DISCUSSION
To understand whether giant panda GM could contribute to their host’s
ability to digest bamboo and inform the successful reintroduction of
giant pandas, we assessed the variation in their GM during diet
conversions and lifestyle shifts.
The
richness, diversity, and composition of giant panda gut microbial
communities varied with diets and were influenced by lifestyle shifts.
Diet and surrounding environments play important roles in shaping the GM
of animals, including of humans (Koren et al 2012), snub-nosed monkeys
(Miriam et al 2013), black honeybees
(Zhao et al 2018) and mice
(Miriam et al 2013). Similarly, our
results suggest that diet conversion and lifestyle shifts are critical
factors influencing the GM of giant pandas.