to urine from predators and non-predators and water control. Giant pandas performed more chemosensory investigation and displayed flehmen behaviors more frequently in response to predator urine compared to both non-predator urine and water control. Subjects also displayed certain defensive behaviors, as indicated by vigilance, and in certain cases, fleeing behaviors. Our results suggest that there is an innate component to predator recognition in captive giant pandas, although such recognition was only slight to moderate. These results have implications that may be applicable to the conservation and reintroduction of this endangered species.     

Behavioral and hormonal consequences of transporting giant pandas from China to the United States

Zoological institutions strive to ensure the welfare of nonhuman animals in captivity. Part of this effort involves reducing the level of distress experienced by an animal to the greatest extent possible. However, some necessary zoo management practices such as transportation induce stress responses. An extensive literature exists concerning the animal welfare implications of road transportation for farm and laboratory animals. There has, however, been little focus on the effects of air transportation on wild animals in captivity. Because many endangered species are transported by air for breeding purposes, it is especially important to study the effects of stress on these species. This study investigated the behavioral and hormonal consequences of transporting 4 giant pandas (2 male-female pairs) by air from China to the United States. An autoregressive test revealed that urinary cortisol measures were highest for 2 subjects, Lun Lun and Tian Tian, during the flight than during the remainder of the 30-day period posttransport (p < .01). No long-term behavioral changes or problems emerged as a result of the transport. The study found that more research is needed to develop a complete understanding of transportation stress and welfare in captive wildlife.     

Microsatellite variability reveals the necessity for genetic input from wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) into the captive population

Recent success in breeding giant pandas in captivity has encouraged panda conservationists to believe that the ex situ population is ready to serve as a source for supporting the wild population. In this study, we used 11 microsatellite DNA markers to assess the amount and distribution of genetic variability present in the two largest captive populations (Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Province and the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda at Wolong, Sichuan Province). The data were compared with those samples from wild pandas living in two key giant panda nature reserves (Baoxing Nature Reserve and Wanglang Nature Reserve). The results show that the captive populations have retained lower levels of allelic diversity and heterozygosity compared to isolated wild populations. However, low inbreeding coefficients indicate that captive populations are under careful genetic management. Excessive heterozygosity suggests that the two captive populations have experienced a genetic bottleneck, presumably caused by founder effects. Moreover, evidence of increased genetic divergence demonstrates restricted breeding options within facilities. Based on these results, we conclude that the genetic diversity in the captive populations is not optimal. Introduction of genetic materials from wild pandas and improved exchange of genetic materials among institutions will be necessary for the captive pandas to be representative of the wild populations.     

基于高分辨率网络的大熊猫姿态估计方法

对圈养大熊猫 (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) 开展长期行为监测能及时了解其所处生理周期和健康状况,有助于繁殖饲养机构迅速采取相应繁育保护措施提高饲养管理水平,但目前无法对大熊猫进行24 h监控并及时地获得相应的行为信息。准确的动物姿态估计是动物行为研究的关键,也是诸多下游应用的基础。了解大熊猫的姿态可以促进大熊猫行为研究并提升保护管理水平。为了提高复杂环境下大熊猫姿态估计的准确率,本文以高分辨率网络 (High resolution net, HRNet) 为基础网络架构提出了一种大熊猫姿态估计方法：针对大熊猫不同部位尺度差异较大的问题,在HRNet-32中引入了空洞空间金字塔池化 (Atrous spatial pyramid pooling, ASPP) 模块,在提升特征感受野的同时捕获多尺度信息;同时对大熊猫身体关键点进行分组,引入基于部位的多分支结构来学习特定于每个部位组的表征。多次对比实验结果表明本文所用模型具有较高的检测精度：在PCK@0.05中所用模型精度达到了81.51%。本文提出的方法可为大熊猫的行为分析和健康评估提供技术支撑。     

Seasonal shifts in giant panda feeding behavior: relationships to bamboo plant part consumption

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is classified as a carnivore, yet subsists on a diet comprised almost exclusively of bamboo. Wild and captive giant pandas use highly selective foraging behaviors for processing and consuming bamboo. These behaviors are for the first time quantified in captive giant pandas over a 5‐year period of time showing highly specific seasonal trends. Giant panda feeding behavior was recorded using live video observations of two giant pandas housed at the Memphis Zoo from November 2003 to June 2008. Leaf was the primary plant part consumed from June to December, whereas culm was consumed primarily from February to May, with both bears displaying similar seasonal shifts in plant part consumption. From May to June, leaf consumption increased significantly (P‐values<0.001); from June to August, leaf consumption remained high and stable. From December to March, leaf consumption decreased significantly (P‐values<0.001). Specific behaviors for bamboo leaf and culm consumption were also observed. Both bears formed wads of leaves before ingestion while feeding on leaf, but the male employed this feeding behavior more often than the female (54 and 33%, respectively). Both bears used similar culm‐stripping behavior (26 and 25%), used to remove the outer layer and isolate the pith for consumption. This study indicates that unique seasonal foraging behaviors observed in wild pandas are also apparent in captive animals in relation to plant part selectivity and feeding behaviors. Zoo Biol 29:470–483, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Characterizing the spatial distribution of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in fragmented forest landscapes

Aim To examine the effects of forest fragmentation on the distribution of the entire wild giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) population, and to propose a modelling approach for monitoring the spatial distribution and habitat of pandas at the landscape scale using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro‐radiometer (MODIS) enhanced vegetation index (EVI) time‐series data. Location Five mountain ranges in south‐western China (Qinling, Minshan, Qionglai, Xiangling and Liangshan). Methods Giant panda pseudo‐absence data were generated from data on panda occurrences obtained from the third national giant panda survey. To quantify the fragmentation of forests, 26 fragmentation metrics were derived from 16‐day composite MODIS 250‐m EVI multi‐temporal data and eight of these metrics were selected following factor analysis. The differences between panda presence and panda absence were examined by applying significance testing. A forward stepwise logistic regression was then applied to explore the relationship between panda distribution and forest fragmentation. Results Forest patch size, edge density and patch aggregation were found to have significant roles in determining the distribution of pandas. Patches of dense forest occupied by giant pandas were significantly larger, closer together and more contiguous than patches where giant pandas were not recorded. Forest fragmentation is least in the Qinling Mountains, while the Xiangling and Liangshan regions have most fragmentation. Using the selected landscape metrics, the logistic regression model predicted the distribution of giant pandas with an overall accuracy of 72.5% (κ = 0.45). However, when a knowledge‐based control for elevation and slope was applied to the regression, the overall accuracy of the model improved to 77.6% (κ = 0.55). Main conclusions Giant pandas appear sensitive to patch size and isolation effects associated with fragmentation of dense forest, implying that the design of effective conservation areas for wild giant pandas must include large and dense forest patches that are adjacent to other similar patches. The approach developed here is applicable for analysing the spatial distribution of the giant panda from multi‐temporal MODIS 250‐m EVI data and landscape metrics at the landscape scale.     

Gut microbiota in reintroduction of giant panda

Reintroduction is a key approach in the conservation of endangered species. In recent decades, many reintroduction projects have been conducted for conservation purposes, but the rate of success has been low. Given the important role of gut microbiota in health and diseases, we questioned whether gut microbiota would play a crucial role in giant panda's wild‐training process. The wild procedure is when captive‐born babies live with their mothers in a wilderness enclosure and learn wilderness survival skills from their mothers. During the wild‐training process, the baby pandas undergo wilderness survival tests and regular physical examinations. Based on their performance through these tests, the top subjects (age 2–3 years old) are released into the wild while the others are translocated to captivity. After release, we tracked one released panda (Zhangxiang) and collected its fecal samples for 5 months (January 16, 2013 to March 29 2014). Here, we analyzed the Illumina HiSeq sequencing data (V4 region of 16S rRNA gene) from captive pandas (n = 24), wild‐training baby pandas (n = 8) of which 6 were released and 2 were unreleased, wild‐training mother pandas (n = 8), one released panda (Zhangxiang), and wild giant pandas (n = 18). Our results showed that the gut microbiota of wild‐training pandas is significantly different from that of wild pandas but similar to that of captive ones. The gut microbiota of the released panda Zhangxiang gradually changed to become similar to those of wild pandas after release. In addition, we identified several bacteria that were enriched in the released baby pandas before release, compared with the unreleased baby pandas. These bacteria include several known gut‐health related beneficial taxa such as Roseburia, Coprococcus, Sutterella, Dorea, and Ruminococcus. Therefore, our results suggest that certain members of the gut microbiota may be important in panda reintroduction.     

上海野生动物园大熊猫育幼行为初步研究

2017年10月至2018年3月采用连续记录法和焦点取样法,对上海野生动物园熊猫馆的2只雌性大熊猫在育幼期间的时间分配与活动节律进行了初步观察研究。结果表明:2个个体在育幼期间,育幼行为是最主要的行为方式,在育幼前期占90%以上。在整个育幼期间,随时间大熊猫的舔阴和育幼行为呈下降趋势,摄食、休息、活动、求适和其他行为呈上升趋势。但2个个体之间也表现出一定差异:育幼经验不足的个体("芊芊")母性强于育幼经验丰富的个体("思雪"),在育幼期不同阶段,"芊芊"用于护仔、舔仔、哺乳和母仔互动的时间均高于"思雪"。通过对上海野生动物园育幼期大熊猫行为的研究,为圈养育幼期的大熊猫饲养与管理提供科学依据。     

卧龙圈养大熊猫遗传多样性现状及预测,

以中国最大的大熊猫圈养种群—四川卧龙中国大熊猫保护中心的圈养种群为对象,以８个大熊猫微卫星位点为分子标记, 探讨了大熊猫圈养种群的遗传多样性, 并与邛崃野生种群及其他７个濒危物种进行比较。微卫星数据表明, 圈养种群的遗传多样性水平(A＝5.5, He ＝0.620, Ho＝0.574) 低于邛崃野生种群(A＝9.8,He＝0.779,Ho＝0.581),但高于其他7 个濒危物种的种群(He＝0.13~0.46)。在此数据的基础上对未来100个世代内圈养种群遗传多样性的变化情况做出了预测。结果表明假设种群数量比现在扩大一倍, 经历100个世代后也只会使平均等位基因数少减少0.4。因此继续增加野生个体对保持遗传多样性的意义已经不大, 建议该圈养种群的保护策略应将重点放到制定更有效的繁殖计划以避免近交上。     

臭氧处理对圈养大熊猫食用竹笋的保鲜

<正>竹笋是大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)最为喜爱的天然食物。竹笋相对于竹叶和竹茎含水量更丰富,粗纤维含量更低,适口性更好;大宗养分、微量元素、必需氨基酸等含量丰富(周昂等,1996;唐平等,1997;周材权等,1997),而丹宁等具有微毒性的次生代谢物含量却最少(赵晓红等,2001),更利于大熊猫对生活必需营养的吸收     

Hormonal and behavioral relationships during estrus in the giant panda

Nonlactating female giant pandas experience a single estrus during the spring mating season. Although both hormonal and behavioral aspects of estrus have been reported on captive females, little is known about the relationship between them. Data were collected on a single captive female during three successive seasons, revealing a high degree of regularity in both estrogen profiles and the temporal pattern of associated behaviors. The birth of a live cub in the last of the three seasons, using artificial insemination, confirmed the time of ovulation as occurring shortly after a peak in urinary estrogen values. In this study, we examined the occurrence of female scent marking, rear presentations, chirp and bleat vocalizations, and the tail‐up display, and plotted their occurrence relative to the underlying estrogen values. We conclude that the role of estrogen in the expression of these behaviors is neither simple nor directly causal. Temporal associations indicate that a triggering rather than a maintenance function for estrogen is implicated. This analysis provides a clear identification of estrous behaviors, but in both the time and form of occurrence these behaviors most likely vary between females and seasons. Zoo Biol 20:537–543, 2001. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

降低圈养大熊猫排粘液频率的措施初探

大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)是中国特有的珍稀动物,在其整个消化道内膜上,都分布有丰富的粘液腺。在野外,这些粘液腺的分泌物包裹于大熊猫摄食的竹茎、竹叶和竹笋表面而排出体外;圈养条件下,常常见到这些分泌物积聚到一定数量而成团排出,这即被称为大熊猫的排粘液现象(王平     

移地与圈养大熊猫野外放归的探讨

移地是指将生物有机体从一个区域自由释放到另一区域的移动,通常包括引入、重引入以及复壮等3 种类型。野生动物的移地有较悠久的历史。在许多国家,通过移地以维持濒危野生动物种群在野外的长期续存已成为保护生物学上的一种重要手段。影响圈养动物野外放归成功的因素主要来自物种生物学特性、自然环境、社会生物学以及放归方式等几方面,同时,放归亦给基础生态学研究带来了新的机遇与挑战。大熊猫是我国特有的珍稀兽类,分布在秦岭、岷山、邛崃山、大相岭、小相岭以及凉山等几大隔离的山系。由于部分山系栖息地的高度破碎以及隔离小种群普遍面临的来自种群及环境等随机因素的影响,单纯依靠就地保护的措施可能并不足以保证这些隔离小种群在野外长期续存。在圈养大熊猫种群数量不断增加的情况下,将圈养个体放归野外以复壮孤立小种群应是一种有效的保护手段,同时,随着大熊猫栖息地质量的逐步改善,圈养大熊猫野外放归的时机亦逐步成熟。文中尚就圈养大熊猫放归野外之前亟待解决的问题进行了讨论。