In the animal kingdom the most important aspect is the survival of one’s genes and preserving those genes for future generations. Through the ideas of natural selection it is only those who are most “fit” that will succeed in preserving their genetics and passing them on to further generations. There are many different things that make an animal fit and most desirable for mating and preservation of genes dependent of species. In the Giant Panda for example, these specific characteristics that make one panda more desirable over another is for a male to be big and strong and in a female to be older and more experienced for breeding. It is very important that these particular successful traits be communicated through the sexes to help increase the chances of successful mating and thus preservation of their genes. Those that don’t tend to fit these trends will over time be phased out through unsuccessful breeding through the theory of natural selection.
In the September 14, 2009 issue of Discovery News, Jennifer Viegas writes about the specific vocalizations used in the Giant Panda species that communicates specific information valuable during the breeding season. Scientists Benjamin Charlton, Zhang Zhihe and Rebecca Snyder recorded the specific “bleat” vocalization of the panda. This bleat vocalization is one that is common to both sexes but is more prominent during the mating season. A total of 18 pandas were recorded, 9 female and 9 male ranging from ages 6 to 21 years. Data on age and body size and weight were recorded for each panda as well. Acoustical analysis was made of the recordings using special programs and interesting results were concluded. The scientists were able to determine through these acoustical analyses that both the male and female panda had distinctive voices, unique to the male and female sex just as the human male and female sound differently. This is a valuable piece of information needed during the breeding season to identify the sex of the panda over a distance to help avoid conflict between members of the same sex. The male bleat was determined to communicate information about its body size to the female while the female’s bleat communicated her age to the listening panda or pandas. These are both very valuable pieces of information to communicate to the members of the opposite or, in the case of the male, to members of the same sex. The male is most interested in a female that is experienced in breeding and the female is the most interested in the biggest and most husky male, the combination of these two characteristics lead to a greater chance of a successful breeding and rearing of the most successful young. It is also valuable for a male to communicate his size to help to avoid risky conflict between another male that may be smaller or larger warning the smaller of the two to stay away.
It is very important to be able to have a successful breeding and rear the most fit young to ensure the preservation of your genes through future generations. In the example of the panda they are able to communicate these desirable characteristics to help make these decisions. Through communication they are able to convey that they are a large, husky male or that they are an aged and thus experienced female. These individuals will in turn be the most successful during breeding season and the most successful in preserving their genetic makeup.
Posted by "Jessica Abu-Hijleh" (1)
I definitely learned a lot from reading this blog post, personally I have an interest when it comes to panda bears. I found it surprising that the pandas use actual sound communication in order to attract their mates. I have heard of animals using their physical appearance in order to attract mates and pheromones to attract opposites but the idea of sounds is even more amazing on a whole new level. There is no need to put on your best appearance or scent, it is simply a matter of your convincing bleat.
ReplyDeleteIt makes the panda bear appear so much more human to me. It literally uses its own noises and voice to promote itself in the mating world. This capability is really impressive to me. What are the other purposes of their voices? Are there any other factors at all that determine mate choice? It sounds so real and imaginable for panda bears to be sitting around bleating at one another about age and size.
Posted by Amanda Lee
What a great article! Not only does this give more input on sexual selection of pandas, it is also shows how communicative signaling is a very important factor when choosing a mate. Without these signals young may be reared incorrectly by inexperienced females, or weak because of ‘unfit’ males. This is a fabulous example of the importance of communication to species success and continuation through time.
ReplyDeleteI would be curious to know what occurs with the other males and females that transmit less than ‘fit bleats’? Does this mean that some females never rear young because they are inexperienced? Did this article mention anything about the rate of success in weaker/younger mate pairs?
Very interesting article!
Posted by Jackie Connolly
This is such an interesting article! I had no idea that Pandas chose their mates through vocal communications. It really surprised me that the females bleats let the males know about their age. I know that some animals communicate their fitness to mates so I guess it is similar, but still not something I had heard of before.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that their declining numbers correlates to the way they chose their mates? I thought that Pandas were solitary animals and that it was rare for them to reproduce in the wild so wouldn't it make sense for them to mate with whoever came along?
-Tara Quist
This article got my attention because last semester I listened to a project done by my classmates saying the extinction of the panda is inevitable due to there poor breeding habits. Is this bleating a new trait that has evolved to help the panda I wonder? Or is it an example of an unsuccessful display of communication that is going to lead to their extinction? Are there any other ways pandas communicate while looking for a mate or mating? I hope this is a new adaptation for the panda and they are going to start mating more and producing more offspring. They are so cute I wouldn't want to see them go extinct !
ReplyDeletePosted by Tiffany Mallet
In response to all the comments posted:
ReplyDeleteI am not really sure as to whether or not this "bleating" is a new/old technique. I don't think that it is a cause to their decline because the majority of the animals in the wild choose mate based on the most successful/fit characteristics and not all animals are going extinct. The article never actually said that they were very picky, it just talked about this signal as a tool in breeding. I'm sure that those individuals that aren't as brawny/old as the others will mate but just not as successfully and likely as their counterparts. Those that aren't as fit will probably end up with another male/female who is similarly not as fit. The article never really went into their preference for solitary life or not either but it would make sense if they were solitary for the "bleating" because once breeding season did come along they could use these vocalizations that can be heard over long distances to help find mates or to help avoid conflict. I think as for the future of the panda it's really up to us to help ensure their success as a race. I'm sure it's not mainly because of their breeding habits, I'm sure our expansion as a race has not helped in their success as a species either.
~Jessica Abu-Hijleh