Chemical Communication in Giant PandasExperimentation and Application

Swaisgood, Ronald R.; Lindburg, Donald G.; White, Angela M.

doi:10.1525/california/9780520238671.003.0012

Cited by 33 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Mammals, especially solitary species, use these signals to advertise reproductive status, recognize sex, identify individuals, establish territory and so on [9,10]. Communal sign posts have, for example, been found in snow leopard [11], giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) [12], and American black bear (Ursus americanus) [13] habitats. However, previous studies did not describe interspecies interactions at such locations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Communal Sign Post of Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia) and Other Species on the Tibetan Plateau, China

Schaller

McCarthy

et al. 2013

International Journal of Biodiversity

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e snow leopard is a keystone species in mountain ecosystems of Central Asia and the Tibetan Plateau. However, little is known about the interactions between snow leopards and sympatric carnivores. Using infrared cameras, we found a rocky junction of two valleys in Sanjiangyuan area on the Tibetan Plateau where many mammals in this area passed and frequently marked and sniffed the site at the junction. We suggest that this site serves as a sign post to many species in this area, especially snow leopards and other carnivores. e marked signs may also alert the animals passing by to temporally segregate their activities to avoid potential con�icts. We used the Schoener index to measure the degree of temporal segregation among the species captured by infrared camera traps at this site. Our research reveals the probable ways of both intra-and interspecies communication and demonstrates that the degree of temporal segregation may correlate with the degree of potential interspecies competition. is is an important message to help understand the structure of animal communities. Discovery of the sign post clari�es the importance of identifying key habitats and sites of both snow leopards and other species for more effective conservation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Communal Sign Post of Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia) and Other Species on the Tibetan Plateau, China

Schaller

McCarthy

et al. 2013

International Journal of Biodiversity

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“…Despite the clear role for intrasexual male competition, it is possible that female pandas exercise indirect choice (sensu Wiley and Poston 1996), where female behavior sets the stage for male-male competition. Female pandas advertise reproductive condition through scent beginning up to several weeks before the fertile period (Swaisgood et al 2000(Swaisgood et al , 2002(Swaisgood et al , 2004 and vocal signals (Charlton et al 2010), which may recruit males and incite competition, ensuring that the female mates with the best available male (Cox and Le Boeuf 1977).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive competition and fecal testosterone in wild male giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Nie

Swaisgood

Zhang

et al. 2012

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is notoriously difficult to study in the wild, but its interesting reproductive ecology makes the effort worthwhile. Perhaps more than most species, the panda is energy-limited, which alters the cost/benefit analysis of its reproductive ecology. Using global positioning system/very high frequency radiocollars to locate mating aggregations, we used behavioral observations and fecal testosterone assays to gain insight into male panda reproductive effort and strategies, and test theories relating to reproductive competition. Male pandas initially competed fiercely for access to females that were about to be fertile, but once male competitive status was determined, aggression rates declined. Contact aggression was only observed during the first 2 days of mating aggregations; thereafter, it was replaced with noncontact aggression and avoidance. Agonistic interactions were highly asymmetrical, with contest losers (subordinates) showing less aggression and more avoidance than contest winners (dominants), both before and after contest outcome was established. The competitively superior male displayed mate-guarding tactics and secured all observed copulations. Contrary to theoretical predictions, testosterone levels did not predict aggression levels or contest winners and also were not affected by winning or losing a contest. Body size appeared to be the primary determinant of contest outcome. We discuss our findings in light of theoretical predictions, such as those arising from the "challenge hypothesis," in the context of the giant panda's foraging and nutritional ecology.

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“…Chemical signaling systems are integral to reproduction and social processes in many species (Johnston et al 1999), yet few studies address the conservation uses of scent communication (but see Swaisgood et al 2000Swaisgood et al , 2003. In recent books devoted to the integration of behavior and conservation, little reference is made to odors and no scent-related terminology even appears in the indexes (Clemmons and Buchholtz 1996;Caro 1998;Gosling and Sutherland 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Odor familiarity and female preferences for males in a threatened primate, the pygmy loris Nycticebus pygmaeus : applications for genetic management of small populations

Fisher

Swaisgood

Fitch‐Snyder

2003

Naturwissenschaften

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Here we use sexual selection theory to develop a logistically simple, yet effective, method for the manipulation of female reproductive behavior for conservation goals. Mate choice leading to nonrandom mating patterns can exacerbate the loss of genetic diversity in small populations. On theoretical grounds, females should choose high-quality mates. A prediction stemming from chemical communication theory is that competitive males will be better able to saturate an area with scent marks. If this is true, females should mate preferentially with males whose odors they encounter most frequently. We tested this hypothesis with the pygmy loris, Nycticebus pygmaeus, a threatened and poorly studied nocturnal prosimian. For several weeks females were exposed repeatedly to the urine from a particular male, and were then allowed to choose between a male whose odors were familiar and one whose odors were novel. Females showed an unusually strong preference for the familiar-odor male, as indicated by several behavioral measures of mate preference. Conservation managers can use this method as a tool to obtain reproductive pairings that will maximize genetic compatibility and diversity. For example, unsuccessful males may be given the opportunity to reproduce. In captive populations, studbook managers often select pairs in order to optimize outbreeding, but these selected pairings may not coincide with the preferences of the individual animals involved. Although several authors have made theoretical arguments for manipulating mate choice for conservation, this is a novel test of a proximate mechanism that can be manipulated, cultivating applications rather than mere implications.

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Chemical Communication in Giant PandasExperimentation and Application

Cited by 33 publications

References 47 publications

A Communal Sign Post of Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia) and Other Species on the Tibetan Plateau, China

A Communal Sign Post of Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia) and Other Species on the Tibetan Plateau, China

Reproductive competition and fecal testosterone in wild male giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Odor familiarity and female preferences for males in a threatened primate, the pygmy loris Nycticebus pygmaeus : applications for genetic management of small populations

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