User:Gupton99/Giant panda

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Giant Pandas are solitary mammals; therefore, they rely on chemical signaling in order to communicate information like reproductive status, gender, if a female is in estrus, age, etc.

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ABLE TO IDENTIFY GENDER

- Giant pandas use specific chemical compounds in scent marking to distinguish gender with conspecifics. Urine and anogenital secretions transmit signals about age and gender. (6)

-scientists were able to distinguish between males and females based on the chemical compounds found in their urine, vaginal and anal sections. (6)

- Pandas also use scent marks to recognize individuals. (6)

COMPOUNDS IN SECRETIONS

- The short fatty acid chain (C2-C6) is present in both the scent glands and scent marks of the giant panda. These are products of microbial fermentation meaning that they are produced by bacteria in the scent glands of giant pandas. (6)

LOCATION OF GLANDS/ MECHANISM OF CHEMICAL SECRETIONS

- Giant pandas have a gland under their tail and next to the urogenital region, this gland is called the anogential gland. Giant pandas rub this gland onto landmarks like tress or rocks, which deposits chemical compounds for other pandas to find. (6)

- Males and females have different ways in which they scent mark. Males deposit scent marks by lifting their hind leg, rubbing their backside, or standing in order to rub the anogenital gland onto a landmark. (7)'

Article Draft for Olfactory communication
Giant pandas are solitary mammals which means they heavily rely on olfactory communication to communicate with conspecifics. Scent marks are used to spread these chemical cues and are placed on landmarks like rocks or trees. Chemical communication in giant pandas plays many roles in their social situations. Scent marks and odors are used to spread information about sexual status, whether a female is in estrus or not, gender, age, individuality, dominance over territory, feeding habits and kinship.

Giant pandas communicate by excreting volatile compounds, or scent marks, through the anogenital gland. These volatile compounds are found in urine and vaginal and anal secretions from the anogenital gland. The anogenital gland secretes short fatty acid chains (C2-C6) and aromatics, which are present in the scent marks of giant pandas. Giant pandas have unique positions in which they will scent mark. Males deposit scent marks or urine by lifting their hind leg, rubbing their backside, or standing in order to rub the anogenital gland onto a landmark. Females; however, exercise squatting or simply rubbing their genitals onto a landmark. .

The season plays a major role in mediating chemical communication. Depending on the season, mainly whether it's breeding season or not, may influence which odors are prioritized. Chemical signals can have different functions in different seasons. During the non-breeding season, females prefer the odors of other females. However, during breeding season, odors from the opposite sex will be more attractive.

Because they are solitary mammals and their breeding season is so brief, female pandas secrete chemical cues in order to let males know their sexual status. The chemical cues female pandas secrete can be considered to be pheromones for sexual reproduction. Females deposit scent marks through their urine which induces an increase in androgen levels in males. Androgen is a sex hormone found in both males and females; testosterone is the major androgen produced by males. Civetone and decanoic acid are chemicals found in female urine which promote behavioral responses in males. Both chemicals are said to be pheromones in giant pandas. Male pandas also secrete chemical signals. These signals include information about their sexual reproductivity and age which is beneficial for a female when choosing a mate. For example, age can be useful for a female to determine sexual maturity and sperm quality. Pandas are also able to determine when the signal was placed, further aiding in the quest to find a potential mate. However, chemical cues are not just used for communication between males and females, pandas can determine individuality from chemical signals. This allows them to be able to differentiate between a potential partner or someone of the same sex, which could be a potential competitor.

Chemical cues, or odors, play an important role in how a panda choses their habitat. Pandas look for conspecific odors that tell them not only the identity of another panda, but if they should avoid them or not. Panda's avoid their species for most of the year, breeding season being the brief time of major interaction. Chemical signaling allows for avoidance and competition. Pandas whose habitats are in similar locations will collectively leave scent marks in a unique location which is termed "scent stations." When pandas come across these scent stations, they are able to identify a specific panda and where their habitat is. This allows pandas to be able to pursue a potential mate or even avoid a potential competitor.

Pandas can assess an individuals dominance status, including their age and size, via odor cues and may chose to avoid a scent mark if the signaler's competitive ability outweighs their own. A pandas size can be conveyed through the height of the scent mark. Since larger animals can place higher scent marks, an elevated scent mark advertises a higher competitive ability. Age must also be taken into consideration when assessing a competitor's fighting ability. For example, a mature panda will be larger than a younger, immature panda and posses an advantage during a fight.