The evolution of the Giant Panda

Sources

- http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/pandaFacts/default.cfm

- http://worldwildlife.org/species/giant-panda

- http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/panda/where_panda_lives_habitat/

- http://www.defenders.org/panda/basic-facts

- http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/animals-attractions/animals/giant-panda/

- http://giant-panda.com/babypanda.html

Evolutionary Tree

Time

mutation for the speed gene

The cause of this mutation took over millions of years to accomplish. It takes forever for mutations in DNA to be created. Basically once the years pass, the animal with the mutated gene will be the one to survive and create more offspring. It takes time because Because the mutations in the genetic material (aka DNA) that gave these pandaroma's to have the ability to have better eyesight, shrink in size, become faster and stronger, and breathe underwater aren't always advantageous and they are not always drastic. They have to be spread as well which require inheritance in generations. But in this case they seemed to work and create more reproduction.

Heredity

Male

Adaptation through heredity will allow the panda species to survive the breed season and be able to reproduce. This will occur every other season, and due to this, pandas will have a high reproductive rates. Their babies will be born with their eyes open and four teeth already in their gums. Unlike the 2014 panda, their eyes don't open up till their about six years old. In the year 2014, a panda would typically range from 220-250 pounds, but evolution changes this. Once they are born, they only grow to weigh about 20-40 pounds.

Female

Selection

"Bulletproof"

As hundred of years pass parts of the Giant Pandas body became mutated. Those that have the mutated genes, caused a panda to survive better than those whom didn't have the gene. The newly born panda, is strong making its fur somewhat bulletproof and easier to protect itself from humans trying to harm them. The types of pandas with this gene have a more successful time living rather than the ones who don't.

Environmental Change

i cant find any pandas!

A gigantic environmental change began to set in motion when the bamboo trees were accusingly said to be cut down. This changed the Pandas mental and physical behavior because bamboo was their niche and without it they could die. Evolution made it easier on them because over time they adapted to new urban environments where bamboo was no longer their major priority. They were able to survive off of other leaves and fish and became apart of a new community rather than bamboo forests. One major threat that is happening to this futuristic panda is the way humans hunt them. This was solved because they live in isolation from most humans and can survive and maintain themselves more efficiently now, like having the ability to be fast runners, small in size, and breathe underwater. All these adaptations are helpful ways for them to survive against human behavior.

Variation

Variation is the term used to show the genetic differences among individuals in a population. Due to evolution, one adaptation that caused pandas to not go extinct was when a mother Giant Panda gave birth to one abnormal panda that seemed to be missing a gene pair. This happened because the mother was killed and humans injected a gene into the small newborn panda for testing causing it to have a mutation. They did not expect this to happen, and let it go. Now that panda mated with other pandas it caused this to become a new start for all Giant Pandas (Pandaroma's). This mutation then coded for the ones that the futuristic one has.

Population

In the future, evolution will take Pandas down South China Sea, toward the Khao Yai National Park. They will have grown remarkably small due to enduring the fitness of traveling. Their fur will thin and stretch to keep cool and still look intimidating in the wild. Although they mostly will eat insects, fish, palm fronds, acacias leaves and deciduous trees; they eat small animals often around winter/autumn. Their legs will have adapted into forelegs to walk more swiftly and to move more quickly. The feet adaptation will also help climb trees, so will their super strong and long claws! Their teeth will have flattened and shrunkin down in order to accommodate to eating both plant and fish/small animals.

Futuristic PandaROMA

The ability for a panda to have gills sticking out of its head helps it breathe underwater so they can become better hunters and swimmers to catch their prey and hide from humans and predators

The lightening bolts represent speed that this animal will have, in order to escape predators

Pandas will typically stay this size so they aren't an easy target, and don't become fat and lazy like the 2014 panda

Making the panda stronger will protect themselves from humans and making their fur some what bulletproof

Later on, Pandas will adapt to better eye sight, they will be able to sense things with their eyes better than any other animal. Their eyes will be known to see things as transparent.

Common Threats towards the Giant Panda

There are many threats that panda bears face today. One obvious one is climate change and global warming. Giant pandas depend on bamboo, which over centuries climate change can severely diminish. They are also on the brink of extinction, with just over 1,000 pandas remaining. Pandas are also most threatened by human activity in their range. Another threat among them is habit loss and fragmentation. Fragmented forests could have an overall negative impact on the population of Panda Bears

The evolution of the Giant Panda

PANDAROMA

Paige Pendelton

P 2