Comparative analysis of trophic niche using stable isotopes provides insight into resource use of giant pandas

Trophic niche is the result of the long-term evolution of species and can reflect the pressures they experience in habitats. The whole-genome sequencing of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) has indicated that populations distributed in Qinling (QIN) and non-QIN probably diverged 300 ky ago. Although many studies regarding foraging strategy, habitat preference, and niche partition have been conducted on these populations, there is still a lack of precise quantification of trophic niches. Here, we calculated and compared isotopic trophic niche widths of giant pandas from Sichuan (SC) and QIN populations by measuring carbon and nitrogen isotopes of their hairs; combined with data from sympatric mammals, we explored the relative trophic positions of giant pandas in the ecosystem, respectively. The Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) model results showed the trophic niche width of QIN pandas was 3.44 parts per thousand 2, which was significantly bigger than those of the SC population (2.03 parts per thousand 2), with an overlapping about 1.45 parts per thousand 2; and they both occupied a unique position in the context, almost one trophic level lower than herbivores. Then, we determined the isotopic ratios of the main foods from the habitats of these pandas; the results suggested that the isotopic difference between bamboo shoots and other parts plus the various feeding selections of pandas on them accounted for pandas' trophic niche widths. We considered the higher nutrition availability and digestible food resources giving QIN pandas a wider trophic niche than pandas from SC. This conclusion provides a new insight into the resource use and trophic ecology of giant pandas and is important to develop refined management plans for the two populations. We determined stable isotope values of hairs from Qinling (QIN) and Sichuan (SC) pandas and sympatric species. The QIN pandas had a larger isotopic trophic niche width than that of SC pandas, and both populations possessed a unique trophic position in the ecosystem.image

Automated summary

By measuring the isotopes in the hair of giant pandas, researchers found that the trophic niche widths of the Qinling population were significantly larger than those of the Sichuan population, and both populations occupied a unique trophic position in the ecosystem. The difference in isotopes between bamboo shoots and other food parts, as well as the pandas' feeding choices, accounted for the discrepancy. This study provides new insights into the resource use and trophic ecology of giant pandas.