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There has been remarkable progress in the conservation and reproduction of giant pandas. However, the physiology of the gestation period in pandas remains poorly understood. The metabolic processes from estrus to pregnancy are dynamic and precisely regulated, playing a crucial role in pregnancy and related dysfunctions. In this study, we conducted a metabolomic analysis of 37 blood samples collected from pandas in estrus, acyclic, and potential pregnant states, employing rigorous screening to minimize the influence of diet. Our findings suggest that a reduced appetite can serve as an indicator for evaluating implantation time, representing a characteristic response to pregnancy and aiding in the prediction of delivery time in pregnant pandas. Metabolomic results indicate great metabolism variation from estrus to pregnancy, highlighting the association between amino acid metabolism and pregnancy outcomes. Compared to other pandas, individuals who successfully bred exhibit significantly elevated levels of arginine and histidine, even 2 months before experiencing a reduced appetite. Furthermore, the lipid profile undergoes distinct dynamic changes only in estrus samples. In summary, our study comprehensively characterizes the metabolism of giant pandas during gestation and proposes arginine and histidine as potential novel biomarkers for detecting the pregnancy state of giant pandas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Babesia spp. are protozoan parasites that infect the red blood cells of domesticated animals, wildlife and humans. A few cases of giant pandas (a flagship species in terms of wildlife conservation) infected with a putative novel Babesia sp. have been reported. However, comprehensive research on the morphological and molecular taxonomic classification of this novel Babesia sp. is still lacking. This study was designed to close this gap and formally describe this new Babesia sp. infecting giant pandas. Methods: Detailed morphological, molecular and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to characterise this Babesia sp. and to assess its systematic relationships with other Babesia spp. Blood samples from giant pandas infected with Babesia were subjected to microscopic examination. The 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA), cytochrome b (cytb) and mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the new Babesia sp. were amplified, sequenced and assembled using DNA purified from blood samples taken from infected giant pandas. Based on the newly generated 18S rRNA, cytb and mitogenome sequences, phylogenetic trees were constructed. Results: Morphologically, the Babesia sp. from giant pandas exhibited various forms, including round to oval ring-shaped morphologies, resembling those found in other small canine Babesia spp. and displaying typical tetrads. Phylogenetic analyses with the 18S rRNA, cytb and mitogenome sequences revealed that the new Babesia sp. forms a monophyletic group, with a close phylogenetic relationship with the Babesia spp. that infect bears (Ursidae), raccoons (Procyonidae) and canids (Canidae). Notably, the mitogenome structure consisted of six ribosomal large subunit-coding genes (LSU1-6) and three protein-coding genes (cytb, cox3 and cox1) arranged linearly. Conclusions: Based on coupled morphological and genetic analyses, we describe a novel species of the genus Babesia, namely, Babesia ailuropodae n. sp., which infects giant pandas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of poor sexual performance of some male giant pandas seriously impairs the growth and the genetic diversity of the captive population, yet there is still no clear understanding of the cause of the loss of this ability and its underlying mechanism. In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiota and its function in 72 fecal samples obtained from 20 captive male giant pandas, with an equal allocation between individuals capable and incapable of natural mating. Additionally, we investigated fecal hormone levels and behavioral differences between the two groups. A correlation analysis was then conducted among these factors to explore the influencing factors of their natural mating ability. The results showed significant differences in the composition of gut microbiota between the two groups of male pandas. The capable group had significantly higher abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto 1 (padjusted =.0021, GLMM), which was positively correlated with fatty acid degradation and two‐component system functions (Spearman, padjusted <.05). Additionally, the capable group showed higher gene abundance in gut microbiota function including purine and pyrimidine metabolism and galactose metabolism, as well as pathways related to biological processes such as ribosome and homologous recombination (DEseq2, padjusted <.05). We found no significant differences in fecal cortisol and testosterone levels between the two groups, and no difference was found in their behavior either. Our study provides a theoretical and practical basis for further studying the behavioral degradation mechanisms of giant pandas and other endangered mammal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock grazing and the collection of bamboo shoots are the main threats to giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitat in the Liangshan Mountains in China. It is important to clarify the effect of these disturbances to the giant panda to formulate targeted management policies. Based on species distribution models and daily activity models, we investigated the effects of livestock grazing and bamboo shoot collection on giant pandas from May 2021 to July 2022. Our results indicated the giant panda's suitable habitat in the reserve covered 51.83 km² (15.02% of the reserve area). Grazing and bamboo shoot collection led to losses of 19.08 km² and 7.68 km² of suitable habitat, respectively. Together, the 2 activities resulted in a loss of 28.35 km² of suitable habitat, which was more than half of the area of panda habitat. The areas of suitable habitat for giant pandas significantly overlapped with the areas affected by both disturbances. Giant pandas did not show significant differences in daily activity rhythms under a single disturbance, but the daily activity rhythms of giant pandas differed when we compared the area combining the 2 disturbances with the undisturbed area. Our study reveals that the anthropogenic disturbances in the reserve have varying effects on the suitable habitat range and daily activity rhythm of giant pandas and evidence of a synergistic effect. Therefore, when formulating relevant conservation policies, it is important to fully evaluate the extent and characteristics of anthropogenic disturbances in shaping the population distribution and habitat preferences of the giant panda and other wildlife to enhance the efficacy of conservation management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine distemper virus (CDV) can cause fatal infections in giant pandas. Vaccination is crucial to prevent CDV infection in giant pandas. In this study, two bacterium-like particle vaccines F3-GEM and H4-GEM displaying the trimeric F protein or tetrameric H protein of CDV were constructed based on the Gram-positive enhanced-matrix protein anchor (GEM-PA) surface display system. Electron microscopy and Western blot results revealed that the F or H protein was successfully anchored on the surface of GEM particles. Furthermore, one more bacterium-like particle vaccine F3 and H4-GEM was also designed, a mixture consisting of F3-GEM and H4-GEM at a ratio of 1:1. To evaluate the effect of the three vaccines, mice were immunized with F3-GEM, H4-GEM or F3 and H4-GEM. It was found that the level of IgG-specific antibodies and neutralizing antibodies in the F3 and H4-GEM group was higher than the other two groups. Additionally, F3 and H4-GEM also increased the secretion of Th1-related and Th2-related cytokines. Moreover, F3 and H4-GEM induce IgG and neutralizing antibodies' response in dogs. Conclusions: In summary, F3 and H4-GEM can provoke better immune responses to CDV in mice and dogs. The bacterium-like particle vaccine F3 and H4-GEM might be a potential vaccine candidate for giant pandas against CDV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the important species in worldwide animal conservation. Because it is essential to understand the disease of giant panda for conservation, histopathological analyses of tissues are important to understand the pathogenesis. However, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against giant panda-derived proteins are limited. Podoplanin (PDPN) is an essential marker of lung type I alveolar epithelial cells, kidney podocytes, and lymphatic endothelial cells. PDPN is also overexpressed in various human tumors, which are associated with poor prognosis. Here, an anti-giant panda PDPN (gpPDPN) mAb, PMab-314 (mouse IgG1, kappa) was established using the Cell-Based Immunization and Screening method. PMab-314 recognized N-terminal PA16-tagged gpPDPN-overexpressed Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells (CHO/PA16-gpPDPN) in flow cytometry. The KD value of PMab-314 for CHO/PA16-gpPDPN was determined as 1.3 × 10−8 M. Furthermore, PMab-314 is useful for detecting gpPDPN in western blot analysis. These findings indicate that PMab-314 is a useful tool for the analyses of gpPDPN-expressed cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria and phages are two of the most abundant biological entities in the gut microbiome, and diet and host phylogeny are two of the most critical factors influencing the gut microbiome. A stable gut bacterial community plays a pivotal role in the host's physiological development and immune health. A phage is a virus that directly infects bacteria, and phages' close associations and interactions with bacteria are essential for maintaining the stability of the gut bacterial community and the entire microbial ecosystem. Here, we utilized 99 published metagenomic datasets from 38 mammalian species to investigate the relationship (diversity and composition) and potential interactions between gut bacterial and phage communities and the impact of diet and phylogeny on these communities. Our results highlight the co-evolutionary potential of bacterial–phage interactions within the mammalian gut. We observed a higher alpha diversity in gut bacteria than in phages and identified positive correlations between bacterial and phage compositions. Furthermore, our study revealed the significant influence of diet and phylogeny on mammalian gut bacterial and phage communities. We discovered that the impact of dietary factors on these communities was more pronounced than that of phylogenetic factors at the order level. In contrast, phylogenetic characteristics had a more substantial influence at the family level. The similar omnivorous dietary preference and closer phylogenetic relationship (family Ursidae) may contribute to the similarity of gut bacterial and phage communities between captive giant panda populations (GPCD and GPYA) and omnivorous animals (OC; including Sun bear, brown bear, and Asian black bear). This study employed co-occurrence microbial network analysis to reveal the potential interaction patterns between bacteria and phages. Compared to other mammalian groups (carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores), the gut bacterial and phage communities of bamboo-eating species (giant pandas and red pandas) exhibited a higher level of interaction. Additionally, keystone species and modular analysis showed the potential role of phages in driving and maintaining the interaction patterns between bacteria and phages in captive giant pandas. In sum, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between the gut microbiota and phages in mammals is of great significance, which is of great value in promoting healthy and sustainable mammals and may provide valuable insights into the conservation of wildlife populations, especially endangered animal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although great efforts have been made over several decades, habitat fragmentation has continually threatened the survival of giant pandas. Here, we describe the habitat fragmentation problem and provide suggestions on how to address it as well as discussing the key issues worthy of consideration from previous giant panda protection efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife tourism is one of the strongest-performing sectors in the global tourism market. While tourists' preferences for and affection towards animals are a cornerstone of the industry, a better understanding of how experiences, including animal–tourist encounters and visitation frequency, influence visitors' animal preferences is required. Through a comparison of preferences among first-time and repeat visitors of four species (giant panda "Ailuropoda melanoleuca", red panda "Ailurus fulgens", peafowl "Pavo cristatus", and swan "Cygnus"), both before and after animal encounters at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Panda Base), the results show that different species elicit varied and, at times, contrasting tourist preferences. As a result, animal preferences in wildlife tourism can vary based on different stages of visitation. Highlighting this dynamic relationship between animal preferences and visitation experiences is further elucidated through consumer learning theory and lively capital. The outcomes of this study contribute to a deeper grasp of human–animal interactions and have broader implications for the development of conservation programs in captive wildlife venues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infant call structure should have evolved to elicit maximum maternal attention and investment. Neonates of giant pandas produce three types of vocalizations reported to be vitally important in the context of mother–infant communications. However, how cubs, 0–15 days old, communicate with their mothers to elicit maternal care remains unknown. We analyzed 12 different call parameters of 3475 squawks, 1355 squalls, and 491 croaks from 11 captive giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) neonates from age 0 to 15 days. In playback experiments, we also tested whether mothers could detect ultrasound. Our results show that neonates use broadband calls with ultrasonic frequencies up to 65 kHz to convey information about their physiological needs and to attract maternal care. In playback experiments, we tested if mothers reacted differently to broadband calls (BBC) than to artificially altered calls that included only frequencies <20 kHz (AUDC) or calls that included only frequencies >20 kHz (USC). Playback confirmed that, although adult females responded significantly less often to USC, BBC than to or AUDC, they could detect USC, BBC and generally made appropriate behavioral responses, indicating a potential benefit for neonates to utilize ultrasonic and broadband frequencies. Our findings provide a new insight into mother–infant communication in giant pandas and will be helpful for reducing the mortality of cubs, younger than 1 month old, in captivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forage selection by mammalian herbivores has shown to be influenced by plant nutritional content, but the role of plant secondary compounds (PSCs) on forage selection is less well understood. Here, we studied the role of PSCs in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) foraging strategies; examined seasonal and age class variation in PSC composition in the panda's principal food resource, bamboo (Bashania fargesii); evaluated anti-oxidant and antibacterial effects of bamboo extract; and determined how panda's seasonal movements and foraging patch selection which were determined by GPS collars related to patterns of PSC concentrations in bamboo. Panda's selection of foraging sites indicated positive selection for several PSCs, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins. Pandas primarily ingested bamboo leaves, as opposed other parts of the bamboo, during the time of year when many PSC concentrations were at their highest. Further, pandas prefer to forage on younger bamboo, which contains higher concentrations of alkaloids and antibacterial activity than older bamboo. As might be expected for compounds that can have positive or negative biological effects depending on dose, pandas appeared to select both for and against some PSCs depending on context. Ex situ experiments showed that flavonoids and alkaloids were influential antioxidants and tannins and alkaloids had high levels of antibacterial activity. Panda foraging sites were characterized by high anti-oxidant activity. Variation in PSC content of bamboo on the landscape may have profound effects on pandas, including parasite control, protecting against cancer, improved cardiovascular health, and disease prevention. These potential roles of PSCs should receive greater attention in ecology and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of animal social networks have traditionally been conducted on species that exhibit social behaviors such as group living, whereas relatively less work has been done on species that are thought of as solitary, are cryptic, and that communicate through scent-marking cues. We employed noninvasive fecal genetic sampling, conducted from March 2015 to February 2016, to identify individuals of one such species, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), across a study population in southwestern China. We then used spatiotemporal proximity thresholds to infer scent mark–based association networks and conduct social network analyses of the population. Results show social clustering in which cluster members preferentially associated with each other. Genetic relatedness was a positive predictor of associations outside the mating season but a negative predictor of associations in the mating season (Mar–Jun), potentially indicating a behavioral change that would reduce risk of inbreeding and kin competition that we term "kin-space recognition." Our findings suggest that associations between individuals in species generally thought of as solitary may be widespread and dependent on complex behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Energy homeostasis is essential for the adaptation of animals to their environment and some wild animals keep low metabolism adaptive to their low-nutrient dietary supply. Giant panda is such a typical low-metabolic mammal exhibiting species specialization of extremely low daily energy expenditure. It has low levels of basal metabolic rate, thyroid hormone, and physical activities, whereas the cellular bases of its low metabolic adaptation remain rarely explored. Results: In this study, we generate a single-nucleus transcriptome atlas of 21 organs/tissues from a female giant panda. We focused on the central metabolic organ (liver) and dissected cellular metabolic status by cross-species comparison. Adaptive expression mode (i.e., AMPK related) was prominently displayed in the hepatocyte of giant panda. In the highest energy-consuming organ, the heart, we found a possibly optimized utilization of fatty acid. Detailed cell subtype annotation of endothelial cells showed the uterine-specific deficiency of blood vascular subclasses, indicating a potential adaptation for a low reproductive energy expenditure. Conclusions: Our findings shed light on the possible cellular basis and transcriptomic regulatory clues for the low metabolism in giant pandas and helped to understand physiological adaptation response to nutrient stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pandas are a flagship species for global animal conservation and wild individuals are scarce. They are now segregated into 33 local populations, and 25 of them are too small to be self-sustaining. For these small populations, in addition to preservation of pandas in situ, translocation is one of the options for the species' recovery. This paper reviews the scientific progress in conservation translocation of pandas, with the aim of providing theoretical guidance to improve the success rate of released pandas, and uses pandas as a model species to provide reference for the global conservation translocation of rare and endangered species. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is the flagship species of animal conservation worldwide, and the number of captive pandas reached 673 in 2021. According to the Fourth National Survey Report on the Giant Panda, there are 1864 wild pandas, segregated into 33 local populations, and 25 of these populations are too small to be self-sustaining. In addition to the conservation and restoration of panda habitats, conservation translocations, an approach that has been shown to be effective in slowing or reversing biodiversity loss, are highly desirable for panda conservation. The captive-bred panda population has grown rapidly, laying the foundation for releasing captive-bred pandas into the wild. This paper reviews the scientific advances in conservation translocations of pandas. Studies have shown that before translocation conservation programs are implemented, we should determine what factors are causing the depletion of the original population at the release site. The selection of suitable release sites and individuals will help to improve the survival rate of released individuals in the wild. Pre-release training and post-release monitoring are essential to ensure successful releases. We also see the great potential for increasing applications of Adaptive Management to improve the success of giant panda conservation translocation programs. This review provides theoretical guidance for improvement of the success rate in conservation translocations for captive pandas, and uses the panda as a model species to provide a global reference for the conservation translocations of rare and endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca exhibits are popular attractions for zoos and wildlife parks. However, it remains to be investigated whether such exhibits enhance visitor knowledge about pandas and broader conservation issues. We conducted questionnaire surveys at giant panda exhibits at three city zoos and five wildlife parks in China. Although visitors were generally interested in the giant panda, this was not reflected in their post-exhibit knowledge of giant panda biology. Socio-demographically, men were more knowledgeable of giant panda biology than women. Knowledge correlated positively with respondent level of education. Younger respondents (< 45 years) knew most about giant pandas and expressed an interest in learning more about them using social media. The most informed respondents had visited other giant panda exhibits previously. Respondents were generally satisfied with the giant panda exhibits (mean score 4.44/5). Wildlife parks delivered a better educational outcome than city zoos. We recommend approaches to improve the visitor experience further and to leverage public interest in broader conservation engagement and action in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fargesia angustissima T. P. Yi, categorized into Arundinarieae (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), is a critical species endemic to Minshan Mountain, China. F. angustissima provides shelter and food sources for the giant panda and other endangered animals (e.g. red panda and snub-nosed monkey). This study assembled the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of F. angustissima using the high-throughput sequencing technique. The total cp length was 139,706 bp, containing 130 annotated genes with predicted GC content at 38.87%. The cp genome comprises two single-copy (LSC and SSC) regions, harboring 83,282 bp and 12,830 bp, respectively. The SSC regions were located between two inverted repeats (IR) regions (21,797 bp). Reconstruction of the phylogenetic tree illustrated that F. angustissima clustered F. canaliculata in Fargesia II. The study provides theoretical clues to explore the geographical distribution and species-level identification of the Fargesia genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific studies of large trees in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) habitats are currently lacking. To fill this research gap, a field survey on large trees in Wanglang Nature Reserve of China was conducted. According to a previous definition of a large tree (DBH ≥ 60 cm), a total of 19 large trees, composed of Abies fargesii var. faxoniana (73.7%), Betula albosinensis (15.8%), and Juniperus saltuaria (10.5%), were found in 50% of 30 10 m × 10 m giant panda habitat plots (contained feces of giant panda). Compared to the habitat where large trees were absent, the giant panda habitat where large trees were present was characterized by larger-sized tree diameter and more bamboo clumps. The mean proportion of large trees in the basal area of the tree layer in habitats where large trees were present was 65.5%. Considering large trees are a scarce resource and play a crucial role in habitat composition and habitat use, large trees and their habitats need to be given priority protection. To achieve more accurate protection, continuous and dynamic monitoring of large trees is needed, and the investigation of large trees should form a part of future national surveys of giant pandas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately one in ten women have high blood pressure during pregnancy. Hypertension is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, and as treatment improves maternal outcomes, antihypertensive treatment is recommended. Previous trials have been unable to provide a definitive answer on which antihypertensive treatment is associated with optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes and the need for robust evidence evaluating maternal and infant benefits and risks remains an important, unanswered question for research and clinical communities. Methods: The Giant PANDA study is a pragmatic, open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial of a treatment initiation strategy with nifedipine (calcium channel blocker), versus labetalol (mixed alpha/beta blocker) in 2300 women with pregnancy hypertension. The primary objective is to evaluate if treatment with nifedipine compared to labetalol in women with pregnancy hypertension reduces severe maternal hypertension without increasing fetal or neonatal death or neonatal unit admission. Subgroup analyses will be undertaken by hypertension type (chronic, gestational, pre-eclampsia), diabetes (yes, no), singleton (yes, no), self-reported ethnicity (Black, all other), and gestational age at randomisation categories (11 + 0 to 19 + 6, 20 + 0 to 27 + 6, 28 + 0 to 34 + 6 weeks). A cost-effectiveness analysis using an NHS perspective will be undertaken using a cost-consequence analysis up to postnatal hospital discharge and an extrapolation exercise with a lifetime horizon conditional on the results of the cost-consequence analysis. Discussion: This trial aims to address the uncertainty of which antihypertensive treatment is associated with optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes. The trial results are intended to provide definitive evidence to inform guidelines and linked, shared decision-making tools, thus influencing clinical practice. Trial registration: EudraCT number: 2020–003410-12, ISRCTN: 12,792,616 registered on 18 November 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter‐animal communication allows signals released by an animal to be perceived by others. Scent‐marking is the primary mode of such communication in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Signal detection theory propounds that animals choose the substrate and location of their scent marks so that the signals released are transmitted more widely and last longer. We believe that pandas trade‐off scent‐marking because they are an energetically marginal species and it is costly to generate and mark chemical signals. Existing studies only indicate where pandas mark more frequently, but their selection preferences remain unknown. This study investigates whether the marking behavior of pandas is consistent with signal detection theory. Feces count, reflecting habitat use intensity, was combined with mark count to determine the selection preference for marking. The results showed that pandas preferred to mark ridges with animal trails and that most marked tree species were locally dominant. In addition, marked plots and species were selected for lower energy consumption and a higher chance of being detected. Over 90% of the marks used were the longest‐surviving anogenital gland secretion marks, and over 80% of the marks were oriented toward animal trails. Our research demonstrates that pandas go out of their way to make sure their marks are found. This study not only sheds light on the mechanisms of scent‐marking by pandas but also guides us toward more precise conservation of the panda habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aeromonas veronii, an important aquatic bacterium, has been known to infect a variety of animals worldwide. However, there have been no reports of A. veronii infection in giant pandas. Here, we found that strain VGP was resistant to six antibiotics, carries a large number of resistance genes and virulence genes, and has strong pathogenicity in mice. These results suggest that infection with strain VGP could be one of the leading causes of death for this giant panda cub. Our study presents the first evidence that giant pandas could be infected by A. veronii. The objective of this study was to understand biological characteristics of one bacteria strain named as VPG which was isolated from multiple organs of a dead captive giant panda cub. Here, we use biochemical tests, 16S rRNA and gyrB genes for bacterial identification, the disk diffusion method for antibiotic resistance phenotype, smart chip real-time PCR for the antibiotic resistance genotype, multiplex PCR for determination of virulence genes, and the acute toxicity test in mice for testing the pathogenicity of isolates. The isolate was identified as A. veronii strain based on the biochemical properties and genetic analysis. We found that the strain carried 31 antibiotic resistance genes, revealed antimicrobial resistance phenotypically to several antibiotics including penicillin, ampicillin, oxacillin, amoxicillin, imipenem, and vancomycin, and carried virulence genes including aer, act, lip, exu, ser, luxs, and tapA. The main pathological changes in giant panda were congestion, necrotic lesions and a large number of bacteria in multiple organs. In addition, the LD50 in Kunming mice infected with strain VGP was 5.14 × 107 CFU/mL by intraperitoneal injection. Infection with strain VGP led to considerable histological lesions such as hemorrhage of internal organs, necrosis of lymphocytes and neurons in Kunming mice. Taken together, these results suggest that infection with strain VGP would be an important causes of death in this giant panda cub. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals that live in seasonal environments adjust their reproduction cycle to optimize seasonal forage quality. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are seasonal altitudinal migrants that feed on bamboo shoots and leaves with different nutritional quality. However, the importance of bamboo shoots to giant pandas, especially small and isolated populations, is not fully appreciated. Here, we explored whether mating time of giant pandas is shaped by bamboo shoot phenology. We also assessed the intensity of ongoing bamboo shoot harvesting by local communities in 42 giant panda reserves based on questionnaire surveys. Varying intensity and protection levels of bamboo shoot harvesting were found. From these data, we developed a priority ranking scheme of protection areas for this key food resource. Our study showed that pandas time their mating behavior to coincide with bamboo shoot phenology due to the high nutritional demands associated with mating and pregnancy. We also found that bamboo shoots were not well protected in many places. Liangshan, Daxiangling, and Xiaoxiangling, containing the most isolated panda populations, were identified as the areas with the most urgent need of protection. Furthermore, equal attention should be paid to the QiongL-B population, as this region holds considerable potential to serve as a corridor between the Minshan and Qionglai populations. To address the challenges posed by bamboo shoot harvesting, we recommend establishing more practical bamboo shoot management policies, increasing public awareness of bamboo shoot protection, and providing alternative sources of income for local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehending the population trend and understanding the distribution range dynamics of species are necessary for global species protection. Recognizing what causes dynamic distribution change is crucial for identifying species' environmental preferences and formulating protection policies. Here, we studied the rear-edge population of the flagship species, giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), to (1) assess their population trend using their distribution patterns, (2) evaluate their distribution dynamics change from the second (1988) to the third (2001) survey (2-3 Interval) and third to the fourth (2013) survey (3-4 Interval) using a machine learning algorithm (eXtremely Gradient Boosting), and (3) decode model results to identify driver factors in the first known use of SHapley Additive exPlanations. Our results showed that the population trends in Liangshan Mountains were worst in the second survey (k = 1.050), improved by the third survey (k = 0.97), but deteriorated by the fourth survey (k = 0.996), which indicates a worrying population future. We found that precipitation had the most significant influence on distribution dynamics among several potential environmental factors, showing a negative correlation between precipitation and giant panda expansion. We recommend that further research is needed to understand the microenvironment and animal distribution dynamics. We provide a fresh perspective on the dynamics of giant panda distribution, highlighting novel focal points for ecological research on this species. Our study offers theoretical underpinnings that could inform the formulation of more effective conservation policies. Also, we emphasize the uniqueness and importance of the Liangshan Mountains giant pandas as the rear-edge population, which is at a high risk of population extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 20% of aged captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) have cataracts that impair their quality of life. To identify potential biomarkers of cataract formation, we carried out a quantitative proteomics analysis of 10 giant pandas to find proteins differing in abundance between healthy and cataract-bearing animals. We identified almost 150 proteins exceeding our threshold for differential abundance, most of which were associated with GO categories related to extracellular localization. The most significant differential abundance was associated with components of the proteasome and other proteins with a role in proteolysis or its regulation, most of which were depleted in pandas with cataracts. Other modulated proteins included components of the extracellular matrix or cytoskeleton, as well as associated signaling proteins and regulators, but we did not find any differentially expressed transcription factors. These results indicate that the formation of cataracts involves a complex post-transcriptional network of signaling inside and outside lens cells to drive stress responses as a means to address the accumulation of protein aggregates triggered by oxidative damage. The modulated proteins also indicate that it should be possible to predict the onset of cataracts in captive pandas by taking blood samples and testing them for the presence or absence of specific protein markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Circadian clocks are evolutionarily adaptive internal clocks that regulate cycles of activity, behavior, and physiological processes. In this study, we used the circadian (24 h) and circannual (across the year) rhythms of behavior of 13 zoo-housed giant pandas to understand their needs and assess welfare. We found that they show changes in the pattern and intensity of behavior cycles based on their life stage and sex. Their circadian activity patterns showed three peaks, like wild giant pandas, including a night-time peak. We found specific cycles of feeding anticipatory activity, sexual-related behavior, and stereotypical/abnormal behavior, which align with the timing of migration in wild giant pandas, and we therefore suggest that this may be how thwarted migration manifests itself in captivity. We also determined the cycles of maternal behaviors, including nursing, and proximity for a mother and cub, providing context to the development of a circadian rhythm in a cub and information on the way a mammalian mother's circadian rhythm is disrupted during nursing. Overall, our study provides a holistic, evidence-based method that can be applied across captive environments so that staff can better understand the needs of their species and appropriately provide for them, promoting positive welfare and increasing the likelihood of successful breeding and conservation. Circadian and circannual cycles of behavior regulate many aspects of welfare including metabolism, breeding, and behavioral interactions. In this study, we aim to demonstrate how systematically determining circadian and circannual cycles can provide insight into animals' needs and be part of an evidence-based approach to welfare assessment. We measured and analyzed the observational behavioral data of 13 zoo-housed giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), across life stages and between sexes, each month for one year using live camera footage from six zoos across the world. Our results indicate that life stage was associated with changes in overall activity, feeding, locomotion, and pacing, and that sex influenced scent anointing and anogenital rubbing. Overall, the circadian rhythms showed three peaks of activity, including a nocturnal peak, as seen in wild giant pandas. We also found associations between sexual-related, stereotypical/abnormal, and feeding behavior, which are possibly linked to the timing of migration of wild pandas, and elucidated the relationship between a mother and cub, finding that they concentrate maternal behaviors to mainly after closing hours. Understanding these cycle patterns can aid animal care staff in predicting changing needs throughout the day, year, and life cycle and preemptively provide for those needs to best avoid welfare concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, China has embarked on a remarkable journey toward greater environmental sustainability, investing in a vast protected area system, ecocompensation programs, and a more protectionist regulatory framework. The result is a model program in the making, with progress and future prospects for China's environmental health that few could have foreseen a few short decades ago. Paralleling and sometimes preceding this environmental revolution, much of China's environmental attention focused on its "national treasure"—the giant panda. We explore developments, progress, and shortcomings in the emerging protections and environmental ethos alongside the rich history of giant panda conservation, culminating in the recent downlisting of the panda from Endangered to Vulnerable. We make the case that recent advancements in environmental progress, such as the development of a more harmonious relationship between humans and nature (termed ecocivilization) have been, in part, underpinned and inspired by efforts to conserve the panda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The host range of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is expanding and is a serious threat to both captive and free-range endangered wildlife. The FPV named FPV-am2020 was isolated from fecal samples from four diarrheal captive giant pandas in 2020, and pathogenicity and phylogenetic analysis were conducted in this study. Three-month-old cats challenged with FPV-am2020 experienced 100% mortality. The complete FPV-am2020 sequence was determined and comprised 5277 base pairs (bp), 36.76% GC content, and two open reading frames. According to the phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences and VP2 gene sequences, FPV-am2020 was closely related with MG764511.1 (isolated from captive lions in China, 2015), KX685354.1 (isolated from captive tigers in China, 2016), and KX900570.1 (isolated from captive jaguar in China, 1986). Furthermore, the study identified a G299E mutation in VP2 which was a key residue involved in phenotype changes in FPV. Thus, increased surveillance of FPV mutant isolates must be enacted to protect giant pandas against potential viral threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the completion of the draft assembly of the giant panda genome sequence, RNA sequencing technology has been widely used in genetic research on giant pandas. We used RNA‐seq to examine black and white hair follicle samples from adult pandas. By comparison with the giant panda genome, 75 963 SNP loci were labeled, 2426 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and 2029 new genes were discovered, among which 631 were functionally annotated. A cluster analysis of the DEGs showed that they were mainly related to the Wnt signaling pathway, ECM–receptor interaction, the p53 signaling pathway, and ribosome processing. The enrichment results showed that there were significant differences in the regulatory networks of hair follicles with different colors during the transitional stage of hair follicle resting growth, which may play a regulatory role in melanin synthesis during growth. In conclusion, our results provide new insights and more data support for research on the color formation in giant pandas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and the Chinese red panda (Ailurus styani) are distributed in the same region in the mountain forest ecosystem on the eastern edge of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau and share the same food sources. In order to understand how sympatric giant pandas and Chinese red pandas maintain interspecific relationships to achieve stable coexistence, we used species distribution models and diurnal activity rhythms to analyze the spatial and temporal niche characteristics of giant pandas and Chinese red pandas in the Daxiangling Mountain system based on 187 camera traps data. The results show that: (1) In the Daxiangling Mountains, the total area of suitable habitats for giant pandas and Chinese red pandas is 717.61 km2 and 730.00 km2, respectively, accounting for 17.78% and 18.25%, respectively, of the study area. (2) The top five environmental factors contributing to the model of giant panda and Chinese red panda are precipitation seasonality, temperature seasonality, distance to the road, and elevation and vegetation type. (3) The total overlapping area of suitable habitats for giant pandas and Chinese red pandas is 342.23 km2, of which the overlapping area of highly suitable habitats is 98.91 km2. The overlapping index of suitable habitats is 0.472, and the overlapping index of highly suitable habitats is 0.348, which indicates that the two achieve spatial niches are separated to achieve stable coexistence. (4) The overlapping index of the daily activity rhythm of giant panda and Chinese red panda is 0.87, which is significantly different (p <.05). The existence of Chinese red panda will significantly affect the daily activity rhythm of giant panda (p <.001). This research can provide scientific reference for the researches about population and habitat protection of giant pandas and Chinese red pandas, so as to understand the driving mechanism of resource allocation and population dynamics of sympatric species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads, acting as barriers, hamper wildlife movements and disrupt habitat connectivity. Bridges and culverts are common structures on roads, and some of them can function to allow wildlife passage. This study investigated the effects of traffic, the surrounding landscape, human disturbance, and bridge and culvert structures on the utilization of bridges and culverts as dedicated passages by wildlife, using motion-activated infrared camera traps along a 64 km road in Giant Panda National Park, Sichuan, China. The results show that both species richness and counts of wildlife recorded at the bridge and culvert were significantly lower than those observed at sites distant from roads. No large-sized wildlife was recorded at the bridges and culverts. Human activities and traffic volume significantly and negatively affect medium-sized wildlife utilization of bridges and culverts. We conclude that bridges and culverts serve as wildlife crossings, but their efficacy is weak. This emphasizes the necessity of retrofitting bridges and culverts via mitigation facilities such as noise and light barriers, and vegetation restoration on both sides of the roads in Giant Panda National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the fossil members of the giant panda subfamily of ursid carnivorans, Ailuropodinae, one group of species is of giant size, those of Indarctos. Indarctos species have some dental resemblances to and may be closely related to Agriotherium, although there are other clear differences between these taxa, and no known species has definitive shared derived traits that could link these two genera. Here we describe a rich suite of fossil material from both North America and eastern Asia, all belonging to a new genus, Huracan, which possesses characters shared with both Agriotherium and Indarctos but also has diagnostic autapomorphies. The new taxon was distributed widely in the Holarctic during the latest Miocene, including at least four species: the type species Huracan schneideri (previously Agriotherium schneideri) from the latest Hemphillian (Hh4) and possibly early Blancan North American Land Mammal "Ages" (NALMAs), North America; H. coffeyi from the early Late Hemphillian (Hh3) NALMA, North America; H. qiui, sp. nov., from the Baodean Asian Land Mammal "Age" (ALMA), northern China; and H. roblesi from the MN13 zone (latest Miocene–earliest Pliocene) of Spain. Huracan is the nearest sister taxon to Agriotherium, the latter herein considered to be an ailuropodine (in the tribe Agriotheriini) rather than a hemicyonid, and the common ancestor of both genera evolved from Indarctos (with resultant paraphyly of that taxon) or another Indarctos-like ailuropodine bear, likely in eastern Asia. The dentitions of Huracan and Agriotherium both are more specialised for carnivory than most Indarctos species, indicating a radiation of diverse ecological carnivores earlier in the history of the later-diverging, highly specialized herbivores in the giant panda lineage. Their postcranial morphology suggests that species in both genera (Huracan and Agriotherium) were more cursorial than species assigned to Indarctos, and thus well adapted to more open habitats. These derived traits may explain the worldwide replacement of Indarctos species by Huracan and Agriotherium species during the latest Miocene, in response to significant global cooling and expansion of C4 grasslands that occurred at that time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are only six isolated living giant panda populations, and a comprehensive understanding of their genetic health status is crucial for the conservation of this vulnerable species. Liangshan Mountains is one of the main distribution areas of living giant pandas and is outside the newly established Giant panda national park. In this study, 971 giant panda fecal samples were collected in the heartland of Liangshan Mountains (Mabian Dafengding Nature Reserve: MB; Meigu Dafengding Nature Reserve: MG; and Heizhugou Nature Reserve: HZG). Microsatellite markers and mitochondrial D‐loop sequences were used to estimate population size and genetic diversity. We identified 92 individuals (MB: 27, MG: 22, HZG: 43) from the three reserves. Our results showed that: (1) genetic diversity of three giant panda populations was moderate; (2) several loci deviated significantly from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and almost all these deviated loci showed significant heterozygote deficiencies and inbreeding; (3) three giant panda populations have substantial genetic differentiation with the most differentiation between MB and the two other populations; and (4) a large amount of giant panda feces outside the three reserves were found, implying the existence of protection gap. These results indicated that under stochastic events, the giant panda populations in Liangshan Mountains are at risk of genetic decline or extinction and urgent need of human management. This study revealed that high attention should be paid to the protection of these giant panda populations outside the Giant panda national park, to ensure their survival in their distribution areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the giant panda's extinction status is downgraded from endangered to vulnerable, but the animals still face an uphill battle for survival. Moreover, the number of giant pandas is also rare. With the increase of captive individuals, wild release has become an inevitable task that human face. It is important to evaluate at least how much giant pandas are remained for being released to the wild. Several methods have been presented in the literature to assess minimum viable population (MVP) of giant pandas. However, each of these methods is designed only based on population sizes. In this paper, a membrane computing model based on behavioral biology is proposed to evaluate the MVP of the species. An application of the proposed data processing to binary tree whose nodes are composed of population sizes is also proposed. An binary tree is generated by integrating the following three techniques: (a) a random technique to generate the vast majority of populations; (b) a modified binary search method to obtain an order population size sequence; (c) a modified inorder traversal to generate an order binary tree and a parent tree. This is the first attempt to apply membrane computing model to assess the MVP of giant pandas. The effectiveness of the presented general PDP system is verified by means of the numbers or amounts of subpopulations. Besides, we also provide the population distribution of the obtained MVP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly endangered giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is the world's most widely recognised conservation icon. Population dynamics models can get on track to a healthy population for giant pandas, and assess its development over time. This paper proposes a new way to study population dynamics of giant pandas in captivity by means of membrane computing, a bio-inspired computational paradigm based on processing multisets of objects within a cell structure, following a series of evolution rules. This framework is used to model the intrinsically stochastic real-life evolution processes of giant pandas, based on pedigree data. This is the first attempt to collect and analyse so complete source, and to investigate population dynamics of giant pandas based on them. Pedigree data consisting of the number of giant panda individuals per age are provided by Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding of China. A special simulator has been developed to assist in the design and formal verification of the mathematical model presented. Particularly, the model feasibility, effectiveness, soundness and robustness have been validated by the simulator, which also enables decision-making based on the simulation results of conducted virtual experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda, currently restricted to a small region of central China, was once widely dispersed throughout southern China and even some parts of continental Southeast Asia during the Pleistocene epoch. However, the evolutionary process and intraspecific variation remain poorly understood in light of limited fossil records, which are usually isolated teeth and a few fragmentary skulls and mandibles. Here we report three skulls, two of which are nearly complete, of Ailuropoda melanoleuca baconi from Yanjinggou in China, which represent the best-preserved skull material ever recorded for this paleosubspecies. A. m. baconi, characterized by a large and robust body, extremely developed zygomatic arches, a moderately developed sagittal crest, and a medium-rough external surface of the supraoccipital, exoccipital, and ascending ramus compared with Ailuropoda microta and other paleosubspecies and living subspecies of A. melanoleuca, can be regarded as a valid paleosubspecies. Ailuropoda fovealis or Ailuropoda melanoleuca fovealis turns out to be a synonym of A. m. baconi. The intraspecific variation of A. m. baconi is far more complicated than generally accepted. Based on comparisons with A. microta, A. m. wulingshanensis, and modern Ailuropoda melanoleuca, we propose that the evolutionary tendency of the skull appears to be much clearer than that of the teeth and that the increase in body size and the enhancement of the masticatory system can be deemed as the main evolutionary changes in this part of the Ailuropoda lineage. Meanwhile, our study for the first time provides a numerical age (ca. 0.35–0.26 Ma) for the Yanjinggou fauna, which is generally considered as a mixture of the middle Early Pleistocene fauna and the Mid-Late Pleistocene fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the precarity of tourism in viral pandemic times through an analysis of animal-human relations in China's panda and valley tourism at Dajiuzhai. Drawing on a tour to Dajiuzhai to see giant pandas and the valleys of Jiuzhai, which was disrupted midway by increased viral infections, we trace ethnographically how disruptions in tourism emerge in the micro-setting of a single viral-hit tour and highlight the roles of natural agents, pandas, valleys and virus play, alongside humans in tourism's fluid assemblages. Desire/wish to encounter pandas motivated the formation of a fluid constellation of tourism objects, species and humans, which was aligned towards the goal of a stable tourism experience but persistently disturbed. Animal-human relation-based tourism assemblage at Dajiuzhai was found to be a fluid spatiality that coped with Covid-19 disruptions through responses at attractions involving health checks and declarations but remained precarious despite its transformational potentialities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical function of animal movement is to maximize access to essential resources in temporally fluctuating and spatially heterogeneous environments. Seasonally mediated resource fluctuations may influence animal movements, enabling them to track changing resource distributions, resulting in annual migration patterns. The conservation-dependent giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) displays seasonal movement patterns; however, the key factor driving these seasonal migration patterns remains poorly understood. Here, we used GPS tracking collars to monitor the movements of six giant pandas over a 12-year period across different elevations, and performed statistical analysis of seasonal migration directions, routes, habitat revisitation, home range overlap, first arrival events, and stability. Our results revealed a compelling pattern of seasonal migrations that facilitated the ability of the pandas to forage at the appropriate time and place to maximize nutritional intake. Our results indicated that pandas utilize spatial memory to locate reliable food resources, as evidenced by their annual return to the same or similar winter and summer home ranges and the consistently maintained percentage of home range overlap. These novel insights into giant panda foraging and movement ecology not only enhance our understanding of its ability to adapt to nutritionally poor dietary resources but also provide important information for the development of resource utilization-based protection and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Understanding the relationship that tourists have with the giant panda can be taken-for-granted given this species' iconic status and cuteness. Based on a self-reporting questionnaire, we found that Chinese "fans" of giant pandas generally paid greater attention to the welfare of the captive pandas in comparison to "non-fans". Additionally, fans tend to perceive the welfare of captive pandas more positively, who tend to believe that giant pandas offer more prominent consent to being used as tourist attractions. This study provides new insight into an understanding of the human–panda connection. The ubiquitous love we have for pandas can translate into a better life for these animals down the road. Scholars argue that the ubiquity of the "virtual panda"—the panda people meet in zoos and consume as souvenirs, online memes, or videos—exists in a state of hybridity between wild and domesticated. The species has garnered a significant amount of attention because of their iconic status and because of how cute they are to an adoring crowd. However, given the degree of regard tourists have for the panda, there is a dearth of research on different types of visitors to captive panda venues. In filling this gap, we investigated (1) how deeply Chinese "fans" and "non-fans" consider the welfare of captive giant pandas, and (2) if these groups differ in their assessment of whether giant pandas consent to being used as tourist attractions. In both aims, we apply a recent model on animal welfare and animal consent to giant pandas of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is inevitable to change the function or expression of genes during the environmental adaption of species. Both the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and red panda (Ailurus fulgens) belong to Carnivora and have developed similar adaptations to the same dietary switch to bamboos at the morphological and genomic levels. However, the genetic adaptation at the gene expression level is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to examine the gene expression patterns of giant and red panda convergent specialized bamboo-diets. We examined differences in liver and pancreas transcriptomes between the two panda species and other non-herbivorous species. Results: The clustering and PCA plots suggested that the specialized bamboo diet may drive similar expression shifts in these two species of pandas. Therefore, we focused on shared liver and pancreas DEGs (differentially expressed genes) in the giant and red panda relative to other non-herbivorous species. Genetic convergence occurred at multiple levels spanning carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and lysine degradation. The shared adaptive convergence DEGs in both organs probably be an evolutionary response to the high carbohydrate, low lipid and lysine bamboo diet. Convergent expression of those nutrient metabolism-related genes in both pandas was an intricate process and subjected to multi-level regulation, including DNA methylation and transcription factor. A large number of lysine degradation and lipid metabolism related genes were hypermethylated in promoter regions in the red panda. Most genes related to carbohydrate metabolism had reduced DNA methylation with increased mRNA expression in giant pandas. Unlike the red panda, the core gene of the lysine degradation pathway (AASS) doesn't exhibit hypermethylation modification in the giant panda, and dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that transcription factor, NR3C1, functions as a transcriptional activator in AASS transcription through the binding to AASS promoter region. Conclusions: Our results revealed the adaptive expressions and regulations of the metabolism-related genes responding to the unique nutrients in bamboo food and provided data accumulation and research hints for the future revelation of complex mechanism of two pandas underlying convergent adaptation to a specialized bamboo diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals living in captivity and the wild show differences in the internal structure of their gut microbiomes. Here, we performed a meta‐analysis of the microbial data of about 494 fecal samples obtained from giant pandas (captive and wild giant pandas). Our results show that the modular structures and topological features of the captive giant panda gut microbiome differ from those of the wild populations. The co‐occurrence network of wild giant pandas also contained more nodes and edges, indicating a higher complexity and stability compared to that of captive giant pandas. Keystone species analysis revealed the differences between geographically different wild populations, indicating the potential effect of geography on the internal modular structure. When combining all the giant panda samples for module analysis, we found that the abundant taxa (e.g., belonged to Flavobacterium, Herbaspirillum, and Escherichia‐Shigella) usually acted as module hubs to stabilize the modular structure, while the rare taxa usually acted as connectors of different modules. We conclude that abundant and rare taxa play different roles in the gut bacterial ecosystem. The conservation of some key bacterial species is essential for promoting the development of the gut microbiome in pandas. The living environment of the giant pandas can influence the internal structure, topological features, and strength of interrelationships in the gut microbiome. This study provides new insights into the conservation and management of giant panda populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Giant pandas are key protected animals in China. Baylisascaris schroederi, a parasitic nematode, is one of the main health risks threatening them. We used four anthelmintics—pyrantel pamoate (PYR), mebendazole (MBZ), albendazole (ABZ), and ivermectin (IVM)—on 22 enrolled giant pandas. The fecal egg count reduction (FECR) proportions were calculated using both the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Bayesian mathematical model and the arithmetic mean based on fecal egg count data. Anthelmintic resistance (AR) was assessed based on the criteria recommended by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP). We found that the nematode was suspected to be resistant to PYR. The number of eggs per gram in the feces of giant panda enrolled in the present study was increased near the end of the experiment. Baylisascaris schroederi is one of the main health risks threatening both wild and captive giant pandas. The administration of anthelmintics is a common method to effectively control B. schroederi infection, but there is a notable risk of anthelmintic resistance (AR) after long-term, constant use of anthelmintics. Four anthelmintics—pyrantel pamoate (PYR), mebendazole (MBZ), albendazole (ABZ), and ivermectin (IVM)—were each administered separately at intervals of 2 months to 22 enrolled giant pandas. The fecal egg count reduction (FECR) proportions were calculated by both the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Bayesian mathematical model and the arithmetic mean. AR was assessed based on the criteria recommended by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP). The estimated prevalence of B. schroederi infection was 34.1%. After treatment with PYR, MBZ, ABZ, and IVM, it was determined that MBZ, ABZ, and IVM were efficacious against B. schroederi, while nematodes were suspected to be resistant to PYR according to the fecal egg count reduction (FECR) proportions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant Panda National Park is crucial for China's ecological security strategic pattern known as "two screens and three belts." The importance assessment and classification of ecosystem services in giant panda national parks has an important guiding role in the protection of giant panda national park ecosystems. In this study, we examined four indicators of habitat quality: carbon storage, water conservation, and soil and water conservation. Combined with data analysis were used to evaluate and classify the importance of ecosystem services in the study area. The results showed that: (1) the overall habitat quality index in the study area was relatively high, and the index was generally greater than 0.5. The total carbon storage was 60.5 × 106 t, and the highest carbon storage in the region was 16.9533 t. The area with the highest water conservation reached 715.275 mm. The total soil conservation was 2555.7 × 107 t. (2) From the perspective of spatial characteristics, the habitat quality in the study area presented a spatial distribution pattern of high–low from west to east. The carbon storage presented a spatial distribution pattern of high–low from east to west. The soil conservation presented a spatial pattern of decreasing from west to east, and the water conservation increased from west to east. (3) We divided the research into four levels of importance: The area of general importance in the study site accounted for 1017.58 km2 and was distributed in the northwest of the study site. The moderately important areas were distributed in the east of the study site, with an area of 1142.40 km2. The highly important areas were distributed in the west of the study site, totaling 2647.84 km2. Extremely important areas were distributed in the middle, with an area of 1451.32 km2. (4) The grid cell scale of the study area was used as the dataset to determine the weighting. This makes the weighting more objective and ensures that the spatial distribution of areas with different degrees of importance will be more accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Escherichia coli (E. coli) carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence-associated genes (VAGs), which are considered as emerging environmental pollutants, undoubtedly causes adverse health effects on humans and animals. With the implementation of the Wild Release Plan of captive giant pandas, antibiotic-resistant E. coli carrying ARGs/VAGs in giant pandas' feces that are discharged into the environment may become pollutants for nature. To evaluate the potential threat of E. coli strains from captive giant pandas, we analyzed the distribution and the association of ARGs and VAGs in antibiotic-resistant E. coli. Our results revealed a high prevalence of ARGs and a significant positive association among ARGs and VAGs, suggesting that the continuous monitoring of the impact of the spread of antibiotic-resistant E. coli (carried various ARGs and VAGs) is needed in future studies. Recent studies showed that Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains isolated from captive giant pandas have serious resistance to antibiotics and carry various antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). ARGs or virulence-associated genes (VAGs) carried by antibiotic-resistant E. coli are considered as a potential health threat to giant pandas, humans, other animals and the environment. In this study, we screened ARGs and VAGs in 84 antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains isolated from clinically healthy captive giant pandas, identified the association between ARGs and VAGs and analyzed the phylogenetic clustering of E. coli isolates. Our results showed that the most prevalent ARG in E. coli strains isolated from giant pandas is blaTEM (100.00%, 84/84), while the most prevalent VAG is fimC (91.67%, 77/84). There was a significant positive association among 30 pairs of ARGs, of which the strongest was observed for sul1/tetC (OR, 133.33). A significant positive association was demonstrated among 14 pairs of VAGs, and the strongest was observed for fyuA/iroN (OR, 294.40). A positive association was also observed among 45 pairs of ARGs and VAGs, of which the strongest was sul1/eaeA (OR, 23.06). The association of ARGs and mobile gene elements (MGEs) was further analyzed, and the strongest was found for flor and intI1 (OR, 79.86). The result of phylogenetic clustering showed that the most prevalent group was group B2 (67.86%, 57/84), followed by group A (16.67%, 14/84), group D (9.52%, 8/84) and group B1 (5.95%, 5/84). This study implied that antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolated from captive giant pandas is a reservoir of ARGs and VAGs, and significant associations exist among ARGs, VAGs and MGEs. Monitoring ARGs, VAGs and MGEs carried by E. coli from giant pandas is beneficial for controlling the development of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aesthetics of natural landscapes and the conservation of forest ecological integrity have received much attention because of the increasing public demand for aesthetic quality and the shift of forest conservation management objectives from single elements to multiple ecosystem services. However, existing research has not adequately addressed the relationship between forest scenic beauty with the color index and ecological integrity. This study aimed to evaluate and quantify the scenic beauty of forests and the vegetation color index using web questionnaires and Python color interpretation, with Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage and Giant Panda National Park in western Sichuan, China, as examples. The relationships between forest scenic beauty with vegetation color and ecological integrity were explored via correlation and linear regression analyses, respectively. The results showed that: (1) The overall scenic beauty of the autumn forests in the study area was at a "medium" level; (2) the scenic beauty of the autumn forest was significantly positively correlated with the saturation and value ratio; and (3) the scenic beauty was not significantly negatively correlated with ecological integrity. This research provides an important reference for the renovation of autumn foliage forests and ecotourism planning. This study also provides a theoretical basis for the transformation of forest conservation management objectives, offering the possibility for nature reserves to achieve the "win-win" management goal of ecological protection and local economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat fragmentation threatens the survival of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca); hence, it is vital to protect its habitat. However, a lack of detailed understanding of different functional habitats and their relationships restricts the protective effect. To reveal the relationship between different functional habitats, we distinguished and investigated giant pandas' resting and path sites and evaluated the suitability patterns and overlap of resting and path habitats in the Wanglang Nature Reserve using MAXENT and overlay methods. A total of 28 resting sites and 30 path sites were used in this study. The results showed that the areas of suitable resting and path habitats were 42.03 km2 and 28.52 km2, respectively, and were fragmented due to the existence of roads. A total of 27.81 km2 of suitable habitat overlapped, indicating many areas have the dual attributes of suitable resting and path habitats for giant pandas. There were almost no suitable resting and path habitats within 200 m and 300 m from roads, respectively. Therefore, measures should be taken to restore the unsuitable habitats distributed in the roadside area and connect the fragmented habitat patches. The indicators and methods used in this study can be considered in studying different functional giant panda habitats and their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) has long attracted the attention of conservationists as a flagship and umbrella species. Collecting attribute information on the age structure and sex ratio of the wild giant panda populations can support our understanding of their status and the design of more effective conservation schemes. In view of the shortcomings of traditional methods, which cannot automatically recognize the age and sex of giant pandas, we designed a SENet (Squeeze-and-Excitation Network)-based model to automatically recognize the attributes of giant pandas from their vocalizations. We focused on the recognition of age groups (juvenile and adult) and sex of giant pandas. The reason for using vocalizations is that among the modes of animal communication, sound has the advantages of long transmission distances, strong penetrating power, and rich information. We collected a dataset of calls from 28 captive giant panda individuals, with a total duration of 1298.02 s of recordings. We used MFCC (Mel-frequency Cepstral Coefficients), which is an acoustic feature, as inputs for the SENet. Considering that small datasets are not conducive to convergence in the training process, we increased the size of the training data via SpecAugment. In addition, we used focal loss to reduce the impact of data imbalance. Our results showed that the F1 scores of our method for recognizing age group and sex reached 96.46% ± 5.71% and 85.85% ± 7.99%, respectively, demonstrating that the automatic recognition of giant panda attributes based on their vocalizations is feasible and effective. This more convenient, quick, timesaving, and laborsaving attribute recognition method can be used in the investigation of wild giant pandas in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the most endangered species in the world. Climate change and susceptibility to disease are two of the greatest threats to this species. We performed a necropsy and histopathological examination of the organs of an old panda and investigated the pathogenesis associated with death. Necropsy and histopathological observation revealed some typical age-related lesions, such as cataract, atherosclerosis, renal insufficiency and splenic atrophy. We also confirmed hepatic lesions associated with parasitic infection. Overall, our observations revealed that the predominant cause of mortality in this panda was multiple organ dysfunction (MOD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a relic species in China and a flagship species in the field of endangered wildlife conservation. The conservation of the giant panda's habitat has gained widespread attention for this reason. Historically, Chinese Giant Panda Nature Reserves are surrounded by communities and the resource utilization behavior of households disturbs the giant panda habitat. Changes in these communities and in Giant Panda Nature Reserves began around 2010, with the feminization and aging of the farm labor force. These changes brought different resource utilization behaviors that led to different evolutionary tendencies in giant panda habitats. This research study assesses the impact of these tendencies based on data from the fourth survey of the giant panda in the Sichuan Province and from geographic information data. The paper aims to uncover the internal mechanisms of farmers' resource utilization behavior in terms of the changes wrought to giant panda habitats. The paper simulates the future habitat of the giant panda based on the LUCC (land use/cover change) model to identify anticipated changes in future landscape patterns and the habitat quality of giant pandas under the current scenarios. The paper analyzes the spatial-temporal change of landscape patterns through the land use transfer matrix, based on the Markov model. The results of the scenario analyses illustrate the spatial and temporal difference in habitat quality. The driving mechanism for landscape pattern change is explored using the logistic regression model. The paper simulates the variation tendency of giant panda habitats under differential labor force structures and resource utilization behavior based on the CA (cellular automata) model, with the robustness of the results verified by participatory experiment. Through four scenarios of simulated farm labor force structure and resource utilization behavior, results suggest that the quality of giant panda habitats in the future will be relatively high when workforce feminization and aging is intense and resource utilization behavior is weakened. The simulated results confirm that the current agricultural labor force structure can reduce the intensity of resource utilization behavior. In this scenario, disturbance to giant panda habitats would decrease and their quality would improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]