I read an article in ScienceDaily.com about how Giant Pandas one of the most endangered species in the world are effected directly by their environment. Genetic analysis of Giant Pandas has shown that there are shifts in their genes, depending on what their environment is like. According to BMC Genetics there are many environmental barriers that can affect their genes. These physical barriers include areas lacking bamboo plants and other forest foliage. These barriers can separate their genes into specific, isolated groups. Pandas were being studied in the in the Xiaoxiangling and Daxiangling mountains by Fuwen Wei, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a team of researchers. They studied 192 different fecal samples. 53 of those samples showed that they came from unique genotypes.

Theses "genetic signatures," showed and proved fragmentation within the Panda population. All of the researchers agreed that it would be most helpful to the Panda population if they could increase the bamboo resources in the habitats that are lacking it. They would like to reduce the amount of physical barriers so that there will not be as many isolated genetic groups within the Panda population.

Main article found at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100722205624.htm