A review of research advances and perspectives on the habitat ecology of Sichuan and golden takins: 2001 to 2022.

The Sichuan takin (Budorcas tibetanus) and the golden takin (Budorcas bedfordi) are endemic to China. Studies of their habitat ecology have attracted attention, but dedicated reviews of the topic have not been published. To fill this gap, research advances on the habitat ecology of these takin species were reviewed based on published journal papers from 2001-2022, covering habitat selection and use, as well as habitat assessment and protection. Habitat selection and use by the takins received the most frequent reports in a few protected areas, such as the Tangjiahe Nature Reserve in Sichuan and the Foping Nature Reserve in Shaanxi. Higher herb cover characterized some of the Sichuan takin habitats, while some of the golden takin population exhibited seasonal altitude migration. The focus on habitat assessment and protection differed between the two species. Studying the habitat of the Sichuan takin involves the relationship between its habitat and the protected areas and habitat status in various ranges while studying the habitat of the golden takin involves habitat distribution and change, protection effects, and corridor planning. Some issues worthy of consideration in future research are proposed, including basic habitat information, impacts of human disturbances, habitat restoration, and theoretical, independent, and comprehensive studies on both takins. Habitat conservation frameworks should be formulated for both takins to improve protection and restoration effects. This review provides convenient information to help understand the habitat characteristics of the two takins and is a reference for future research.

Seasonal shift in gut microbiome diversity in wild Sichuan takin (Budorcas tibetanus) and environmental adaptation.

In this study, we investigated the change in microbiome composition of wild Sichuan takin (Budorcas tibetanus) during winter and spring and analyzed the physiological implications for such changes. Diversity analyses of the microbiome (average 15,091 high-quality reads per sample) in 24 fecal samples (15 from winter, 9 from spring) revealed that spring samples had higher species diversity and were compositionally different from winter samples (P < 0.05). Taxonomic composition analysis showed that the relative abundance increased in spring for Patescibacteria (2.7% vs. 0.9% in winter, P < 0.001) and Tenericutes (1.9% vs. 1% in winter, P < 0.05). Substantial increases in relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae and Micrococcaceae were identified in spring and winter, respectively. Mann-Whitney U and ANCOM identified seven differentially abundant genera: Enterococcus, Acetitomaculum, Blautia, Coprococcus 1, Lachnospiraceae UCG 008, Ruminococcus 2 and Ralstonia. All seven genera were significantly more abundant in spring (average 0.016-1.2%) than winter (average 0-0.16%), with the largest difference found in Ruminococcus (1.21% in spring vs. 0.16% in winter). The other six genera were undetectable in winter. Functional prediction and pathway analysis revealed that biosynthesis of cofactors (ko01240) had the highest gene count ratios in the winter, followed by the two-component system (ko02020). Seasonal variation affects the gut microbiomes in wild Sichuan takins, with winter associated with lower species diversity and spring with enrichment of cellulose-degrading genera and phytopathogens. Such changes were crucial in their adaptation to the environment, particularly the difference in food abundance.

Mapping Shade Availability and Use in Zoo Environments: A Tool for Evaluating Thermal Comfort.

For many species in zoos, particularly megafauna vulnerable to heat stress, shade is a key environmental resource. However, shade availability has received comparatively less attention than other aspects of the zoo environment. In this study, we share a simple low-cost approach that we applied to document shade availability across 33 zoo enclosures. We then combined these assessments with behavioral observations of enclosure use and shade-seeking behavior during summer months in a case study focused on Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana) (n = 3), a large cold-adapted bovid. Behavioral observations were conducted before and after installation of a shade sail for the takin. Results indicated that shade availability varied widely across zoo enclosures, with the percent of shaded space ranging from 85 % to 22 % across enclosures during summer months. Shade was a dynamic resource and increased throughout the year and fluctuated across the day, with the least shade available midday. Takin showed general preferences for shaded areas near the walls of their enclosure but were observed using newly available shade from the shade sail after its installation. These accessible methods can be easily applied to assess shade within existing enclosures, evaluate enclosure modifications, and provide guidance for the design of new enclosures.

Assessment of effective conservation of the Sichuan takin by giant panda reserves through functional zoning.

The flagship species conservation strategy is widely practiced in nature reserves. However, few studies have quantitatively explored whether the current functional zoning adequately conserves the habitats of other species. To examine this problem, we selected the Tangjiahe, Xuebaoding, and Wanglang national nature reserves in southwest China and tested the protective efficiency of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) reserves on a local herbivore-Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana) in functional zoning. We predicted that the habitat distribution of the Sichuan takin with Maxent and habitat suitability would be classified as very low, low, moderately, or highly suitable. We calculated the percentage of each type of habitat class across the core, buffer, and experimental zones in these reserves and introduced an economic index present value index to further assess the efficacy of the functional zoning in conserving the habitat of Sichuan takin. Our findings indicate that suitable habitat distributions of Sichuan takin are multicore and influenced by diverse variables in different nature reserves. The percentage of moderately suitable and highly suitable habitat in the core zone is 69% and 54% in Tangjiahe, 76% and 75% in Wanglang, and 47% and 28% in Xuebaoding, respectively. The present value index of moderately and highly suitable habitat is 1.01 and 0.79 (Tangjiahe), 0.87 and 0.86 (Wanglang), 0.76 and 0.44 (Xuebaoding), respectively. The efficiency of functional zoning on Sichuan takin seems lower than imagined in giant panda reserves, and species that have important impacts on local ecosystem need further estimation and greater focus.

Metagenomic analysis of Sichuan takin fecal sample viromes reveals novel enterovirus and astrovirus.

The Sichuan takin inhabits the bamboo forests in the Eastern Himalayas and is considered as a national treasure of China with the highest legal protection and conservation status considered as vulnerable according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In this study, fecal samples of 71 Sichuan takins were pooled and deep sequenced. Among the 103,553 viral sequences, 21,961 were assigned to mammalian viruses. De novo assembly revealed genomes of an enterovirus and an astrovirus and contigs of circoviruses and genogroup I picobirnaviruses. Complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that Sichuan takin enterovirus is a novel serotype/genotype of the species Enterovirus G, with evidence of recombination. Sichuan takin astrovirus is a new subtype of bovine astrovirus, probably belonging to a new genogroup in the genus Mamastrovirus. Further studies will reveal whether these viruses can also be found in Mishmi takin and Shaanxi takin and their pathogenic potentials.

Severe laminitis in multiple zoo species.

A 10-year record review from a zoological institution in the western USA identified four cases of severe laminitis resulting in rotation and protrusion of the third phalanx through the sole. Laminitis is reported in a Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi), a Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana), a greater Malayan chevrotain (Tragulus napu) and a giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus). This is the first report of severe laminitis with pedal bone rotation and protrusion in multiple species of non-domestic hoofstock, and the first report of this disease in three of these species (takin, chevrotain, and giant eland).