Panda Mania!!! Panda Mania!!! Panda Mania!!! Panda Mania!!! By: Kiana Nicholas

Do you know how Lun Lun and other giant pandas came to be, physically and behaviorally, the animal you see? This is what I asked myself when I observed these amazing creatures As we go throughout this presentation, you will learn about how the Giant Panda evolved overtime, adapting physically and behaviorally to their changing environment. First, here is some fun facts about pandas!!!

Enjoy the Snacks!!!

How did pandas become to behave this way?!! Meet Lun Lun Here is Lun Lun the Giant Panda. She is 10 years old, weighs 105-115kg and lives currently in Zoo Atlanta The average life span of the Giant Panda is 25-30 years, average weight for males is 187-276lbs (154-220lbs for females) Live in the dense, damp forest of western China Eats 26-29lbs of bamboo shoots -(That’s 611 of your snack packs) Sleeps about 12 hours a day How did pandas become to behave this way?!!

Evolutionary Psychology Evolution is the theory that groups of organisms change with passage of time, mainly as a result of natural selection, so that descendants differ morphologically and physiologically from their ancestors Natural selection is the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations Evolutionary psychologists study the evolution of behavior and the mind, attempting to understand how natural selection has shaped behaviors

The Very Beginning Earliest pandas were small, forest-dwelling creatures with the figure like a fat fox 8 million years ago, the ancestor of the Giant Panda, the primal panda (Ailuaractos Lufergensis), lived at the edge of the tropic humid forest in Yunan Province of China In early Pleistocene period, one branch (Ailuropoda Micarta) appeared with the figure of a fat dog, 1/8 smaller than the present panda. 2 million years later, they started to extend their living area to the living areas of the primal pandas, later becoming larger and larger in body size as they adapted to life in subtropical bamboo woods to exploit the widespread and reliable plant resources of southern Asia. Ancestor(left); modern-day(right

Classic Description: How did they become to look this way? dense fur(to protect the panda from the cold, damp climate) black chest black feet black shoulders white with black eye patches black ears black legs Chinese legend: In the legend, pandas were originally pure white, but one day, one particular panda was fighting with a leopard. When a little girl tried to help, the leopard killed her and all the pandas were sad. They gave her a funeral, wearing black arm bands, but when they were crying and hugging, the black dye from the bands spread on their paws. Every time they hugged and cried, they rubbed the dye on each other, putting the dye on their faces and bodies. This is one mythical theory but more scientific theories involve the pandas evolving physically and behaviorally to survive in their physical and social environment.

Other Theories Camouflage dark and light pattern complements the shadow and light of the bamboo forest but the panda has no natural enemies to hide from. Social signals the pattern accentuates social signals helps pandas recognize one another from a distance so they can avoid socializing. Homeostasis suggests that the black absorbs heat while the white reflects it helps pandas maintain even temperature. All 3 theories… share the same basis of behavioral and mind evolution, explaining the coloring as resulting from the giant panda adapting to the physical and social environment to protect itself, communicate and survive. According to evolutionary psychologists, the act of hiding in the shadows, communicating with other pandas via social signals, and remaining in well heated areas are evolved behaviors, using natural selection since these behaviors would help the panda survive.

Is the panda even a bear? Similar to a bear: large paws with claws dense fur a large body. Several features that are unique to the giant panda: the giant panda has a moderately developed sixth digit adapted for grasping bamboo shoots (just as you grasp your snack sticks) Doesn’t hibernate because they can’t store enough energy from bamboo Similar to a sheep or goat: Pandas’ bleat, a chatter also similar to the red panda Similar to a raccoon: They also have tiny, backward pointing male genitalia

Is a panda a bear? The molecular studies Four independent molecular tests: - DNA hybridization - albumin immunological distances - isozyme genetic distance - karyotype Four species studied: Ailuropoda melanoleuca (giant panda) Ailurus fulgens (red panda) Urus americanus (black bear) Protor lotor (raccoon) *the studies showed the giant panda was closer related to the bear line because their chromosomes were similar to the bear chromosomes. After the tests, it was determined that because of chromosal fusion in an ancestor of the giant panda, the chromosomes of the giant panda are a pair of bear chromosomes attached together. This means that the giant panda definitely diverged from the bear line 18-25 million years ago. This is why the giant panda has many similar physical and behavioral characteristics of bears, yet having various features only unique to the species.

How a panda differs from its ancestor The early pandas were in competition with other predators, like the large cats Evolved specializations: tree-climbing losing many of their carnivorous and omnivorous traits developing specialized adaptations for feeding/utilizing plant foods. What other physical adaptations do giant pandas possess? How do they relate to evolutionary psychology? The next few pages will describe several anatomical adaptations that coincided with their evolution of basic behavior (locomotion, feeding, grooming, sleeping), interactive behavior (social play), conflict behavior (scent marking, aggressive threat, defensive threat, fighting), sexual behavior (pre-courtship, courtship, copulation) and parenting behavior (caring for the cub).

Do the Locomotion!!! Backward walking(for females, signaling beginning of courting season) Pace Weave roly-poly, pigeon-toed shuffle Trot(when startled) Climb a tree(when startled) Roll Why such leisurely walking? plenty of food few predators slow-nutrition diet (bamboo lacks the nutrients needed to produce a large amount of energy) **With plenty of this plant, the giant panda formed a greater and greater dependence on it, causing them to adopt behaviors of conserving energy over several generations!!!

Here is an ethogram from examining Lun Lun and Mei Lan at the Zoo Atlanta. As you can see, leisure walking and pacing are the two movements performed the most while weaving and climbing occurred the least often, since no predators are inside their zoo habitat. You will be seeing different parts of the full ethogram throughout this presentation. Type of behavior Behavior Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Movement Locomote Animal moves from place to place ll l Pacing Back and forth; repetitive pattern Climb Vertical ascent or descent into trees… Weave Animal “weaves” back and forth Roll Rolls and/or twists from side to side. Sit-up Animal lies on back, then sits upright *Each interval(1-10) represents 6 minutes. Each tally represents one minute of the activity. X means 6 minutes

Feeding-A very hungry bear Very dependent on bamboo. Why? -expanded their environment to include areas saturated with bamboo - they began to eat a great amount of bamboo -formed dependence for the bamboo Changed their diet from omnivorous to herbivorous, causing many changes like: -the alimentary tract for the newly developed herbivorous diet -sharp claws for grabbing stems -elongated wrist bones for holding plants -powerful jaws with cell-crushing molars -a horny esophagus -a gizzard-like stomach Spends majority of the day…… stalk peeling preparing devouring collecting leaf stripping

As you can see, eating provisioned bamboo is the food-related activity conducted the most with Lun Lun and Mei Lan, which makes since because giant pandas eat 26-29lbs of bamboo a day!!! Type of behavior Behavior Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Food-related Eat provisioned bamboo Feeding on provisioned bamboo.. l ll lll Eat provisioned food Feeding on any other provisioned food (bread, vegetables, fruit). Forage on bamboo Feeding on bamboo growing in enclosures Forage on other food Feeding on any vegetation growing in enclosures Look for food Animal searches the environment for food Drink Animal consumes water or other liquids *Each interval(1-10) represents 6 minutes. Each tally represents one minute of the activity. X means 6 minutes

Gotta Look Good: Fur Grooming Fur grooming is a solo event. Like to… use their forefeet to rub their body use all four limbs to scratch use vertical surfaces to scratch This behavior evolved from their environment being the subtropical bamboo woods Use their environment for grooming by…. scratching themselves on trees rolling themselves on the ground bathing in the water or dirt These actions look playful because of the giant panda’s lack of predators

This leads to the next slide: sleeping pandas!!! As you can see, the Lun Lun and Mei Lan spent the most time sleeping. When awake, they spent the most time scratching and resting. This behavior is very common since pandas are dependent on a plant that provides little nutrients needed for energy. Type of behavior Behavior Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Solitary Groom self Animal engages in washing or smoothing its own fur or hair using tongue or forelimbs l Scratch Scratch self with paws lll Sleep Stays in one place and is not alert to environmental changes ; closes eyes… llll x Rest Animal stays in one place but may be roused easily by environmental changes Not visible Animal moves temporarily out of view. This leads to the next slide: sleeping pandas!!! *Each interval(1-10) represents 6 minutes. Each tally represents one minute of the activity. X means 6 minutes

Sleeeep…Sleep, Sleep,Sleep Their food source lacks the nutrients to provide the giant panda with ample amount of energy This is why pandas in the wild sleep about 12 hours a day (14 hours for cubs), napping 2-4 hours between eatings. Don’t hibernate because they can’t obtain the needed nutrients to sleep an entire season without having to gather food. This same environment also provides the pandas with plenty of trees, leading to the pandas using the various structures for sleeping, which they then develop great flexibility.

All By Myself… The giant panda is a very isolated animal, which is shown in their lack of visual signals: Expressionless faces Stubby tails Inflexible ears to move No mane to erect Why hasn’t the giant panda developed these traits? their environment is a dense, subtropical bamboo forest that is saturated with bamboo and various other plants, making it very difficult for pandas to be seen by other pandas the giant panda tends to avoid other giant pandas by scent marking, threatening and fighting, all conflictive behaviors.  

Markin My Turf Scent marking is a behavior used as a form of establishing territory Involves rubbing secretions from their anal region throughout their living area The scents will either keep the pandas separate or bring them together (during mating season). This behavior has continued throughout the evolution of the giant panda because it is needed for: protection communication mating **all needed for the giant panda to survive in its environment

You talkin to me?Aggressive and Defensive Threatening Aggressive threatening: -intensely stare -circle each other -paw swatting -pushing -growling Defensive threatening: -rear in an upright posture -push the other panda -sudden lunging -biting If scent marking doesn’t seem to keep the intruder away, then the giant panda reverts to aggressive and defensive threatening. This kind of conflict usually occurs around mating season when more than one male set their sights on one female, or over food, water, “toys” and sleeping areas.  

As you can see, the pandas spent no time acting aggressively toward each other. This is mostly because it is a mother and her child. What comes across as fighting is really playing, the mother teaching the cub how to defend itself. Type of behavior Behavior Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Aggressive Fight Animal engages in physical conflict with another animal in environment Steal food Either by physical force or distraction, removes food from the vicinity of the other animal Threatening call Bark, growl or roar( in order of level of threat) Foot scrape Rapid scraping of hind feet back and forth *Each interval(1-10) represents 6 minutes. X means 6 minutes Social play is not fighting, which leads to the next slide: social play!!!

Fun,Fun,Fun: Social Play somersaulting lunging mounting biting paw-swatting wrestling Social play : a friendly behavior developed to break down the social barriers pandas construct when in isolation from fellow pandas. This behavior has evolved, becoming more common over time as the pandas’ living environment continues to shrink and the pandas come closer and closer in proximity to each other. This behavior has continued from generation to generation because of its need in reproduction, since it eliminates the social barrier, and in survival, teaching how to defend itself and its cubs from predators when looking for territory.  

This leads to the next slide: Mommy and baby!!! As you can see, the pandas spent the most time playing with each other, truly showing how the mother teaches the cub to defend itself and sexual behaviors Type of behavior Behavior Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Social Groom others Animal engages in washing or smoothing the fur or hair of another animal in its environment l Playing Engages in interactions with others: locomotion, climbing, manipulating objects or other activities that show a relationship between two or more interacting animals llll lllll lll ll Door-directed Panda at the door/gate, behavior oriented toward food, keeper, or bedroom area. Human-oriented Approach and observe person closely; may interact with human in any way Bleat A twittering, goat-like, friendly call *Each interval(1-10) represents 6 minutes. X means 6 minutes This leads to the next slide: Mommy and baby!!!

Sexual Behavior Pre-courtship the female conducts various actions signaling that she’s about to enter into estrus (occurs once-a-year with 2-3 days being her peak of receptivity). Several physical changes occur: nipples and genitals swelling and reddening, becoming restless, rubbing, eating less and scent marking. As the time of opportunity comes closer, she allows the male panda to court her by letting him approach and even follow her around. Courtship female chooses her suitor, often choosing males her exude masculinity: having big backs, wide faces and being muscular. She may solicit the male by doing a tail-up posture Copulation the male mounts and dismounts continuously before intromission, standing almost upright behind the female, bleating and making facial looks like a carnivore.   With the giant panda, these sexual behaviors are clearly actions involved in reproduction and will continue through evolution.

Babe, Babe, Babe A cub is born weighing around 4-ounces, the size of a stick of butter What next? The female immediately focuses on protecting the baby for at least 8 months (at most 2 years), since the cub is so small and an easy target for predators Involves: nursing the cub up to 14 times a day protecting the cub teaching the cub survival skills. Holding the cub One of the most important actions of the female during parenting maintains the baby’s body temperature creates a relationship that helps establish the female as a teacher Teaching the cub another important action since the father never meets the cub mother teaches the cub defense and sexual behavior through playing. The cub’s size in the expansive territory, the cold and wet climate the environment , along with the presence of predators, led to the female to developing parenting behaviors to protect the cub, continuing these actions throughout the generations

Help…We Need Somebody…Help!!! Endangered species Only 700-1000 left in wild Habitat is being destroyed Poaching Accidental snaring in traps Long regeneration cycle for bamboo To help save the panda population, many natural preserves have been established, along with laws making it illegal to poach giant pandas; in China, can get a life sentence. Scientists continue to look for ways to improve breeding success, which makes evolutionary psychologists’ work very important; by understanding the past and current behavior of the giant panda, one can understand how the panda became the panda you see today!!!

Bibliography BBC: Science and Nature. 11 October 2007 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/5.shtml>. Benyus, Janine M. Beastly Behaviors. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1992 Geogia’s Panda Project. Atlanta Fulton County Zoo, Inc. 11 October 2007 <http://www.zooatlanta.org/animals_giant_panda.htm>. Giant Panda Behavior Research Methods. San Diego Zoo. 11 October 2007. <http://www.giantpandaonline.org/research/protocol_articles/behaviorethogram.htm> O’Brien, Stephen J. Tears of the Cheetah: And Other Tales from Genetic Frontier. St. Martin’s Press, 2003.

The End Of…. Panda Mania!!!