Feed fatty acids and their utilization in the Giant Panda (Ailurupoda melanoleuca)
The Giant Panda derived most of its nutritional needs from plant materials. Dietary utilization of these plant materials is complicated by the comparatively lower plant fatty acid contents, and fact that the digestive system of the Giant Panda has characteristics that are consistent with carni...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Project Paper Report |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78282/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78282/1/FPV%202017%2014%20-%20IR.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848858464810434560 |
|---|---|
| author | Abdullah, Nur Aishah |
| author_facet | Abdullah, Nur Aishah |
| author_sort | Abdullah, Nur Aishah |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The Giant Panda derived most of its nutritional needs from plant
materials. Dietary utilization of these plant materials is complicated by the
comparatively lower plant fatty acid contents, and fact that the digestive system
of the Giant Panda has characteristics that are consistent with carnivores. In the
absence of other body fluids and tissues, faecal fatty acid profiles of the Giant
Panda provide an important hint to explain the functions of its digestive system.
These are crucial to understand how Giant Panda’s acquire energy and other
nutritional needs from its herbivorous diet. The aims of this research were to
study the fatty acid profiles of bamboo plants in the Giant Panda’s diet, and to
determine the faecal fatty acid profiles of Giant Pandas. This information would
provide insights into how Giant Pandas are able to fulfil their fatty acid
requirements, especially the long chained fatty acids that are crucial for the various physiological functions of the body. Four local species of bamboo plants,
and faecal samples of two adult Giant Pandas (A.melanoleuca) and their cub were
obtained for analysis. The study was conducted from 9th January until 20th of
February 2017 at Zoo Negara Malaysia. Identification and quantification of fatty
acid content was done by using gas liquid chromatography (GLC) following the
procedure of total lipid extraction and fatty acids methyl esters (FAME).
Results showed that palmitic acid (16:0) was the dominant fatty acids in
the shoots of bamboo plants, while α-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) is the major fatty
acid found in leaves. Total saturated fatty acids (TSFA) were consistently high
followed by the unsaturated fatty acids comprising of the PUFA n-3, n-6 and
MUFA. Faecal fatty acid profiles showed the presence of very long chain n-3 and
n-6 fatty acids which are important for cellular functions. In conclusion, the
current study showed that while bamboo lacked the longer chain essential fatty
acids, the Giant Pandas were able to satisfy their physiological requirements
through de novo synthesis. This indicates that the Giant Panda do have the
ability, as well as the specific enzymes for the elongation and desaturation of
fatty acids, a feature found in most herbivorous and omnivorous animals. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T12:13:52Z |
| format | Project Paper Report |
| id | upm-78282 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T12:13:52Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-782822024-10-10T04:39:25Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78282/ Feed fatty acids and their utilization in the Giant Panda (Ailurupoda melanoleuca) Abdullah, Nur Aishah The Giant Panda derived most of its nutritional needs from plant materials. Dietary utilization of these plant materials is complicated by the comparatively lower plant fatty acid contents, and fact that the digestive system of the Giant Panda has characteristics that are consistent with carnivores. In the absence of other body fluids and tissues, faecal fatty acid profiles of the Giant Panda provide an important hint to explain the functions of its digestive system. These are crucial to understand how Giant Panda’s acquire energy and other nutritional needs from its herbivorous diet. The aims of this research were to study the fatty acid profiles of bamboo plants in the Giant Panda’s diet, and to determine the faecal fatty acid profiles of Giant Pandas. This information would provide insights into how Giant Pandas are able to fulfil their fatty acid requirements, especially the long chained fatty acids that are crucial for the various physiological functions of the body. Four local species of bamboo plants, and faecal samples of two adult Giant Pandas (A.melanoleuca) and their cub were obtained for analysis. The study was conducted from 9th January until 20th of February 2017 at Zoo Negara Malaysia. Identification and quantification of fatty acid content was done by using gas liquid chromatography (GLC) following the procedure of total lipid extraction and fatty acids methyl esters (FAME). Results showed that palmitic acid (16:0) was the dominant fatty acids in the shoots of bamboo plants, while α-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) is the major fatty acid found in leaves. Total saturated fatty acids (TSFA) were consistently high followed by the unsaturated fatty acids comprising of the PUFA n-3, n-6 and MUFA. Faecal fatty acid profiles showed the presence of very long chain n-3 and n-6 fatty acids which are important for cellular functions. In conclusion, the current study showed that while bamboo lacked the longer chain essential fatty acids, the Giant Pandas were able to satisfy their physiological requirements through de novo synthesis. This indicates that the Giant Panda do have the ability, as well as the specific enzymes for the elongation and desaturation of fatty acids, a feature found in most herbivorous and omnivorous animals. 2017-03 Project Paper Report NonPeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78282/1/FPV%202017%2014%20-%20IR.pdf Abdullah, Nur Aishah (2017) Feed fatty acids and their utilization in the Giant Panda (Ailurupoda melanoleuca). [Project Paper Report] |
| spellingShingle | Abdullah, Nur Aishah Feed fatty acids and their utilization in the Giant Panda (Ailurupoda melanoleuca) |
| title | Feed fatty acids and their utilization in the Giant Panda (Ailurupoda melanoleuca) |
| title_full | Feed fatty acids and their utilization in the Giant Panda (Ailurupoda melanoleuca) |
| title_fullStr | Feed fatty acids and their utilization in the Giant Panda (Ailurupoda melanoleuca) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feed fatty acids and their utilization in the Giant Panda (Ailurupoda melanoleuca) |
| title_short | Feed fatty acids and their utilization in the Giant Panda (Ailurupoda melanoleuca) |
| title_sort | feed fatty acids and their utilization in the giant panda (ailurupoda melanoleuca) |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78282/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78282/1/FPV%202017%2014%20-%20IR.pdf |