Progress in Research on the Gut Microflora of the Red Panda (<i>Ailurus fulgens</i>)

Abstract

Animals can adapt to unique feeding habits through changes in the structure and function of the gut microflora. However, the gut microflora is strongly influenced by the evolutionary relationships between the host, nutritional intake, intake of microorganisms, etc. The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), an herbivorous carnivore, has adapted to consuming bamboo through seasonal foraging strategies and optimization of the composition and function of its gut microflora during long-term evolution. However, to date, studies of the gut bacteria of the red panda have mainly focused on the composition, diversity and function of the gut microflora of captive individuals. There are a lack of studies on how the wild red panda adapts to the consumption of bamboo, which is high in fibre and low in nutrients, through the gut microflora. This paper reviews the technology and methods used in published studies investigating the gut microflora of the red panda, as well as the composition, diversity and function of the identified microbes and the influencing factors. Furthermore, this paper suggests future research directions regarding the methodology employed in analyzing the red panda gut microflora, the interplay between gut microflora and the health of the red panda, the red panda’s adaptation to its gut microflora, and the implications of these studies for the management and conservation of wild red pandas. The goal of this review is to provide a reference for the protection of wild red pandas from the perspective of the gut microflora.

Keywords

• red panda
• gut microflora
• next generation sequencing technology (NGST)
• captive individual
• microbial diversity
• protection