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The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), as an endemic species of China, is also a flagship species of wildlife Conservation. However, the accuracy of individual identification of giant pandas is typically problematic due to the high error rate of microsatellite typing methods. In this study, a panel of 61 SNP makers was developed for individual identification. Of these, 55 polymorphic SNP markers were successfully genotyped. The observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He) and polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.056 to 0.611 (mean 0.352), 0.131–0.509 (mean 0.389) and 0.099–0.389(mean 0.305), respectively. No SNPs significantly deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05). Our study provides a framework for improving the accuracy of individual identification of giant pandas, especially for poor quality samples collected from the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of camera traps is prevalent in the ecological study of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). The reliability of camera-trap surveying results greatly depends on sampling designs that significantly influence the detection probability of the target species. Few studies have tested the efficacy of sampling designs on camera-trap surveys for monitoring giant pandas in a heterogeneous landscape. In this study, we conducted camera trapping of giant pandas based on two different sampling schemes in Changqing National Nature Reserve of China, and evaluated their outcomes based on three aspects: occupancy analysis, photographic rate, and activity pattern. The results demonstrated that both climate heterogeneity and distance to the nearest road had a strong positive influence on site occupancy, and slope and forest cover had a significant negative impact on site occupancy. Significant differences in the direction or magnitude of variables' influences indicated that there were apparently spatial-temporal dynamics of giant panda distribution between two sampling schemes. The low detection probabilities indicated that both sampling schemes were not robust to accurately monitor giant pandas in the whole study area. We recommended that more suitable sampling designs with local covariates be developed for camera-trap surveys monitoring giant pandas to account for temporal variability and small-scale variation in heterogeneous landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeat number variations of coding simple sequence repeats (coding SSRs) generate phenotype diversity for environmental adaptation and rapid adaptive evolution. Despite the positive potential of coding SSR mutations, the repeat variations have also been shown to cause hereditary disorders and severe diseases. However, there have been few reports on the analysis of SSR polymorphism in genome-wide coding regions. We identified 1016 coding SSRs, of which 283 SSRs (27.9%) were polymorphic with 2 to 8 alleles, using 33 re-sequenced giant panda genomes. The 283 polymorphic coding SSRs were mapped on 260 genes, which were assigned into 547 GO terms. Functional analysis of 260 genes showed that four significantly enriched pathways: thyroid hormone signaling pathway, pancreatic secretion, gastric acid secretion, and thyroid hormone synthesis, were relevant to digestion and metabolism. The comparison analysis of gene functions exhibited positive regulation of transcription, DNA-templated term (GO:0045893), the poly(A) RNA-binding term (GO:0008270), and zinc ion–binding term (GO:0044822) which were only significantly enriched in genes containing polymorphic coding SSRs. This indicates coding SSR polymorphism may be involved in binding and regulation functions that can affect the expression of their downstream genes and contribute to diverse phenotypes. Our results provide a solid foundation for further study regarding the effect of coding SSR polymorphism on the adaptation, adaptive evolution, and abnormal traits of the giant panda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first report of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) infected with a novel Hepatozoon species is presented. An intraleukocytic parasite was detected via routine blood smear from a zoo-housed giant panda at the National Zoological Park. Ribosomal DNA sequences indicated a previously undescribed Hepatozoon species. Phylogenetic and distance analyses of the sequences placed it within its own branch, clustered with Old World species with carnivore (primarily ursid and mustelid) hosts. Retrospective and opportunistic testing of other individuals produced additional positive detections (17/23, 73.9%), demonstrating 100% prevalence (14/14) across five institutions. All animals were asymptomatic at time of sampling, and health implications for giant pandas remain unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While taxol yields of fungi from non-animal sources are still low, whether Pestalotiopsis hainanensis isolated from the scurf of a dermatitic giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, provides a greater taxol yield remains unknown. The objective of the study was to determine the corresponding taxol yield. The structure of the taxol produced by the fungus was evaluated by thin layer chromatography (TLC), ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), H and C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-NMR and C-NMR), and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS), with standard taxol as a control. The results demonstrated that the P. hainanensis fungus produced taxol, which had the same structure as the standard taxol and yield of 1,466.87 μg/L. This fungal taxol yield from the dermatitic giant panda was significantly greater than those of fungus from non-animal sources. The taxol-producing fungus may be a potential candidate for the production of taxol on an industrial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free-ranging giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in China recently were reported to rub and roll in horse manure, a behavior that was observed frequently at low ambient temperatures. Two sesquiterpenes, β-caryophyllene (BCP) and caryophyllene oxide (BCPO), that are abundant in fresh horse manure elicited rolling in captive giant pandas. Mice and rats treated with BCP/BCPO exhibited enhanced cold tolerance in behavioral assays, and BCP/BCPO inhibited cold-activated ion channels of mammals expressed in human kidney cells; these laboratory results were cited in support of the contention that giant pandas tolerate low ambient temperatures by applying horse manure to their integument. The demonstrated biocidal activities of BCP and BCPO against insects and ticks, and the reported elicitation of anointing in giant pandas with materials other than horse manure, including substances or constituents thereof known to act as arthropod biocides, are consistent with an anti-consumer function of anointing by giant pandas. Anointing with the scents of heterospecifics as a defense against nuisance arthropods constitutes a viable hypothesis for the rubbing and rolling behaviors of giant pandas and other ursids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For solitary species that aggregate to breed, signals, such as sound or odor, transmitted across the landscape can play an important role in mate choice and coordinating breeding activity. Recent work on vocalizations of the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca), bleats and chirps that are emitted during periods of reproductive activity, has revealed that auditory communication in this species is more complicated and developed than once believed. However, playback experiments using these calls have recorded only a few behaviors over short observation times and the influence of these calls on the signaling behavior of receivers remains unknown. Here, we present results from a pilot study in which we played the bleats of male and female giant pandas in estrus to captive animals and measured vocal and chemical signaling response behavior. We found an increase in scent marking behavior, but not vocalizations, in males and females following the playback of calls made by members of the opposite sex in estrus. To our knowledge, this is the first study to detect a chemical communication response, which was marking, to an auditory signal in giant pandas. Our findings reveal a previously unknown relationship between acoustic and chemical signals in this high profile species and suggest that these two forms of signaling may be interdependent in the social lives of giant pandas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatial genetic structure of populations can provide insight into the ecological or evolutionary processes of the species, and enable wise conservation decisions. We examined the spatial genetic structure of a giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca) population in a heterogeneous mountainous landscape using noninvasive genetic sampling and 12 microsatellite loci. Nonrandom genetic structure was detected through spatial autocorrelation analysis, demonstrating a significantly positive autocorrelation over closer distances. Additional spatial analyses showed significantly positive genetic correlation among spatially-proximate males, and no correlation among females and among male-female pairs. These findings suggest a female-biased dispersal pattern and cryptic family grouping among giant pandas on a large mountain-range scale. The spatial extent of genetic structure occurred within 12.5 km, measured by a least-cost path distance model integrating information of habitat quality and habitat preferences of this species. Using the bearing analysis of PASSAGE, we found that directional genetic autocorrelations were in agreement with habitat structure, and habitat heterogeneity may affect the direction of giant panda dispersal. The characterization of spatial genetic structure can provide potentially valuable information for the conservation and management of giant pandas and their habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. It plays an important role in stimulating growth hormone secretion, food intake, body weight gain and gastric motility. cDNA sequences coding for ghrelin precursor protein (prepro-ghrelin) were isolated from the stomach of a giant panda. Two different mRNA sequences of ghrelin were obtained. The long open reading frame of ghrelin (354 bp) encodes a precursor protein of 117 amino acids with a 23 amino acid signal peptide. The short one (351 bp) encodes a precursor protein of 116 amino acids with the same 23 amino acid signal peptide. The presumed giant panda mature ghrelin proteins also had two forms. Comparative analysis showed that the first and the fourth amino acids (Gly and Phe) were completely conserved and the third amino acid (Ser) was also highly conserved in the mature ghrelin. RT-PCR analysis of giant panda ghrelin mRNA in various tissues revealed high level of expression in stomach, relative lower levels of expression in small intestine, liver and kidney, and no expression in thymus, spleen and heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using α- and β-hemoglobin sequences, we made a maximum likelihood inference as to the phylogenetic relationship among carnivores, including the two pandas, giant and lesser. Molecular phylogenetic studies up to 1985 had consistently indicated that the giant panda is more closely related to the bear than to the lesser panda. In 1986, however, a contradictory tree was constructed, using hemoglobins and so on, in which the two pandas link together (Tagle et al. 1986). In contrast to that tree, our conclusion supports the close relationship between bear and giant panda. The surface impression of a close relationship between the two pandas drawn from pairwise amino acid differences is explained by a rapid rate of hemoglobin evolution in the bear compared to that in the two pandas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]