T HE G IANT P ANDA : E NDANGERED S PECIES P ROJECT ‘09 m Tess Curran Block E June 11 th 2009.
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Transcript of T HE G IANT P ANDA : E NDANGERED S PECIES P ROJECT ‘09 m Tess Curran Block E June 11 th 2009.
THE GIANT PANDA: ENDANGERED SPECIES
PROJECT ‘09
http://4.bp.blogspot.com
Tess Curran
Block E
June 11th 2009
CLASSIFICATION
Bear? Or Red Panda?
Scientist who discovered pandas, Pere David Armand believed the panda to be a bear, but others took a look, and the question began…(Source 1)
http://www.icis.com/blogs/asian-chemical-connections/black-bear.jpg
http://tigertailfoods.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/red_panda_close_up.jpg
FINAL DECISION, DEBATE ONGOING
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Genus: Ailuropoda Species: A. Melanoleuca (Source 5)
WEIGHT AND STATS
WWF, http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/photography/index.html
-63-75” long-Males are 187-275 pounds, Females 154-220 pounds (Source 8)
-Delayed Implantation (Source 1)
-Cubs move at 6 months, leave mother at 18 months (Source 8)
http://www.beijingholidays.net/
DIET 99% is bamboo (Source 12)
Originally ate meat- 33 ft long intestines v. 160 ft long As a result, 20-30% of nutrients in bamboo is absorbed, so
pandas must spend 14 hours a day eating (Source 7)
Can sometimes eat
- Birds, rodents, carrion meat (Source 2)
-Bark, wild parsnips, willow leaves, irises (Source 1)
WWF, http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/photography/index.html
ADAPTATIONS Large, flat teeth for grinding bamboo Extra molar, rounded cheek bones Solid lining extending through mouth, esophagus, and
stomach (Source 4)
Developed thumb (extended wrist bone) Source 2
Sharp claws, flexible- back paws point inward, making it slow but adept climber (Source 1)
http://www.skullsunlimited.com/graphics/bc-29-lg.jpgWWF, http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/photography/index.html
HABITAT Forests of central china (Source 9)
Must include:
-Thick bushes for shelter
-Hollow fir trees for dens
-Close to water- will ignore ½ mile away (Source 1)
◦Solitary animals- saves energy for foraging
◦Will go to lower elevations in winter for warmer climate (Source 8)
http://www.hawh.cn/admin/upload_file/img/
http://indritours.com/upload/images/newslet_panda_02.jpg
INTERACTION Seek each other out in the mating season, occasionally
throughout the year. Share forests with these animals: (Source 3)
http://www.freewebs.com/iansferret/W1.JPG http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses http://www.breederretriever.com/blog
http://www.operationcharm.org/ http://www.quantum-conservation.org/
WHY?? MAIN POINTS
China’s large population forces peasants into higher elevations. (Source 8)
Deforestation and logging. (Source 11)
Fragmentation leads to inbreeding and less mating (Source 8). Bamboo dies every 40-80 yrs. 10% of the population died in 1970’s
(Source 11).
Pandas give birth to only one cub every other year (Source 5). Breeding in captivitiy is difficult- pandas are prone to mental
problems. (Source 5)
Female ovulation only 1-2 days each year. Females are ‘picky’ with whom they mate (source 5).
Artificial insemination is difficult- Zookeepers are reluctant to loan pandas out from zoos for research (Source 1).
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK282838.htm
Hunting- one pelt can go for a peasant’s entire life savings.
o 140 illegal skins were found in past years- almost 10% (source 8).
o Natural disasters- Biologists are still not sure about direct impact, but…o Earthquake May 12,2006 destroyed 8% of
the habitat and the Wolong Nature Reserve (source 10).
o Parasites can prevent panda growth and prevent from breeding (Source 1).
o Nature reserves weren't managed properly.o Money shortages and under training.
(Source 6).
o 1983-’87, 30 panda cubs were taken from the wild (Source 6).
WWF, http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/photography/index.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive