The Experts below are selected from a list of 2295 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Zejun Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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disturbance control can effectively restore the habitat of the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Biological Conservation, 2019Co-Authors: Hong Zhou, Zejun Zhang, Xiaodong Gu, Xuyu Yang, Mingsheng Hong, Wen ZhangAbstract:Abstract Expanding human disturbances on a global scale are encroaching upon wildlife habitat. Management of human–wildlife conflict is an important issue in biodiversity conservation. Conservation decisions are supported by information on how many habitats could be recovered by controlling human disturbances, yet it has rarely been quantitatively studied. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are still confronted with threats of human disturbance even though populations have been restored in recent decades. In this study, the impact of four types of human disturbance, including livestock, infrastructure, farming and other disturbances were assessed based on a dataset that covers 75% of total giant panda population. Five scenarios where disturbances are controlled were used to evaluate the habitat area that can be restored by controlling disturbance. Results revealed that 2102 km2 of suitable habitat can be restored if all these disturbances were completely controlled. Controlling livestock alone can restore up to 830 km2 of habitat, much more than controlling farming or infrastructure. Controlling infrastructure restored more habitat than the other disturbances in the Daxiangling and Qionglai Mountains. Moreover, in the Minshan Mountains, controlling agriculture resulted in the most habitat restoration. It appears, the reserves system does work in controlling the three types of human disturbance, however, more control is needed over human disturbances in order to restore wildlife habitat outside of the reserves. These results not only calculate how much giant panda habitat can be restored by controlling disturbance, but also provide insights for other species habitat management.
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habitat utilization and release site fidelity of translocated captive bred giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Folia Zoologica, 2019Co-Authors: Biao Yang, Zejun Zhang, Ke He, Jing Qing, Kan Zhang, Bo Tang, Zhisong Yang, Xiaodong Gu, Xuyu Yang, Yan HuangAbstract:The behavioural adaptation (movement and habitat utilization) of translocated organisms to a new environment after their release is crucial in translocation programs because it may affect survival. Therefore, identifying the factors determining habitat selection by the relocated animals is essential to improving the planning and the outcome of such programs. Using the data from three relocated giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), we studied the habitat utilization, release-site fidelity, and interaction with resident giant pandas. The results showed that the quality of habitat used by the relocated giant pandas was significantly higher than the average habitat quality of the research region, and was significantly lower than that used by resident giant pandas. This suggested that the released three giant pandas had habitat selection abilities. The three released giant pandas gradually moved away from their release sites and did not exhibit site fidelity. In the first six months, the giant pandas stayed within about 3 km of their release sites, where habitat was good quality but overlapped with the distribution of resident giant pandas. The overlap of location between released and resident giant pandas decreased after six months when the released giant pandas moved away from their release sites.
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reproductive competition and fecal testosterone in wild male giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2012Co-Authors: Ronald R Swaisgood, Zejun ZhangAbstract:The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is notoriously difficult to study in the wild, but its interesting reproductive ecology makes the effort worthwhile. Perhaps more than most species, the panda is energy-limited, which alters the cost/benefit analysis of its reproductive ecology. Using global positioning system/very high frequency radiocollars to locate mating aggregations, we used behavioral observations and fecal testosterone assays to gain insight into male panda reproductive effort and strategies, and test theories relating to reproductive competition. Male pandas initially competed fiercely for access to females that were about to be fertile, but once male competitive status was determined, aggression rates declined. Contact aggression was only observed during the first 2 days of mating aggregations; thereafter, it was replaced with noncontact aggression and avoidance. Agonistic interactions were highly asymmetrical, with contest losers (subordinates) showing less aggression and more avoidance than contest winners (dominants), both before and after contest outcome was established. The competitively superior male displayed mate-guarding tactics and secured all observed copulations. Contrary to theoretical predictions, testosterone levels did not predict aggression levels or contest winners and also were not affected by winning or losing a contest. Body size appeared to be the primary determinant of contest outcome. We discuss our findings in light of theoretical predictions, such as those arising from the “challenge hypothesis,” in the context of the giant panda’s foraging and nutritional ecology.
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Can science save the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)? Unifying science and policy in an adaptive management paradigm.
Integrative Zoology, 2011Co-Authors: Ronald R Swaisgood, William J Mcshea, David E Wildt, Andrew J Kouba, Zejun ZhangAbstract:The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca David, 1869) is an iconic species for global conservation, yet field research has only recently advanced to the point where adaptive management is possible. Here, we review recent developments in giant panda conservation science and propose a strategic plan for moving panda conservation forward. Because of scientific, funding, political, and logistical hurdles, few endangered species management programs have embraced adaptive management, wherein management decisions are shaped iteratively by targeted scientific research. Specific threats, such as habitat destruction, anthropogenic disturbance and fragmented nonviable populations, need to be addressed simultaneously by researchers, managers and policy-makers working in concert to understand and overcome these obstacles to species recovery. With the backing of the Chinese Government and the conservation community, the giant panda can become a high-profile test species for this much touted, but rarely implemented, approach to conservation management.
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can science save the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca unifying science and policy in an adaptive management paradigm
Integrative Zoology, 2011Co-Authors: Ronald R Swaisgood, William J Mcshea, David E Wildt, Andrew J Kouba, Zejun ZhangAbstract:The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca David, 1869) is an iconic species for global conservation, yet field research has only recently advanced to the point where adaptive management is possible. Here, we review recent developments in giant panda conservation science and propose a strategic plan for moving panda conservation forward. Because of scientific, funding, political, and logistical hurdles, few endangered species management programs have embraced adaptive management, wherein management decisions are shaped iteratively by targeted scientific research. Specific threats, such as habitat destruction, anthropogenic disturbance and fragmented nonviable populations, need to be addressed simultaneously by researchers, managers and policy-makers working in concert to understand and overcome these obstacles to species recovery. With the backing of the Chinese Government and the conservation community, the giant panda can become a high-profile test species for this much touted, but rarely implemented, approach to conservation management.
Hemin Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Status and prognosis of genetic diversity in captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in Wolong
2020Co-Authors: Yan Huang, Hemin Zhang, Pengyan Wang, Baowei Zhang, Shanning Zhang, Ming LiAbstract:The evolutionary potential of a species is determined by its genetic diversity.Thus,management plans should integrate genetic concerns into active conservation efforts.The giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)is an endangered species,endemic to China.Previous studies have focused primarily on genetic diversity among wild giant pandas.We compared genetic diversity of captive with wild giant pandas by obtaining 27 blood samples from pandas held at the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Pandas with 39 samples (feces and skin) collected from the wild. We quantified genetic diversity in each sample using 8 microsatellite loci. Genetic diversity of captive pandas was lower (A=5.5, He=0.620, Ho=0.574) than in wild pandas (A=9.8, He=0.779, Ho=0.581), but was higher than that of other 7 endangered species (He=0.13-0.46). Simulations showed that the average number of alleles would increase by only 0.4 within 100 generations with a doubling of population size. Thus, we suggest that the management strategy for the captive giant panda population should develop effective reproductive plans so as to avoid inbreeding.
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NORMAL VAGINAL BACTERIAL FLORA OF GIANT PANDAS (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) AND THE ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS OF THE ISOLATES.
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, 2020Co-Authors: Xin Yang, Hemin Zhang, Desheng Li, Pengyan Wang, Caiwu Li, Jiang Yang, Hongning Wang, Yongguo He, Yuesong XuAbstract:To study the typical vaginal bacterial flora of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), we took vaginal swabs for the sake of bacterial isolation, from 24 healthy female giant pandas. A total of 203 isolates were identified, representing a total of 17 bacterial species. The most common bacteria isolated were Lactobacillus spp. (54.2%, 13/24), followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (41.7%, 10/24) and Escherichia coli (33.3%, 8/24). Some opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, such as Peptostreptococcus spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Proteus mirabilis , were also isolated but showed no pathology. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of aerobic bacterial isolates was performed with the disk diffusion method. Of the 152 isolates, resistance was most frequently observed with chloramphenicol (17.8%), followed by tetracycline (14.5%), ciprofloxacin (12.5%), streptomycin (11.8%), and florfenicol (11.8%), whereas 7.2% were multidrug resistant. This is the first report of the normal culturable vaginal bacterial flora of giant pandas and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates.
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Sequence analysis of the ATP synthase of subunits (ATP8 and ATP6) genes of mitochondrial DNA genome from Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 2018Co-Authors: Yaodong Hu, Hui-zhong Pang, Shan-shan Ling, Hemin Zhang, Diyan Li, Desheng Li, Chengdong WangAbstract:AbstractTo explore the effects of the mutations of ATP6 and ATP8 genes on energy metabolism and genetic structure, we sequenced the ATP6 and ATP8 genes of Ailuropoda melanoleuca. Our results showed...
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HEMATOLOGY, SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY, AND URINALYSIS VALUES IN THE ADULT GIANT PANDA ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 2017Co-Authors: Caitlin Burrell, Hemin Zhang, Desheng Li, Chengdong Wang, Caiwu Li, Copper Aitken-palmerAbstract:Abstract The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a high-profile threatened species with individuals in captivity worldwide. As a result of advances in captive animal management and veterinary medicine, the ex situ giant panda population is aging, and improved understanding of age-related changes is necessary. Urine and blood samples were collected in April and July 2015 and analyzed for complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and biochemical and microscopic urine analysis for all individuals sampled (n = 7, 7–16 yr of age) from giant panda housed at the China Research and Conservation Centre for the Giant Panda in Bifengxia, Sichuan Province, China. Hematology and serum biochemistry values were similar to those previously reported for giant panda aged 2–20 yr and to Species360 (formerly International Species Information System) values. Urine was overall dilute (urine specific gravity range: 1.001–1.021), acellular, and acidic (pH range: 6–7). This is the first report of hematologic and serum biochem...
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normal vaginal bacterial flora of giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 2016Co-Authors: Xin Yang, Hemin Zhang, Desheng Li, Pengyan Wang, Caiwu Li, Jiang Yang, Hongning Wang, Yongguo He, Yuesong Xu, Changwen XuAbstract:Abstract To study the typical vaginal bacterial flora of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), we took vaginal swabs for the sake of bacterial isolation, from 24 healthy female giant pandas. A total of 203 isolates were identified, representing a total of 17 bacterial species. The most common bacteria isolated were Lactobacillus spp. (54.2%, 13/24), followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (41.7%, 10/24) and Escherichia coli (33.3%, 8/24). Some opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, such as Peptostreptococcus spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis, were also isolated but showed no pathology. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of aerobic bacterial isolates was performed with the disk diffusion method. Of the 152 isolates, resistance was most frequently observed with chloramphenicol (17.8%), followed by tetracycline (14.5%), ciprofloxacin (12.5%), streptomycin (11.8%), and florfenicol (11.8%), whereas 7.2% were multidrug resistant. This is the first report of the normal culturable vaginal bacterial...
Ronald R Swaisgood - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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reproductive competition and fecal testosterone in wild male giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2012Co-Authors: Ronald R Swaisgood, Zejun ZhangAbstract:The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is notoriously difficult to study in the wild, but its interesting reproductive ecology makes the effort worthwhile. Perhaps more than most species, the panda is energy-limited, which alters the cost/benefit analysis of its reproductive ecology. Using global positioning system/very high frequency radiocollars to locate mating aggregations, we used behavioral observations and fecal testosterone assays to gain insight into male panda reproductive effort and strategies, and test theories relating to reproductive competition. Male pandas initially competed fiercely for access to females that were about to be fertile, but once male competitive status was determined, aggression rates declined. Contact aggression was only observed during the first 2 days of mating aggregations; thereafter, it was replaced with noncontact aggression and avoidance. Agonistic interactions were highly asymmetrical, with contest losers (subordinates) showing less aggression and more avoidance than contest winners (dominants), both before and after contest outcome was established. The competitively superior male displayed mate-guarding tactics and secured all observed copulations. Contrary to theoretical predictions, testosterone levels did not predict aggression levels or contest winners and also were not affected by winning or losing a contest. Body size appeared to be the primary determinant of contest outcome. We discuss our findings in light of theoretical predictions, such as those arising from the “challenge hypothesis,” in the context of the giant panda’s foraging and nutritional ecology.
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Can science save the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)? Unifying science and policy in an adaptive management paradigm.
Integrative Zoology, 2011Co-Authors: Ronald R Swaisgood, William J Mcshea, David E Wildt, Andrew J Kouba, Zejun ZhangAbstract:The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca David, 1869) is an iconic species for global conservation, yet field research has only recently advanced to the point where adaptive management is possible. Here, we review recent developments in giant panda conservation science and propose a strategic plan for moving panda conservation forward. Because of scientific, funding, political, and logistical hurdles, few endangered species management programs have embraced adaptive management, wherein management decisions are shaped iteratively by targeted scientific research. Specific threats, such as habitat destruction, anthropogenic disturbance and fragmented nonviable populations, need to be addressed simultaneously by researchers, managers and policy-makers working in concert to understand and overcome these obstacles to species recovery. With the backing of the Chinese Government and the conservation community, the giant panda can become a high-profile test species for this much touted, but rarely implemented, approach to conservation management.
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can science save the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca unifying science and policy in an adaptive management paradigm
Integrative Zoology, 2011Co-Authors: Ronald R Swaisgood, William J Mcshea, David E Wildt, Andrew J Kouba, Zejun ZhangAbstract:The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca David, 1869) is an iconic species for global conservation, yet field research has only recently advanced to the point where adaptive management is possible. Here, we review recent developments in giant panda conservation science and propose a strategic plan for moving panda conservation forward. Because of scientific, funding, political, and logistical hurdles, few endangered species management programs have embraced adaptive management, wherein management decisions are shaped iteratively by targeted scientific research. Specific threats, such as habitat destruction, anthropogenic disturbance and fragmented nonviable populations, need to be addressed simultaneously by researchers, managers and policy-makers working in concert to understand and overcome these obstacles to species recovery. With the backing of the Chinese Government and the conservation community, the giant panda can become a high-profile test species for this much touted, but rarely implemented, approach to conservation management.
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vocal discrimination of potential mates by female giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Biology Letters, 2009Co-Authors: Benjamin D. Charlton, Yan Huang, Ronald R SwaisgoodAbstract:In the current study, we used male giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) bleats in a habituation–discrimination paradigm to determine whether females discriminate between the vocalizations of different males. We found that females habituated to the bleats of a specific male showed a significant dishabituation when they were presented with bleats from a novel male. Further playbacks, in which we standardized the mean fundamental frequency (pitch) and amplitude modulation of male bleats, indicated that amplitude modulation is the key feature that females attend to when discriminating between male callers. Our results show that female giant pandas can discriminate between the vocalizations of potential mates and provide a platform for further studies investigating the functional role of caller identity in giant panda sexual communication
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discrimination of oestrous status in giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca via chemical cues in urine
Journal of Zoology, 2002Co-Authors: Ronald R Swaisgood, Donald G Lindburg, Hemin ZhangAbstract:Giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca are a solitary, seasonally mono-oestrous species, and as such are likely to rely heavily on chemical signals to co-ordinate mating efforts. Perhaps the most crucial chemosensory task facing male pandas is the assessment of female reproductive condition on the basis of chemical cues. To test for this ability, eight male and 10 female giant pandas were presented with urine from oestrous and non-oestrous females. Males but not females displayed a significant investigatory preference for oestrous over non-oestrous female urine, as indicated by sniffing and flehmen. Males also investigated, displayed flehmen, and licked female urine more than did females. These findings indicate that female urine contains chemical cues permitting discrimination of oestrous status, and probably serves a reproductive advertisement function. The prevalence of flehmen and licking by males suggests that males may rely on the vomeronasal organ to assess female reproductive condition. Female odours may play an important role in the reproductive behaviour of male giant pandas and, therefore, may have implications for captive-breeding programmes.
Zhihe Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a novel polyomavirus from the nasal cavity of a giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Virology Journal, 2017Co-Authors: Zhihe Zhang, Dunwu Qi, Tongling Shan, Xutao Deng, Wenlei Bi, Jacob R Owens, Feifei Feng, Lisong Zheng, Feng HuangAbstract:Polyomaviruses infect a wide variety of mammalian and avian hosts with a broad spectrum of outcomes including asymptomatic infection, acute systemic disease, and tumor induction. Viral metagenomics and general PCR methods were used to detected viral nucleic acid in the samples from a diseased and healthy giant pandas. A novel polyomavirus, the giant panda polyomavirus 1 (GPPyV1) from the nasal cavity of a dead giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) was characterized. The GPPyV1 genome is 5144 bp in size and reveals five putative open-reading frames coding for the classic small and large T antigens in the early region, and the VP1, VP2 and VP3 capsid proteins in the late region. Phylogenetic analyses of the large T antigen of the GPPyV1 indicated GPPyV1 belonged to a putative new species within genus Deltapolyomavirus, clustering with four human polyomavirus species. The GPPyV1 VP1 and VP2 clustered with genus Alphapolyomavirus. Our epidemiologic study indicated that this novel polyomavirus was also detected in nasal swabs and fecal samples collected from captive healthy giant pandas. A novel polyomavirus was detected in giant pandas and its complete genome was characterized, which may cause latency infection in giant pandas.
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a diet diverse in bamboo parts is important for giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca metabolism and health
Scientific Reports, 2017Co-Authors: Shibin Yuan, Zhihe Zhang, Wenping Zhang, Hairui Wang, Heju Zhong, James Ayala, He Huang, De WuAbstract:The aim of this study was to determine the metabolic response in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) to the consumption of certain parts of bamboo above ground growth. Giant pandas were provisioned with three species of bamboo: Phyllostachys bissetii, of which they only consume the culm (culm group); Bashania fargesii, of which they only consume the leaves (leaf group); and Qiongzhuea opienensis, of which they only consume the shoots (shoot group). The “culm” group absorbed the highest amount of calories and fiber, but was in short energy supply (depressed tricarboxylic acid cycle activity), and high fiber level diet might reduce the digestibility of protein. The “culm” and “leaf” groups absorbed less protein, and had a lower rate of body mass growth than the “shoot” group. Digestion of fiber requires energy input and yields low caloric extraction from the culm and leaf, and protein intake is important for increasing body mass. However, long-term consumption of shoots may have a potentially negative effect on the health because of high protein composition. Therefore, a balanced diet consisting of diverse plant parts of bamboo is important for the overall metabolic function and health of captive giant pandas.
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identification of canine parvovirus with the q370r point mutation in the vp2 gene from a giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Virology Journal, 2013Co-Authors: Shaolin Yang, Chengdong Wang, Zhihe Zhang, Shijie Chen, Zifang Quan, Manli ZhangAbstract:Background In this study, we sequenced and phylogenetic analyses of the VP2 genes from twelve canine parvovirus (CPV) strains obtained from eleven domestic dogs and a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in China. A novel canine parvovirus (CPV) was detected from the giant panda in China.
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Microsatellite variability reveals significant genetic differentiation of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the Minshan A habitat
African Journal of Biotechnology, 2011Co-Authors: Jiandong Yang, Fujun Shen, Wenping Zhang, Xuyu Yang, Liang Zhang, Limin Chen, Wanli Chen, Zhihe ZhangAbstract:Although, Minshan A habitat is an area with one of the largest numbers of wild giant pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ); it may be threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. In this study, 10 microsatellite DNA markers were used to assess population genetic structure of giant pandas from two critical reserves (Tangjiahe and Wanglang) in the Minshan A habitat. The results revealed high levels of genetic differentiation (F ST = 0.134) between the two populations. This differentiation was supported by the assignment tests using the Bayesian clustering method in STRUCTURE. The uniqueness of the populations was also supported by private alleles. This indicated a significant population fragmentation in Minshan A region. In addition, the high individual inbreeding coefficients for Wanglang indicated increased levels of homozygosity in the wild populations. Fortunately, those populations had high levels of genetic diversity. The average allelic richness (AR) and expected heterzygosity (H E ) were 4.520 and 0.689, respectively for Tangjiahe and 4.584 and 0.648 for Wanglang. Here, we propose an effective way to restore gene flow between the two isolated populations. Key words: Giant panda, microsatellite variation, genetic differentiation, habitat fragmentation, Minshan A habitat.
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Zinc-finger intron 7: a new locus for sex identification of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
Zoo Biology, 2009Co-Authors: Xiao Xu, Zhihe Zhang, Yuzhi Li, Xiaofang Wang, Wenping Zhang, Fujun ShenAbstract:We developed a single-reaction test for identifying the sex of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) targeted to co-amplify homologous fragments with size polymorphism that located at zinc-finger (ZF) intron 7 by using one pair of primers. This assay produced one sex-specific fragment in females (XX genotypes) whereas two fragments were produced in males (XY genotypes). Indels (insertion/deletion) in intron 7 of Y-linked allele provide a significant discrimination between ZFX and ZFY, thus the amplification products can be simply distinguished by agarose gel electrophoresis, exhibiting sex-specific banding patterns (female, 354 bp; male, 354 bp, 135 bp). The new primer set was successfully tested on known-sex giant pandas by using template DNA extracted from both blood and fecal samples. Cross-species test was also performed, revealing that this assay could be applied to other Ursidae species. Zoo Biol 29:526–531, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Desheng Li - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Analysis of Codon Usage Bias in Interferon Alpha Gene of the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
Advances in Intelligent and Soft Computing, 2020Co-Authors: Yue Yi, Desheng Li, Chengdong Wang, Zhiwen Xu, Fengqin Li, Xinqiao QiAbstract:The analysis on codon usage bias of IFN-a gene of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) may provide a basis for understanding the evolution relationship of giant panda and for selecting appropriate host expression systems to improve the expression of target genes. In this paper, the codon usage bias in the mature IFN-a sequence of giant panda and 15 reference species have been analyzed. The results showed that the synonymous codons with G and C at the third codon position were widely used and the ENC-GC3S plot revealed that the genetic heterogeneity in IFN-a gene was main constrained by mutational bias. Contrastive analysis revealed that there were 40 codons showing distinct usage differences between GpIFN-a and Escherichia coli, 38 codons between GpIFN-a and yeast. and only 30 between GpIFN-a and Homo sapiens. Therefore the Homo expression system may be more suitable for the expression of GpIFN-a genes.
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NORMAL VAGINAL BACTERIAL FLORA OF GIANT PANDAS (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) AND THE ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS OF THE ISOLATES.
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, 2020Co-Authors: Xin Yang, Hemin Zhang, Desheng Li, Pengyan Wang, Caiwu Li, Jiang Yang, Hongning Wang, Yongguo He, Yuesong XuAbstract:To study the typical vaginal bacterial flora of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), we took vaginal swabs for the sake of bacterial isolation, from 24 healthy female giant pandas. A total of 203 isolates were identified, representing a total of 17 bacterial species. The most common bacteria isolated were Lactobacillus spp. (54.2%, 13/24), followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (41.7%, 10/24) and Escherichia coli (33.3%, 8/24). Some opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, such as Peptostreptococcus spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Proteus mirabilis , were also isolated but showed no pathology. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of aerobic bacterial isolates was performed with the disk diffusion method. Of the 152 isolates, resistance was most frequently observed with chloramphenicol (17.8%), followed by tetracycline (14.5%), ciprofloxacin (12.5%), streptomycin (11.8%), and florfenicol (11.8%), whereas 7.2% were multidrug resistant. This is the first report of the normal culturable vaginal bacterial flora of giant pandas and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates.
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assessing the health status of released captive bred giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca through activity patterns
Folia Zoologica, 2019Co-Authors: Yan Huang, Feng Huang, Ke He, Jing Qing, Zhisong Yang, Xiaodong Gu, Xuyu Yang, Liuyang He, Desheng LiAbstract:Translocation is believed to be one of the important methods to protect small and isolated populations of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) from local extinction. Dynamic monitoring of the giant pandas' health statuses after release allows timely rescue measures or termination of the release procedure when necessary, thereby reducing the risk of death. However, it is difficult to diagnose the health of a giant panda after translocation by routine veterinary examinations. Based on data collected from GPS tracking collars, we analyzed the behaviours of six giant pandas after release. We compared the behavioural differences between the giant panda Xuexue (XU), which died due to disease, and four healthy giant pandas after release into the wild to identify a new method to assess the health statuses of giant pandas after release. Our results showed that daily activity levels of the healthy giant pandas were higher than XU after released into the wild; the healthy giant pandas were diurnal, but XU tended to be nocturnal. All healthy giant pandas and XU were not active in the crepuscular phase. These results suggest that daily activity levels and circadian rhythms can be used to assess the health status of giant pandas during the translocation project.
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Sequence analysis of the ATP synthase of subunits (ATP8 and ATP6) genes of mitochondrial DNA genome from Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 2018Co-Authors: Yaodong Hu, Hui-zhong Pang, Shan-shan Ling, Hemin Zhang, Diyan Li, Desheng Li, Chengdong WangAbstract:AbstractTo explore the effects of the mutations of ATP6 and ATP8 genes on energy metabolism and genetic structure, we sequenced the ATP6 and ATP8 genes of Ailuropoda melanoleuca. Our results showed...
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HEMATOLOGY, SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY, AND URINALYSIS VALUES IN THE ADULT GIANT PANDA ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 2017Co-Authors: Caitlin Burrell, Hemin Zhang, Desheng Li, Chengdong Wang, Caiwu Li, Copper Aitken-palmerAbstract:Abstract The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a high-profile threatened species with individuals in captivity worldwide. As a result of advances in captive animal management and veterinary medicine, the ex situ giant panda population is aging, and improved understanding of age-related changes is necessary. Urine and blood samples were collected in April and July 2015 and analyzed for complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and biochemical and microscopic urine analysis for all individuals sampled (n = 7, 7–16 yr of age) from giant panda housed at the China Research and Conservation Centre for the Giant Panda in Bifengxia, Sichuan Province, China. Hematology and serum biochemistry values were similar to those previously reported for giant panda aged 2–20 yr and to Species360 (formerly International Species Information System) values. Urine was overall dilute (urine specific gravity range: 1.001–1.021), acellular, and acidic (pH range: 6–7). This is the first report of hematologic and serum biochem...
