Getting the world’s fastest cat to breed with speed

McDermott, Amy

doi:10.1073/pnas.1918672116

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In the ex situ environment, males and females live in separate cages but are housed adjacent to each other in the same room. Though not well studied, housing solitary, seasonal breeders together ex situ can lead to behaviour issues and sexual incompatibility, such as was the case for captive cheetahs for many years ( Wielebnowski et al ., 2002 ; Schulte-Hostedde and Mastromonaco, 2015 ; McDermott, 2019 ). It is a goal of zoo breeding programs to have individuals exhibit similar behaviours and physiological responses as their wild counterparts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using hair cortisol analysis to understand the biological factors that affect black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) stress physiology

Santymire

Ali

Marinari

et al. 2021

Conservation Physiology

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The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) was driven to near extinction due to habitat loss and an introduced disease, sylvatic plague (Yersinia pestis). After 35 years of breeding in ex situ facilities, the black-footed ferret has been experiencing infertility with seminal traits declining in males and only about a third of breeding-aged females are whelping. Our goal was to use hair cortisol analysis to determine if the ex situ population was experiencing chronic stress that was affecting reproduction by comparing captive ferrets to wild individuals. Our specific objectives were to (i) compare hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) between age classes (juveniles versus adults), (ii) compare the HCCs of in situ and across different ex situ facilities and (iii) determine the relationship between HCCs and reproductive success. Overall, wild juveniles had higher HCC than wild adults. Our generalized linear mixed model determined that the parameters that best predict HCC for adults were the interactions among sex, in situ versus ex situ facilities and season. During both seasons, wild females had higher HCCs compared to the ex situ females. During the breeding season, male HCCs across breeding facilities varied and males at the breeding facility with the largest ferret habitats had HCCs similar to wild males. At one breeding facility, HCC was higher in males that sired compared to those that did not sire. In conclusion, ex situ ferrets do not have higher HCC than wild individuals when controlling for season and ex situ habitat size, and ex situ males with higher HCC tended to sire. This suggests that HCC may be metabolically driven and/or that low HCC may be an indication of hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation and warrants further investigation both for laboratory validation and biological relevance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using hair cortisol analysis to understand the biological factors that affect black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) stress physiology

Santymire

Ali

Marinari

et al. 2021

Conservation Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Many felid (sub)species are threatened in the wild (The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2020-2). Ex-situ populations are struggling with the dilemma to retain their limited and scattered number of animals healthy and genetically diverse [35,46,50].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maturation and fertilization of African lion (Panthera leo) oocytes after vitrification

et al. 2021

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Getting the world’s fastest cat to breed with speed

Abstract: Cheetahs once rarely reproduced in captivity. Today, cubs are born every year in zoos. Breeding programs have turned their luck around-but they aren't done yet.

Cited by 2 publications

References 14 publications

Using hair cortisol analysis to understand the biological factors that affect black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) stress physiology

Using hair cortisol analysis to understand the biological factors that affect black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) stress physiology

Maturation and fertilization of African lion (Panthera leo) oocytes after vitrification

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