Behavioral Energetics of Lactation in a Herbivorous Carnivore, the Red Panda (<i>Ailurus fulgens</i>)

Gittleman, John L.

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1988.tb00696.x

Cited by 28 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the Wolong Reserve there is 30–40 times as much digestible energy in annual recruitment of bamboo leaves as needed for metabolism within the home range of a red panda [ 5 ]. Even if we take into account the 200% increase in energy requirements of lactating red pandas [ 27 ] there is more than enough available food in the Wolong Reserve for the number of red pandas present. In the Yele Nature Reserve, there are 1,634,529.3 kg of bamboo ( Bashania spanostachya ) per km 2 [ 3 ], so there is much more bamboo available than red pandas can eat in a year.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic rate of the red panda, Ailurus fulgens, a dietary bamboo specialist

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) has a similar diet, primarily bamboo, and shares the same habitat as the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca. There are considerable efforts underway to understand the ecology of the red panda and to increase its populations in natural reserves. Yet it is difficult to design an effective strategy for red panda reintroduction if we do not understand its basic biology. Here we report the resting metabolic rate of the red panda and find that it is higher than previously measured on animals from a zoo. The resting metabolic rate was 0.290 ml/g/h (range 0.204–0.342) in summer and 0.361 ml/g/h in winter (range 0.331–0.406), with a statistically significant difference due to season and test temperature. Temperatures in summer were probably within the thermal neutral zone for metabolism but winter temperatures were below the thermal neutral zone. There was no difference in metabolic rate between male and female red pandas and no difference due to mass. Our values for metabolic rate were much higher than those measured by McNab for 2 red pandas from a zoo. The larger sample size (17), more natural conditions at the Panda Base and improved accuracy of the metabolic instruments provided more accurate metabolism measurements. Contrary to our expectations based on their low quality bamboo diet, the metabolic rates of red pandas were similar to mammals of the same size. Based on their metabolic rates red pandas would not be limited by their food supply in natural reserves.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic rate of the red panda, Ailurus fulgens, a dietary bamboo specialist

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Fruit, which has a higher caloric density than bamboo, may be a necessary supplement for lactating females [9] . This supplement may facilitate altitudinal movement by red pandas because such movements are largely dictated by the availability of seasonal Sorbus and Rubus berries [13] , [27] , [28] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat Correlates of the Red Panda in the Temperate Forests of Bhutan

Dorji

Vernes²,

Rajaratnam³

2011

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Anthropogenic activities and associated global climate change are threatening the biodiversity in the Himalayas against a backdrop of poor knowledge of the region's threatened species. The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a threatened mammal confined to the eastern Himalayas, and because of Bhutan's central location in the distributional range of red pandas, its forests are integral to the long-term viability of wild populations. Detailed habitat requirements of the red panda are largely speculative, and there is virtually no ecological information available on this species in Bhutan. Between 2007 and 2009, we established 615 presence/absence plots in a systematic sampling of resident habitat types within Jigme Dorji and Thrumshingla National Parks, Bhutan, to investigate broad and fine-scale red panda habitat associations. Additional locality records of red pandas were obtained from interviewing 664 park residents. Red pandas were generally confined to cool broadleaf and conifer forests from 2,110–4,389 m above sea level (asl), with the majority of records between 2,400–3,700 m asl on south and east-facing slopes. At a finer scale, multivariate analysis revealed that red pandas were strongly associated with old growth Bhutan Fir (Abies densa) forest dominated by a dense cover of Yushania and Arundanaria bamboo with a high density of fallen logs and tree stumps at ground level; a high density of trees, dead snags, and rhododendron shrubs in the mid-storey; and locations that were close to water. Because Bhutan's temperate forests that encompass prime red panda habitat are also integral to human subsistence and socio-economic development, there exists an inadvertent conflict between the needs of people and red pandas. As such, careful sustainable management of Bhutan's temperate forests is necessary if a balance is to be met between the socioeconomic needs of people and the conservation goals for red pandas.

show abstract

“…Choudhury (2001) discussed the global distribution and population status of the red panda with special reference to India. There have been studies in China on habitat selection, diet, reproduction, home range, phylogeny, distribution and conservation status (Gittleman, 1988;Johnson et al, 1988;Reid et al, 1991;Wei et al, 1999aWei et al, ,b,c,d, 2000aLi et al, 2005;Jiandong et al, 2006;Zhang et al, 2006Zhang et al, , 2009. Additional studies on ecology, distribution and population status of the red panda have been carried out in India and Nepal (Yonzon et al, 1991;Yonzon & Hunter, 1991a,b;Choudhury, 2001;Pradhan et al, 2001a,b;Williams, 2003;Mahato, 2004;Adhikari, 2010;Nath & Das, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Vulnerable red pandaAilurus fulgensin Bhutan: distribution, conservation status and management recommendations

Dorji

Rajaratnam

Vernes

2012

Oryx

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The red panda Ailurus fulgens is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Pressurized by an expanding human population, it is mainly threatened by habitat destruction, with , 10,000 mature individuals remaining. The red panda has been studied in India, China, Nepal and, to a lesser extent, Myanmar, but no research has been published on this species in Bhutan. Here, we report on the current distribution and conservation status of the red panda in Bhutan using information gathered from field surveys, interviews and unpublished reports. Red pandas are most common at 2,400-3,700 m altitude in fir Abies densa forests with an undergrowth of bamboo. They occur in most national parks and associated biological corridors within Bhutan's protected area network, overlapping with a rural human population that is undergoing increased socioeconomic development. Although culturally respected, red pandas face threats from road construction, harvesting of timber, bamboo and minor forest products, livestock grazing, inefficiently managed tourism, and domestic dogs. We believe conservation of red pandas in Bhutan requires (1) inclusion of ecologically sound principles into future development, (2) implementation of programmes that improve rural socio-economy through ecotourism and cultivation of appropriate cash crops, (3) development of education programmes that raise awareness of red pandas for rural people, (4) management of rural dog populations, (5) greater capacity building for wildlife managers, and (6) more ecological research.

show abstract

Behavioral Energetics of Lactation in a Herbivorous Carnivore, the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

Cited by 28 publications

References 33 publications

Metabolic rate of the red panda, Ailurus fulgens, a dietary bamboo specialist

Metabolic rate of the red panda, Ailurus fulgens, a dietary bamboo specialist

Habitat Correlates of the Red Panda in the Temperate Forests of Bhutan

The Vulnerable red pandaAilurus fulgensin Bhutan: distribution, conservation status and management recommendations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About