Instructions for research paper summary Nie et al., 2015
The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with experience in reading and making sense of peer-reviewed scientific literature on animal nutrition. In the classroom, we can become so accustomed to trying to memorize and understand concepts in a relatively short period of time, sometimes we lose sight of the fact that everything we know about animal nutrition, all the information contained in the textbook we use in this class, ultimately stems from researchers doing experiments, having their work anonymously reviewed and critiqued by a panel of experts and published in scientific journals. Sometimes reading scientific papers can be challenging, but we become better with practice. The first article that I have selected for us to read is a study on feeding behavior, bamboo nutrient composition, and reproduction in the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Who doesn’t like Giant Pandas?
Summarize the paper in paragraph or so.

What specific hypotheses did the researchers test? The authors might use the term “predictions” instead of hypotheses. Where the hypotheses supported or rejected?

Describe the methodology used. You don’t need to get bogged down in details. For example, you could say that food protein content was determined using the Kjeldahl method. Just summarize the methods, you don’t need to repeat the details.

What were the main results? In your summary of the results, please explain what figures 3 and 4 show. Why do you think the authors chose to summarize their results in this way?

What were the most important implications of the study? In other words, how will the results of this study help to inform our understanding of Panda biology?