Historical perspective of breeding giant pandas <i>ex situ</i> in China and high priorities for the future

Zhang, Zhihe; Zhang, Anju; Hou, Rong; Wang, Jishan; Guanghan, Li; Fei, Lisong; Wang, Qiang; Loeffler, K; Wildt, David E.; Maple, Terry L.; McManamon, Rita; Ellis, Susie

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511542244.020

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…However, captive giant pandas fed a high-fiber bamboo diet still commonly experience mucoids, so the cause and means to prevent these episodes remains unclear. The timing of mucoids is also critical, as they typically occur during a seasonal dietary shift directly following the breeding season, and any decreased nutritional status during gestation or lactation may affect offspring ( Steinman et al, 2006 ; Zhang et al, 2006 ). Here, we used next-generation sequencing to characterize the fecal- and mucoid-associated microbiota in two giant pandas and to determine if drastic changes in diet correlate to a concomitant shift in the GIT microbiota and the expulsion of mucoids.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Shifts May Trigger Dysbiosis and Mucous Stools in Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

et al. 2016

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Dietary shifts can result in changes to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota, leading to negative outcomes for the host, including inflammation. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are physiologically classified as carnivores; however, they consume an herbivorous diet with dramatic seasonal dietary shifts and episodes of chronic GIT distress with symptoms including abdominal pain, loss of appetite and the excretion of mucous stools (mucoids). These episodes adversely affect the overall nutritional and health status of giant pandas. Here, we examined the fecal microbiota of two giant pandas’ non-mucoid and mucoid stools and compared these to samples from a previous winter season that had historically few mucoid episodes. To identify the microbiota present, we isolated and sequenced the 16S rRNA using next-generation sequencing. Mucoids occurred following a seasonal feeding switch from predominately bamboo culm (stalk) to leaves. All fecal samples displayed low diversity and were dominated by bacteria in the phyla Firmicutes and to a lesser extent, Proteobacteria. Fecal samples immediately prior to mucoid episodes had lower microbial diversity as compared to mucoids. Mucoids were mostly comprised of common mucosal-associated taxa including Streptococcus and Leuconostoc species, and exhibited increased abundance for bacteria in the family Pasteurellaceae. Taken together, these findings indicate that mucoids may represent an expulsion of the mucosal lining that is driven by changes in diet. We suggest that these occurrences serve to reset their GIT microbiota following changes in bamboo part preference, as giant pandas have retained a carnivorous GIT anatomy while shifting to an herbivorous diet.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Shifts May Trigger Dysbiosis and Mucous Stools in Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

et al. 2016

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“…Examples include strict punishments for poaching, the establishment of 67 nature reserves and implementation was more than 60% (Zhang et al, 2006). Since then, improvements in maternal and infant care, captive breeding, and artificial insemination more than tripled the captive population between 1970 and 2000 (Zhang et al, 2006). In fact, the captive population reached almost 400 at the end of 2014 (State Council Information Office of China, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Global Icon for Nature in the Human-Dominated World

Hull¹,

Liu²

2016

Pandas and People

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“…As another example of sector-based causes, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) has a panda loan program through which zoos inside and outside China can borrow pandas for one to several years. Sector-based causes of panda loans are cultural (i.e., affinity for this charismatic species), scientific (i.e., interest in panda research and conservation), technological (i.e., improvements in panda captive breeding and infant care), and economic (i.e., panda loans increase zoo visitation and revenue) [71][72][73][74].…”

Section: Sector-based Causesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward Rigorous Telecoupling Causal Attribution: A Systematic Review and Typology

et al. 2018

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Telecoupled flows of people, organisms, goods, information, and energy are expanding across the globe. Causes are integral components of the telecoupling framework, yet the rigor with which they have been identified and evaluated to date is unknown. We address this knowledge gap by systematically reviewing causal attribution in the telecoupling literature (n = 89 studies) and developing a standardized causal terminology and typology for consistent use in telecoupling research. Causes are defined based on six criteria: sector (e.g., environmental, economic), system of origin (i.e., sending, receiving, spillover), agent, distance, response time (i.e., time lapse between cause and effect), and direction (i.e., producing positive or negative effects). Using case studies from the telecoupling literature, we demonstrate the need to enhance the rigor of telecoupling causal attribution by combining qualitative and quantitative methods via process-tracing, counterfactual analysis, and related approaches. Rigorous qualitative-quantitative causal attribution is critical for accurately assessing the social-ecological causes and consequences of telecouplings and thereby identifying leverage points for informed management and governance of telecoupled systems.

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Historical perspective of breeding giant pandas ex situ in China and high priorities for the future

Cited by 13 publications

References 1 publication

Dietary Shifts May Trigger Dysbiosis and Mucous Stools in Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Dietary Shifts May Trigger Dysbiosis and Mucous Stools in Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

A Global Icon for Nature in the Human-Dominated World

Toward Rigorous Telecoupling Causal Attribution: A Systematic Review and Typology

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