Toward more effective reproductive science for conservation

Wildt, David E.; Ellis, Susie; Janssen, Donald L.; Buff, Jennifer L.

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511615016.002

Cited by 17 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In this context, our approach was similar to historic and more recent [Wildt et al, 2003] surveys of reproductive health in other species. Using a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional approach, vast amounts of species-specific and region-specific data were accumulated, analyzed, and interpreted to establish reproductive norms and examine management issues that most likely influence reproductive fitness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Reproductive status of endemic felid species in Latin American zoos and implications for ex situ conservation

et al. 2003

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Reproductive evaluations were conducted on 185 male cats representing eight endemic Latin American species that were maintained in 44 zoos and private facilities in 12 Latin American countries. Reproductive assessments (testicular measures, ejaculate quality, and blood testosterone/cortisol concentration) were used to establish normative values for large-and small-sized cats in Latin American collections. Data also were analyzed using multiple regression to study the impact of proven breeder status, diet, and various animal housing combinations. Most felids (495%) in the survey were of wild-born origin, and o20% had produced offspring in captivity. Larger felids had bigger testes and produced more semen, but tended to produce low-sperm-density ejaculates. The ejaculates of small felids were more sperm-concentrated, but contained fewer total spermatozoa. Sperm motility was unrelated to species size, and certain species (puma, margay, tigrina, and jaguarundi) consistently produced few (o40%) normal sperm forms. Across species, 450% of males had low sperm counts (o1 million total sperm per ejaculate). Among large cats (jaguars and pumas), proven breeders had larger (Po0.05) testes, greater semen volume, and more normal sperm than nonbreeders. Males on adequate diets had higher (Po0.05) circulating cortisol. Among small-sized felids, proven breeders had higher (Po0.05) testosterone, and males housed alone or paired with a conspecific female had more (Po0.05) total sperm per ejaculate and greater (Po0.05) seminal and testicular volumes. Fifty-nine ejaculates (potentially representing B100 artificial insemination (AI) or 26,000 in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures) were cryopreserved for a felid genome resource bank. In conclusion, breeding success and reproductive traits for many endemic felids in Latin American zoos appear to be suboptimal, and likely would benefit from improvements in diet and exhibitry. Technology transfer and continued training of zoo staff and scientists in Latin American countries are essential if these zoos are to achieve their tremendous conservation potential for felids and other threatened endemic species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Reproductive status of endemic felid species in Latin American zoos and implications for ex situ conservation

et al. 2003

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“…Collectively, we know very little about the endocrinology of the majority of mammals on the planet, with only 2 per cent having been described in any detail; even less is known about birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates [1,2]. Yet, hormone analyses are key to understanding basic physiological functioning, such as reproduction, metabolic activity, health and well-being.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

International Society for Wildlife Endocrinology: the future of endocrine measures for reproductive science, animal welfare and conservation biology

et al. 2012

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Hormone analysis is a precise and widely accepted tool for monitoring reproductive function and responses to stressors. Although hormones are present and can be measured in various biological matrices, non-invasive methods have gained popularity over the past 30 years as a more practical approach for assessing ovarian, testicular and, more recently, adrenocortical activity in intractable wildlife species. Non-invasive hormone monitoring also has been key to understanding biological mechanisms related to observed behaviours of captive and free-ranging animals. Despite the increasing popularity of this research field, wildlife endocrinologists have not had a specific forum for sharing and discussing their latest findings, technical developments and common challenges. To provide such a communication platform, the International Society for Wildlife Endocrinology (ISWE) was established in 2010, followed by an international meeting held on 3–4 November 2011 at the Toronto Zoo, Canada. Over several sessions, keynote speakers and participants discussed recent developments of new and innovative methods for hormone monitoring, as well as the latest advances in basic endocrinology as applied to adrenal function, reproductive physiology, animal health, ecology and evolution. Here, we introduce ISWE to the scientific community and discuss how this new society will serve as a resource for wildlife endocrinologists worldwide.

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“…These are generally designed to maximize reproductive success 1, 2 , but they sometimes fail to increase or even maintain population sizes 1 . Similar pressures to increase reproductive success in managed social species exist in agriculture, where the maximization of reproductive output is often synonymous with increasing yield.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive success is predicted by social dynamics and kinship in managed animal populations

et al. 2016

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Kin and group interactions are important determinants of reproductive success in many species. Their optimization could, therefore, potentially improve the productivity and breeding success of managed populations used for agricultural and conservation purposes. Here we demonstrate this potential using a novel approach to measure and predict the effect of kin and group dynamics on reproductive output in a well-known species, the meerkat Suricata suricatta. Variation in social dynamics predicts 30% of the individual variation in reproductive success of this species in managed populations, and accurately forecasts reproductive output at least two years into the future. Optimization of social dynamics in captive meerkat populations doubles their projected reproductive output. These results demonstrate the utility of a quantitative approach to breeding programs informed by social and kinship dynamics. They suggest that this approach has great potential for improvements in the management of social endangered and agricultural species.

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Toward more effective reproductive science for conservation

Cited by 17 publications

References 4 publications

Reproductive status of endemic felid species in Latin American zoos and implications for ex situ conservation

Reproductive status of endemic felid species in Latin American zoos and implications for ex situ conservation

International Society for Wildlife Endocrinology: the future of endocrine measures for reproductive science, animal welfare and conservation biology

Reproductive success is predicted by social dynamics and kinship in managed animal populations

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