Fecal Metabolomics Reveals the Foraging Strategies of Giant Pandas for Different Parts of Bamboo
Climate change-induced food shortages pose major threats to wildlife conservation, and the exclusive reliance of giant pandas on bamboo makes them particularly vulnerable. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the reasons for the foraging strategies of giant pandas to selectively forage...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/8/1278 |
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| author | Zheng Yan Qin Xu Ying Yao James Ayala Rong Hou Hairui Wang |
| author_facet | Zheng Yan Qin Xu Ying Yao James Ayala Rong Hou Hairui Wang |
| author_sort | Zheng Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Climate change-induced food shortages pose major threats to wildlife conservation, and the exclusive reliance of giant pandas on bamboo makes them particularly vulnerable. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the reasons for the foraging strategies of giant pandas to selectively forage for different bamboo parts (bamboo shoot, culm, and leaf) during different seasons. This study used a metabolomic approach to analyze the fecal metabolites of giant pandas and conducted a correlation analysis with their gut microbiota. The results indicate that the fecal metabolites of giant pandas differ significantly depending on the bamboo parts they forage on, with higher sugar content observed when they consume bamboo culm with high fiber content. By functional annotation, culm group metabolites were enriched in the galactose metabolic pathway, while shoot group metabolites were enriched in the phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis pathways. Moreover, <i>Streptococcus</i> showed a significant positive correlation with glucose and acetic acid content. Therefore, the foraging strategy of giant pandas is based on the ability to utilize the nutrient content of different bamboo parts. Captive feeding and habitat construction should enrich bamboo species to allow them to express their natural foraging strategies and improve their welfare and reproductive status. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:18:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2161c2d555034802bfb1a942643ad450 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:18:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-2161c2d555034802bfb1a942643ad4502023-11-17T17:59:29ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-04-01138127810.3390/ani13081278Fecal Metabolomics Reveals the Foraging Strategies of Giant Pandas for Different Parts of BambooZheng Yan0Qin Xu1Ying Yao2James Ayala3Rong Hou4Hairui Wang5Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu 610081, ChinaClimate change-induced food shortages pose major threats to wildlife conservation, and the exclusive reliance of giant pandas on bamboo makes them particularly vulnerable. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the reasons for the foraging strategies of giant pandas to selectively forage for different bamboo parts (bamboo shoot, culm, and leaf) during different seasons. This study used a metabolomic approach to analyze the fecal metabolites of giant pandas and conducted a correlation analysis with their gut microbiota. The results indicate that the fecal metabolites of giant pandas differ significantly depending on the bamboo parts they forage on, with higher sugar content observed when they consume bamboo culm with high fiber content. By functional annotation, culm group metabolites were enriched in the galactose metabolic pathway, while shoot group metabolites were enriched in the phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis pathways. Moreover, <i>Streptococcus</i> showed a significant positive correlation with glucose and acetic acid content. Therefore, the foraging strategy of giant pandas is based on the ability to utilize the nutrient content of different bamboo parts. Captive feeding and habitat construction should enrich bamboo species to allow them to express their natural foraging strategies and improve their welfare and reproductive status.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/8/1278giant pandametabolitesconservationdietary fibernutritiongut microbiota |
| spellingShingle | Zheng Yan Qin Xu Ying Yao James Ayala Rong Hou Hairui Wang Fecal Metabolomics Reveals the Foraging Strategies of Giant Pandas for Different Parts of Bamboo Animals giant panda metabolites conservation dietary fiber nutrition gut microbiota |
| title | Fecal Metabolomics Reveals the Foraging Strategies of Giant Pandas for Different Parts of Bamboo |
| title_full | Fecal Metabolomics Reveals the Foraging Strategies of Giant Pandas for Different Parts of Bamboo |
| title_fullStr | Fecal Metabolomics Reveals the Foraging Strategies of Giant Pandas for Different Parts of Bamboo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fecal Metabolomics Reveals the Foraging Strategies of Giant Pandas for Different Parts of Bamboo |
| title_short | Fecal Metabolomics Reveals the Foraging Strategies of Giant Pandas for Different Parts of Bamboo |
| title_sort | fecal metabolomics reveals the foraging strategies of giant pandas for different parts of bamboo |
| topic | giant panda metabolites conservation dietary fiber nutrition gut microbiota |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/8/1278 |
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