Chapter
2. The white rhinoceros (eratotherium simum): is socioendocrinology important for reproduction?
3. The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus): are captive pairs compatible?
3 Nutrition and its interaction with reproductive processes
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Foetal nutrition and subsequent reproductive performance
Energy balance, stress and ovulation
Target body weights and condition scores
Nutrient provision and reproductive success in egg-laying and other species
Feed toxins and reproductive repercussions
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
Feed for fitness and recognise role of body reserves
Beware of overfeeding--consider growth targets
Evaluate dietary adequacy in egg-laying species
Keep diets safe and use suitable feeding regimens
4 Environmental chemicals and the threat to male fertility in mammals: evidence and perspective
BRIEF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS
TRENDS IN THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OF MEN
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
5 Assessing the consequences of inbreeding for population fitness: past challenges and future prospects
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Inbreeding depression in wild species
Variability in inbreeding depression and implications for its detection in wildlife populations – experimental results
1. Extensive variation among experimental lines exists in response to inbreeding
2. Inbreeding depression is environment-dependent
3. Inbreeding depression affects fitness traits and life history stages differentially
4. Inbreeding depression affects the sexes differentially
5. Inbreeding differentially affects closely related taxa
Purging and the genetic basis of inbreeding depression
Inbreeding effects on population viability
Can we predict population/taxon susceptibility to inbreeding depression?
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
6 Impacts of inbreeding on components of reproductive success
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
INBREEDING DEPRESSION OF JUVENILE SURVIVAL
INBREEDING DEPRESSION OF ADULT SURVIVAL
Effect of inbreeding on mate acquisition
Effect of kinship on mate acquisition
Effect of inbreedingon fecundity
Effect of kinship on fecundity
INBREEDING DEPRESSION OF PARENTAL CARE
SUMMARY AND PRIORITIES FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
7 The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in declining populations: an example of adaptive variation
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
Balancing selection at the MHC
MHC variation in endangered species
Pedigree approaches to maintaining MHC Variation
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
8 When is the birth rate the key factor associated with population dynamics?
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Structured accounting of the variance of demographic change
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
PART III Reproductive techniques for conservation management
9 Reproductive and welfare monitoring for the management of ex situ populations
Welfare monitoringin ex situ conservation programmes
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
10 Non-invasive endocrine measures of reproduction and stress in wild populations
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE
Advantages of endocrine monitoring
Metabolic and technical considerations
Urinary hormone monitoring
Faecal hormone monitoring
Non-invasive corticosteroid monitoring
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
Improved field methods for specimen preservation and storage
Simplified extraction and assay methods for field use
Improved collaboration between zoo biologists and academic scientists
11 Ultrasound for analysis of reproductive function in wildlife species
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Advantages of ultrasonography
Challenges of using ultrasonography for wildlife
Ultrasonography for reproductive assessments
Reproductive pathology assessments
Identifying prenatal pathology
Support of assisted reproductive techniques
Case study 1: Fertility challenges in elephants
Case study 2: Assisted reproduction in the giant panda
Case study 3: Fertility assessment of European brown hare
Case study 4: Disrupting pregnancy in bears using anti-progestins
12 Role of embryo technologies in genetic management and conservation of wildlife
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
In vitro embryo production from oocytes matured in vivo or in vitro
IN VITRO EMBRYO PRODUCTION BY SPERM MICROINJECTION
Embryo multiplication and nuclear transfer (cloning)
CONCLUSIONS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
13 Application of nuclear transfer technology to wildlife species
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Technological realities of using nuclear transfer
Reprogramming the nucleus
Recipient oocyte function
Conceptual and practical challenges associated with nuclear transfer in ex situ breeding programmes
Interfering with other high priorities, especially the need to maintain habitat
CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE PRIORITIES
PART IV Integrated conservation management
14 Integrating reproductive sciences into recovery programmes for declining and extinct marsupial populations
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Marsupial evolution, diversity and extinction
Marsupial recovery and the role of reproductive science
Breeding success and reintroduction of the Eastern barred bandicoot (EBB) (Perameles gunnii )
Saving the ‘Shadow’: applying ART to conserving the Victorian brush-tailed rock wallaby
Recovery of the Northern hairy-nosed wombat
Re-creating the thylacine
CONCLUSIONS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
15 Captive breeding and predator control: a successful strategy for conservation in Western Australia
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Predation as a factor in the decline of species in Western Australia
Captive breeding: action for recovery
1. Chuditch (Western quoll, Dasyurus geoffroii)
2. Dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis)
3. Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)
4. Djoongari (Shark Bay Mouse, Pseudomys fieldi)
5. Wopilkara (greater stick-nest rat, Leporilus conditor)
Practical integration of genetics and reproductive biology
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
16 Black-footed ferret: model for assisted reproductive technologies contributing to in situ conservation
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
STATE OF THE ART: THE CASE OF THE BLACK-FOOTED FERRET
Decline of black-footed ferrets
Species recovery strategy
Development of reproductive technologies and the value of ‘animal models’
Assisted technologies for enhancing reproductive efficiency in the black-footed ferret
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
17 Genetic resource banks for species conservation
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Origins of the GRB concept
Management and location of GRBs
STATUS OF GERMPLASM CRYOPRESERVATION PROCEDURES
The Mohor gazelle GRB, a working example
PRIORITIES FOR INTEGRATING GRBS INTO CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES
18 Fertility control for wildlife
Australia's Cooperative Research Centres
Species with multiple impacts
Approaches to fertility control
The challenge of delivery
19 Contraceptive vaccine development
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Manipulating and targeting the immune response
Delivery mechanisms for immunocontraceptive vaccines
Disseminating delivery systems
Non-disseminating delivery systems
Public acceptance of GMOs
Disseminating delivery vectors
20 Field applications of fertility control for wildlife management
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Brushtail possums in New Zealand
Foxes, rabbits and house mice in Australia
White-tailed deer in the USA
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
Population-level efficacy
Cost-effective delivery systems
PART V Reproduction science in non-mammalian species
21 Reproductive technologies and challenges in avian conservation and management
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Endocrine characteristics of avian species
Ejaculate quality, spermatozoa characteristics, metabolism and evaluation
Cryopreservation of avian spermatozoa
Case study 1: Multidisciplinary science in the restoration of cranes
Case study 2: Importance of species specificity
REPRODUCTIVE PRIORITIES FOR AVIAN CONSERVATION
22 Reptile reproduction and endocrinology
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Rhynchocephalia (Sphenodontia)
23 Reproductive research and the worldwide amphibian extinction crisis
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The amphibian extinction crisis
Diversity of amphibian reproductive mechanisms
Historical amphibian research
Sperm cryopreservation and artificial insemination (AI)
Induction of ovulation and spawning
Oocyte or embryo cryopreservation
Amphibian ex situ breedingprogrammes
Encouraging a conservation ethic in academic researchers
Educatingthe public and politicians
24 Reproduction in fishes in relation to conservation
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Diversity and conservation
Reproductive biology and conservation
PRIORITIES AND PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT OF REPRODUCTION FOR CONSERVATION
Conservation breeding programmes
Fish Taxon Advisory Group programmes
25 Postscript -- sex, wildlife and vindication
Reproductive Science and Integrated Conservation
( Conservation Biology )
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