Species Interactions
The Snow Leopard
The Snow Leopard is the main predator of the red panda. This relationship between the red panda and the snow leopard is categorized as a predator-prey relationship. This is a negative interaction because the snow leopard contributes to the red pandas' decreasing population by hunting them as a food source. The snow leopard is also an endangered species and may become more at risk because of the decling red panda population (http://www.worldwildlife.org/). Since the snow leopard hunts the red panda and their population is endangered, they may be at risk for limitted food supply. Therefore, as the red panda population decreases so will the snow leopard population. With both of these species being endangered, this may affect other organisms in their ecosystem.
The Yellow-Throated Marten
The Yellow-Throated Marten is another predator of the Red Panda. The relationship is also a predator-prey relationship. The Yellow-Throated Marten is not an endangered species because of their large distrubution throughout Asia (http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Martes_flavigula/). They are known to pray on new born Red Panda cubs. This is a negative interaction because it contributes to the decline in the Red Panda population (http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/red_panda/red_panda.htm). Yellow-throated Martens are the reason why many new born Red panda cubs do not make it to adulthood and therefore are unable to reproduce making the population come closer to extinction.
The Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is yet another predator of the Red Panda. This is another predator-prey relationship where the Red Panda is the prey. The golden eagle is not considered an endangered species. This is a negative interaction because the Red Panda is prey for the Golden Eagle (http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/red_panda/red_panda.htm). If the population of Golden Eagles increase then more Red Pandas will be hunted and their population will continue to decrease.
Red Pandas Interact with Eachother too!
Red Pandas will usually keep their distance from one another. On certain occasions when they cross paths, they will often communicate to each other using a Red Panda call. Calls could be in response to a treat or communication between a mother Red Panda and her cubs. In addition to calls, Red Pandas also reveal different emotions through their postures. Aggression is shown through perking up their ears and raising up their tails, as well submission is shown to other Red Pandas by doing the opposite. Red Pandas themselves are predators to small birds, insects and grubs. This predator-prey relationship is a positive interaction because this contributes to the increasing of the Red Panda population due to the gaining of a food source. (http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/kuczmars_kayl/Interactions.htm).