Frequency of Breeding and Recruitment in the Short-Beaked Echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus

Rismiller, Peggy D.; Mckelvey, M. W.

doi:10.1093/jmammal/81.1.1

Cited by 26 publications

(61 citation statements)

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“…Relatively shortlived animals like rodents may not be able to afford to miss a breeding season when they have so few -in a 10-year study of M. flaviventris the oldest females found were 7 years old, and at the time of first breeding yearling females had an average life expectancy of 2 years (Armitage and Downhower, 1974). Although there are not yet comparable data for echidnas, they are very longlived (Rismiller and McKelvey, 2000), and Rismiller (1999) reports that one free ranging echidna was sighted for 45 years.…”

Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The echidna also has a very short gestation period (22-24 days gestation between mating and egg-laying and a further 10 days until hatching, Griffiths, 1978;Rismiller and McKelvey, 2000), but in other respects is very different from the sciurids. At hatching the echidna young is approximately 300"45 mg (Rismiller and McKelvey, 2000) -approximately 1y10 thousandth of the size of the mother.…”

Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At hatching the echidna young is approximately 300"45 mg (Rismiller and McKelvey, 2000) -approximately 1y10 thousandth of the size of the mother. By 30 days the weight is approximately 90 g, representing only an additional 15% increase in maternal energy expenditure over the field metabolic rate of non-lactating animals (Green et al, 1992a,b).…”

Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, because the rate of transfer of energy from the echidna mother to young is initially so low, compared with sciurids, the overall period of dependence on the mother during lactation is much longer. Lactation times in Tasmanian echidnas have not been accurately measured, but are likely to be approximately 200 days, based on data from echidnas in Kangaroo Island (Rismiller and McKelvey, 2000). Although the breeding events shown in Figs.…”

Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a good year, young which result from early matings should be best placed to be weaned and gain sufficient weight to survive the next winter, but at this stage we do not have data on the relationship between breeding time, weather and survival and recruitment of the young. The only published study of recruitment in echidnas was carried out on the Kangaroo Island subspecies (Tachyglossus aculeatus multiaculeatus, Rismiller and McKelvey, 2000). Twenty-five female echidnas were followed for up to 7 years, and in the observed total of 81 echidna breeding years only 22 hatchlings were produced, and of these only 8 survived to weaning.…”

Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?1

Nicol

Andersen

2002

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry an

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We investigated the patterns of hibernation and arousals in seven free-ranging echidnas Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus (two male, five female) in Tasmania using implanted temperature data loggers. All echidnas showed a 'classical' pattern of mammalian hibernation, with bouts of deep torpor interrupted by periodic arousals to euthermia (mean duration 1.04"0.05 (ns146). Torpor bout length increased as body temperature fell during the hibernation season, and became more variable as temperature rose again. Hibernation started in late summer (February 28"5 days, ns6) and males aroused just before the winter solstice (June 15"3 days, ns3), females that subsequently produced young aroused 40 days later (July 25"3, ns4) while females that did not produce young hibernated for a further two months (arousal Sept 27"5, ns7). We suggest that hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas can be divided into two phases, the first phase, marked by declining minimum body temperatures as ambient temperature falls, appears to be obligatory for all animals, while the second phase is 'optional' and is utilised to varying amounts by females. We suggest that early arousal and breeding is the favoured option for females in good condition, and that the ability to completely omit breeding in some years, and hibernate through to spring is an adaptation to an uncertain climate. ᮊ

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Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Timing Of Hibernationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?1

Nicol

Andersen

2002

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry an

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An evaluation of DNA sample source and molecular markers to determine gender in the short‐beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

Hulse,

Tomsett,

Roser

et al. 2023

Zoo Biology

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The short‐beaked echidna is sexually monomorphic such that gender identification without veterinary intervention is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the most optimal noninvasive genetic source by extracting echidna genomic DNA (gDNA) from fecal scats, plucked hair, and quills to perform genetic sex testing using a range of molecular markers. Sex determination of 14 captive short‐beaked echidnas was determined by amplifying isolated DNA from noninvasive samples, targeting two Y chromosome (male‐specific) genes (mediator complex subunit 26 Y‐gametologue [CRSPY] and anti‐Müllerian hormone Y‐gametologue [AMHY]), in addition to four confirmed sex‐specific RADseq markers. Results of noninvasive samples were compared with blood samples and clinical records. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess accuracy of sex determination of markers for each sample type. The gender of the echidnas was successfully identified on 75% of occasions using fecal samples, 90.6% occasions using hair, and 84.6% occasions with quills. Overall, the male‐specific RADseq markers accurately identified the sex of echidnas with all sample types for 90% of animals; compared with 81.5% using CRSPY, and 82.0% using AMHY to identify sex. Collection of hair, quills, and feces provides a useful alternative to invasively collected samples, however, the accuracy of results depends on sample type and genetic marker selected. We found gender determination in the short‐beaked echidna was most accurate using four male‐specific RADseq markers on gDNA isolated from blood and hair. The noninvasive genetic sexing techniques documented here will inform and facilitate husbandry and genetic management of captive echidna populations.

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Body fat and circulating leptin levels in the captive short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

Dutton-Regester,

Roser,

Meer

et al. 2024

J Comp Physiol B

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It is possible that the reproductive strategy of the short-beaked echidna is related to seasonal changes in fat deposition and energy availability, regulated by seasonal changes in endocrine function. We predicted that circulating leptin levels would be directly proportional to adiposity during most of the year, but that a change in this relationship would occur during the pre-breeding season to allow increased fat deposition. To test this hypothesis, we made use of a captive colony of echidnas to describe and quantify changes in fat distribution and the adipostatic hormone leptin. First we assessed seasonal changes in circulating leptin levels, body mass and adiposity for three male and three female adult echidnas maintained on a standard diet. Second, we explored the relationship between circulating leptin levels and increased caloric intake for an additional five adult female echidnas that were provided with supplemented nutrition. Third we visualised fat distribution in male and female adult echidnas using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after the breeding season, to determine where fat is deposited in this species. For echidnas maintained on the standard diet, there were no seasonal changes in body mass, body fat or plasma leptin levels. However, female echidnas provided with supplemented nutrition had significantly elevated plasma leptin levels during the breeding season, compared to the pre-and post- breeding periods. MRI showed substantial subcutaneous fat depots extending dorso-laterally from the base of the skull to the base of the tail, in both sexes. Pre-breeding season, both sexes had considerable fat deposition in the pelvic/rump region, whilst the female echidna accumulated most fat in the abdominal region. This study shows that male and female echidnas accumulate body fat in the pelvic/rump and the abdominal regions, respectively and that circulating leptin may promote fattening in female echidnas during the breeding season by means of leptin resistance. However, further research is required to evaluate the precise relationship between seasonal changes in leptin and adiposity.

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Frequency of Breeding and Recruitment in the Short-Beaked Echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus

Cited by 26 publications

References 0 publications

The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?1

The timing of hibernation in Tasmanian echidnas: why do they do it when they do?1

An evaluation of DNA sample source and molecular markers to determine gender in the short‐beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

Body fat and circulating leptin levels in the captive short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

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