Impact of mimicking natural dispersion on breeding success of captive North American Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

Zoo Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 332-340
Author(s):  
Sierra J. Gillman ◽  
Karen Ziegler-Meeks ◽  
Carol Eager ◽  
Thomas A. Tenhundfeld ◽  
Wendy Shaffstall ◽  
...  
Zoo Biology ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Marker ◽  
Stephen J. O'Brien

Zoo Biology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-199
Author(s):  
Jilian M. Fazio ◽  
Elizabeth W. Freeman ◽  
Erika Bauer ◽  
Larry Rockwood ◽  
Edward C. M. Parsons

The Condor ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-350
Author(s):  
Walter D. Koenig ◽  
Justyn T. Stahl

Abstract Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) at Hastings Reservation in central coastal California exhibit a bimodal peak in annual breeding activity. One peak occurs in spring during which the majority of breeding takes place, while a second is centered in late August as the new acorn crop matures. These latter nests are mostly initiated in late summer but often do not fledge until at least late September and are thus referred to here as ‘fall’ nests. Fall nests occur in about one-third of all years, taking place when the acorn crop is large and summer temperatures are relatively high. Fledglings from fall nests constitute 4.3% of the population's total productivity and survive and recruit to the population at levels comparable to spring fledglings. Fall nesting is less likely in groups in which either the male or female breeding adults have undergone a change from the prior year, but groups are otherwise indistinguishable. Ecologically, fall nesting is closely tied to the acorn crop and thus to breeding success in the following, rather than the prior, spring. Among North American terrestrial birds in general, fall breeding has been reported in 16% of all species and is significantly more common among residents and colonially nesting species, in which the frequency exceeds 25%. Furthermore, fall nesting is likely to have been underreported in the literature. Thus, this phenomenon is at least an irregular part of the breeding biology of a substantial fraction of North American birds and should be considered a possibility in population studies of temperate-zone species. This is especially true given that fall nesting is likely to increase as global warming takes place.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 788-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Szuba ◽  
J. F. Bendell

Weights of spruce grouse (Canachites canadensis) captured or shot in northeastern Ontario, mainly during the spring and summer of 1979–1982, are described and related to sex, age, with or without brood, and weights from other North American populations. Spruce grouse from Ontario are among the lightest in weight, but follow the general trend of lowest weight in spring and summer to highest weight in winter. During spring and summer, females lost proportionately more weight than males, suggesting that the reproductive period was more stressful for females. Males weighed least in May and June, and adults weighed more than yearlings. Adult females weighed more than yearlings in May. Females were lightest in June and July when females with chicks weighed less than those without. Adults gained weight earlier after their chicks hatched than yearlings, and more adults had broods. Among broodless hens, yearlings lost weight, but weights of adults were relatively stable. From a variety of comparisons, some yearling hens were at times in poor condition relative to adults.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gereon Schares ◽  
Maike Joeres ◽  
Franziska Rachel ◽  
Mareen Tuschy ◽  
Gábor Á. Czirják ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Besnoitia darlingi, B. neotomofelis and B. oryctofelisi are closely related coccidian parasites with felids as definitive hosts. These parasites use a variety of animal species as intermediate hosts. North American opossums (Didelphis virginiana), North American southern plains woodrats (Neotoma micropus) and South American domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are intermediate hosts of B. darlingi, B. neotomofelis and B. oryctofelisi, respectively. Based on conserved regions in the Internal Transcribed Spacer-1 (ITS-1) sequence of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA), a real-time PCR for a sensitive detection of these Besnoitia spp. in tissues of intermediate hosts and faeces of definitive hosts has recently been established. Available sequence data suggest that species such as B. akodoni and B. jellisoni are also covered by this real-time PCR. It has been hypothesised that additional Besnoitia spp. exist worldwide, which are closely related to B. darlingi or B. darlingi-like parasites (B. neotomofelis, B. oryctofelisi, B. akodoni or B. jellisoni). Related but not closely related to these species is B. besnoiti, the cause of bovine besnoitiosis.Methods: Faecal samples from two free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) from Namibia that had previously tested positive for coccidian parasites by coproscopy, were used for this study. A conventional PCR verified the presence of coccidian parasite DNA. To clarify the identity of these coccidia, the faecal DNA samples were further characterised by species-specific PCRs and Sanger sequencing.Results: One of the samples tested positive for B. darlingi or B. darlingi-like parasites by real-time PCR, while no other coccidian parasites including Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia hammondi, H. heydorni, B. besnoiti, and Neospora caninum were detected in the two samples. The rDNA of the B. darlingi-like parasite was amplified and partially sequenced. Comparison with existing sequences in GenBank revealed a close relationship to other Besnoitia spp., but showed also clear divergences. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a so far unknown Besnoitia species exists in Namibian wildlife, which is closely related to B. darlingi, B. neotomofelis, B. oryctofelisi, B. akodoni or B. jellisoni. The cheetah appears to be the definitive host of this newly discovered parasite, while a prey species of the cheetah may act as intermediate hosts.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Whiton ◽  
Juergen Schumacher ◽  
Erika E. Evans ◽  
Janelle M. Novak ◽  
Amanda Crews ◽  
...  

Zoo Biology ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Wildt ◽  
J. L. Brown ◽  
M. Bush ◽  
M. A. Barone ◽  
K. A. Cooper ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gereon Schares ◽  
Maike Joeres ◽  
Franziska Rachel ◽  
Mareen Tuschy ◽  
Gábor Á. Czirják ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Besnoitia darlingi, B. neotomofelis and B. oryctofelisi are closely related coccidian parasites with felids as definitive hosts. These parasites use a variety of animal species as intermediate hosts. North American opossums (Didelphis virginiana), North American southern plains woodrats (Neotoma micropus) and South American domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are intermediate hosts of B. darlingi, B. neotomofelis and B. oryctofelisi, respectively. Based on conserved regions in the internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS1) sequence of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA), a real-time PCR for a sensitive detection of these Besnoitia spp. in tissues of intermediate hosts and faeces of definitive hosts has recently been established. Available sequence data suggest that species such as B. akodoni and B. jellisoni are also covered by this real-time PCR. It has been hypothesised that additional Besnoitia spp. exist worldwide that are closely related to B. darlingi or B. darlingi-like parasites (B. neotomofelis, B. oryctofelisi, B. akodoni or B. jellisoni). Also related, but not as closely, is B. besnoiti, the cause of bovine besnoitiosis. Methods Faecal samples from two free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) from Namibia that had previously tested positive for coccidian parasites by coproscopy were used for this study. A conventional PCR verified the presence of coccidian parasite DNA. To clarify the identity of these coccidia, the faecal DNA samples were further characterised by species-specific PCRs and Sanger sequencing. Results One of the samples tested positive for B. darlingi or B. darlingi-like parasites by real-time PCR, while no other coccidian parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia hammondi, H. heydorni, B. besnoiti and Neospora caninum, were detected in the two samples. The rDNA of the B. darlingi-like parasite was amplified and partially sequenced. Comparison with existing sequences in GenBank revealed a close relationship to other Besnoitia spp., but also showed clear divergences. Conclusions Our results suggest that a so far unknown Besnoitia species exists in Namibian wildlife, which is closely related to B. darlingi, B. neotomofelis, B. oryctofelisi, B. akodoni or B. jellisoni. The cheetah appears to be the definitive host of this newly discovered parasite, while prey species of the cheetah may act as intermediate hosts.


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