Giant Panda eating bamboo - Image courtesy of blogforeignpolicy.com
Bamboo comprises 90-100% of the Pandas diet and is collected from all over the Sichuan province to feed the bears insatiable appetite. In a previous study that we performed last year, the bamboo that was collected near the city center in comparison to samples taken near the CCRCGP Panda Base contained ~10 times the amount of total mercury. This could indicate that the pandas are consuming more mercury than is deemed acceptable by EPA standards. This could also provide insight into where the bamboo should be harvested from.
In a second study continued from the previous year, we are trying a simple technique and comparing the difference in total mercury between unwashed and washed bamboo. Maybe a simple hosing can make a difference and bring the consumption of mercury contaminated bamboo down to a minimum. We won’t have these results until late in the year.
If you care to read more about the previous THg Bamboo study, here is the link- Total Mercury in Wild Bamboo from Sichuan, China
Pandas for the win, I feel bad about “liking” this post because I don’t like heavy metal poisoning for animals, but it’s an interesting and informative post – and the panda rocks.
I do the same thing with other posts. If i’m following someone and they write a really sad but informative post I almost don’t check the like box. Most of the time I just read and leave if the story goes to the sad side.
Pandas are the poster animal for how I view the American couch potato. Sitting, eating and watching almost the entire day away.
Really interesting project. Is this going to be your PhD research?
In a nutshell, yes. We have a few other panda locations to do the same study in to get a worldly idea, but this will make up the brunt of my research. Hopefully we can get a location in Europe and then we will have a truly cross cultured study.
Great- it sounds like there is a lot of potential for international comparisons. Pandas in Europe?
Pandas are little world travelers. Scotland, France and Germany all have breeding pairs. There might be more but thats what I can remember off the top of my head.