Understanding present patterns of genetic diversity is critical in order to design effective conservation and manage- ment strategies for endangered species. Tangjiahe Nature Reserve （NR） is one of the most importan...Understanding present patterns of genetic diversity is critical in order to design effective conservation and manage- ment strategies for endangered species. Tangjiahe Nature Reserve （NR） is one of the most important national reserves for giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca in China. Previous studies have shown that giant pandas in Tangjiahe NR may be threatened by population decline and fragmentation. Here we used 10 microsatellite DNA markers to assess the genetic variability in the Tang- jiahe population. The results indicate a low level of genetic differentiation between the Hongshihe and Motianling subpopulations in the reserve. Assignment tests using the Bayesian clustering method in STRUCTURE identified one genetic cluster from 42 in- dividuals of the two subpopulations. All individuals from the same subpopulation were assigned to one cluster. This indicates high gene flow between subpopulations. F statistic analyses revealed a low Fzs-value of 0.024 in the total population and implies a randomly mating population in Tangjiahe NR. Additionally, our data show a high level of genetic diversity for the Tangjiahe population. Mean allele number （A）, Allelic richness （AR） and mean expected heterozygosity （HE） for the Tangjiahe population was 5.9, 5.173 and 0.703, respectively. This wild giant panda population can be restored through concerted effort展开更多
The red panda(Ailurus fulgens)is a distinctive mammal known for its reliance on a diet primarily consisting of bamboo.The gut microbiota and overall health of animals are strongly influenced by diets and environments....The red panda(Ailurus fulgens)is a distinctive mammal known for its reliance on a diet primarily consisting of bamboo.The gut microbiota and overall health of animals are strongly influenced by diets and environments.Therefore,conducting research to explore the taxonomical and functional variances within the gut microbiota of red pandas exposed to various dietary and environmental conditions could shed light on the dynamic complexities of their microbial communities.In this study,normal fecal samples were obtained from red pandas residing in captive and semi-free environments under different dietary regimes and used for metabolomic,16S rRNA,and metagenomic sequencing analysis,with the pandas classified into four distinct cohorts according to diet and environment.In addition,metagenomic sequencing was conducted on mucus fecal samples to elucidate potential etiological agents of disease.Results revealed an increased risk of gastrointestinal diseases in red pandas consuming bamboo shoots due to the heightened presence of pathogenic bacteria,although an increased presence of microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites appeared to facilitate intestinal balance.The red pandas fed bamboo leaves also exhibited a decrease in gut microbial diversity,which may be attributed to the antibacterial flavonoids and lower protein levels in leaves.Notably,red pandas residing in semi-free environments demonstrated an enriched gut microbial diversity.Moreover,the occurrence of mucus secretion may be due to an increased presence of species associated with diarrhea and a reduced level of microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites.In summary,our findings substantiate the influential role of diet and environment in modulating the gut microbiota of red pandas,offering potential implications for improved captive breeding practices.展开更多
文摘Understanding present patterns of genetic diversity is critical in order to design effective conservation and manage- ment strategies for endangered species. Tangjiahe Nature Reserve （NR） is one of the most important national reserves for giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca in China. Previous studies have shown that giant pandas in Tangjiahe NR may be threatened by population decline and fragmentation. Here we used 10 microsatellite DNA markers to assess the genetic variability in the Tang- jiahe population. The results indicate a low level of genetic differentiation between the Hongshihe and Motianling subpopulations in the reserve. Assignment tests using the Bayesian clustering method in STRUCTURE identified one genetic cluster from 42 in- dividuals of the two subpopulations. All individuals from the same subpopulation were assigned to one cluster. This indicates high gene flow between subpopulations. F statistic analyses revealed a low Fzs-value of 0.024 in the total population and implies a randomly mating population in Tangjiahe NR. Additionally, our data show a high level of genetic diversity for the Tangjiahe population. Mean allele number （A）, Allelic richness （AR） and mean expected heterozygosity （HE） for the Tangjiahe population was 5.9, 5.173 and 0.703, respectively. This wild giant panda population can be restored through concerted effort
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(NO.2022NSFSC0126)Foundation of Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding(No.2020CPB-B06).
文摘The red panda(Ailurus fulgens)is a distinctive mammal known for its reliance on a diet primarily consisting of bamboo.The gut microbiota and overall health of animals are strongly influenced by diets and environments.Therefore,conducting research to explore the taxonomical and functional variances within the gut microbiota of red pandas exposed to various dietary and environmental conditions could shed light on the dynamic complexities of their microbial communities.In this study,normal fecal samples were obtained from red pandas residing in captive and semi-free environments under different dietary regimes and used for metabolomic,16S rRNA,and metagenomic sequencing analysis,with the pandas classified into four distinct cohorts according to diet and environment.In addition,metagenomic sequencing was conducted on mucus fecal samples to elucidate potential etiological agents of disease.Results revealed an increased risk of gastrointestinal diseases in red pandas consuming bamboo shoots due to the heightened presence of pathogenic bacteria,although an increased presence of microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites appeared to facilitate intestinal balance.The red pandas fed bamboo leaves also exhibited a decrease in gut microbial diversity,which may be attributed to the antibacterial flavonoids and lower protein levels in leaves.Notably,red pandas residing in semi-free environments demonstrated an enriched gut microbial diversity.Moreover,the occurrence of mucus secretion may be due to an increased presence of species associated with diarrhea and a reduced level of microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites.In summary,our findings substantiate the influential role of diet and environment in modulating the gut microbiota of red pandas,offering potential implications for improved captive breeding practices.
