Observations on the behaviour of the smoky mouse Pseudomys fumeus (Rodentia: Muridae).

2000 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
RE Woods ◽  
FD Ford
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
New South ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
South Wales ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild

This study examined aspects of behaviour in a captive colony of smoky mice, Pseudomys fumeus, over a two year period. Wherever possible behaviours observed in the captive population are compared to data collected in a study of a wild population in south-eastern New South Wales. This paper provides the first recorded observations of behavior in this species. Both captive and wild populations of P. fumeus display strictly nocturnal circadian activity rhythms. In the captive study, P. fumeus were found to exhibit social interactions similar to some previously studied Pseudomys species. However, in the wild, the species was found to communally nest during the breeding season, behaviour not observed in other Pseudomys from similar habitats. P. fumeus in captivity can have more than two litters in one breeding season which suggests that their reproductive parameters are more flexible than previous studies of wild populations have shown. Field data indicate that post-partum oestrus can occur in this species, and that gestation lasts for approximately 30 days, although these observations are based on a small sample.

Reproduction of Pseudomys novaehollandiae (Muridae) in the Wild

1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
CM Kemper
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
New South ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
First Year ◽  
Reproductive Condition ◽  
South Wales ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Preputial Glands ◽  
Breeding Seasons

A total of 291 P. novaehollandiae were observed during a 4-y study in the Nelson Bay and Smith Lake regions of New South Wales. Reproductive organs were examined from males and females, May 1972-May 1974; reproductive condition of females was noted during a CMR study, August 1974-July 1976. Breeding seasons (conceptions and births) occurred between August and early January (4-5 months) in the first 3 years and between September and March (7 months) in the last year. Second-year females produced three or four litters in short seasons, four or five litters in the long season and up to 20 offspring per season. First-year females produced one litter in short seasons and one or two litters in the long season. Mean litter size was 4.56 (2-6). Ovarian follicles were largest in September and smallest in May. Small, inactive CL persisted in parous females until May. Placental scars were present in all sampled months. Vaginae remained closed during the non-breeding season. In mature males testes and epididymides contained sperm from July to March. Vesicular, prostate and preputial glands were enlarged and secretory from September to December. Testes were smallest and least developed in May and June. Males were divided into five categories depending on age and overall reproductive condition. Sexual maturity was reached in the breeding season of birth by some males (33%) and females (13-88%). More females matured early when population density was low. Food abundance and quality may have been important variables in regulating the timing of the breeding season.

Breeding and longevity in captive Australian sea lions Neophoca cinerea at zoos and aquaria in Australia: 1965-2003.

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Ling ◽  
C. Atkin ◽  
A. Barnes ◽  
A. Fischer ◽  
M. Guy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Embryonic Diapause ◽  
Birth Intervals ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Neophoca Cinerea ◽  
South Wales ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Mean

Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) are known to have been kept in aquaria and zoos in Australia since 1965. During that time at least 41 births were recorded, of which 19 were in Adelaide, 15 at Adelaide Zoo and 4 at Marineland of South Australia. The mean interval between successive births in Adelaide was 538.9 � 9.5 days (18.0 months; n = 10) and the mean assumed pregnancy period, including embryonic diapause, was 536.0 � 11.4 days (17.9 months; n = 9). The mean interval between parturition and presumed successful mating was 8.4 � 1.6 days (n = 5). Births occurred in all months except January, June, August and December. Figures for New South Wales and Queensland establishments are too small and scattered over time for any pregnancy periods or birth intervals to be determined. Likewise, latitudinal differences, if any, were not evident, because of the paucity of data from these more northerly places. One female at the Adelaide Zoo produced 8 pups between 1986 and 1997; she is still alive after 22 years in captivity. The youngest known-age (captive-born) female was 4 years, 8 months old when she gave birth to her first pup; and the oldest female in captivity to give birth to a pup was aged approximately 21 years, 8 months. The longest recorded captive period for a female was more than 25 years by 31 December 2003, and for a male it was 21 years, 11 months. A captive-bred female was still alive after 18 years, 2 months, 24 days; another such female died aged 18 years, 2 months, 18 days. These life spans appear to be similar to those that meagre data suggest for tagged N. cinerea in the wild.

Breeding Biology of Brushtail Possums Trichosurus vulpecula (Marsupialia, Phalangeridae) in Captivity.

1995 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
R.T. Gemmell
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Reproductive Capability

The brushtail possum is a common arboreal marsupial that is well adapted to the Australian urban environment and to rearing in captivity. Data obtained from 100 female possums housed in a semi-captive colony over a 7 year period demonstrate the reproductive capability of this marsupial. The main breeding season is from March to June with a declining number of births occurring from July to October. The possums gave birth to 259 single young and one set of twins. The range of the lactation period was from 177 to 200 days with the birth of the subsequent young occurring at 188.4 ± 4.1 days post partum (SD, n = 5). The growth rate of the young female possum varied greatly after day 100 post partum, the mean body weight of possums at day 172, being 753.0 ± 76.2g (SD, n = 5) with a range of 685 to 851 g. Female possums, with a mean body weight of 2171 ± 388g, gave birth to their first litter on day 345.9 ± 69.3 days postpartum (mean, SD, n = 7). Although two female possums trapped in the wild were held in captivity for 64 and 63.4 months and one possum bred in captivity had a life span of 51.5 months, the mean life span was 21.0 ± 12.5 months (SD, n =3D 8), with a range of 14.3 to 51.5 months. This life span is very variable and it is of interest to determine if this is an artefact of captivity or is also observed in the wild.

Reproduction in the red-legged pademelon, Thylogale stigmatica Gould (Marsupialia : Macropodidae), and age estimation and development of pouch young

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Johnson ◽  
K Vernes
Keyword(s):  
Age Estimation ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Age Determination ◽  
Gestation Period ◽  
Growth Equation ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Mean

The reproduction of Thylogale stigmatica in captivity was studied and a predictive growth equation for age determination of the pouch young was developed. The general pattern of reproduction involved an oestrous cycle of 29-32 days, a gestation period of 28-30 days and a mean pouch life of 184 days. A post-partum oestrus and mating generally followed birth. Births were observed in all months in captivity, and from October to June in the wild. Mean age of weaning of young was 66 days following permanent pouch emergence, and the mean ages at maturity for females and males was 341 and 466 days, respectively.

Non-invasive monitoring of reproductive status in wild mongoose lemurs (Eulemur mongoz)

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah J. Curtis ◽  
Alphonse Zaramody ◽  
Daphne I. Green ◽  
Amanda R. Pickard
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Prolonged Storage ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Endocrine Profiles ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Group A ◽  
Wild Group

Endocrine profiles were investigated in wild and captive mongoose lemurs (Eulemur mongoz; Lemuridae) by analysing faecal progestagens and oestrogens. Oestrous cycle characterization was not possible, as most females appeared to conceive during the first oestrus of the breeding season. Conception was preceded by a pseudo-oestrus with no discernible luteal phase. Pseudo-oestrus and oestrus identification was possible by investigating the oestrogen : progestagen ratio. Pregnancy was reliably determined approximately 47 days after conception, when progestagen and oestrogen excretion increased above breeding season concentrations. Gestation was further characterized by high progestagen concentrations and a decline in oestrogen excretion 70–80 days after conception. Post partum, progestagens declined, but oestrogen excretion increased to exceed breeding season concentrations. In the wild group, a nulliparous daughter conceived while still a member of her natal group and aborted after 70–80 days of pregnancy at which time progestagens had declined but oestrogens remained high. Comparisons with other strepsirhine primates suggest that pseudo-oestrus followed by conception at first oestrus may be prevalent in lemurs. Gestational progesterone profiles vary between species, but a delayed increase in oestrogens during pregnancy could be common to all strepsirhines, although oestrogen levels during the final trimester of pregnancy differ between lemurs and lorises. Methodological investigations showed that prolonged storage of faeces in ethanol is viable and that the presence of undigested vegetable matter in the faecal pellets had no effect on the interpretation of hormone profiles.

Population Parameters of Two Congeneric Possums, Trichosurus spp., in Norh Eastern New South Wales

1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 205 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA How
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Population Parameters ◽  
Bond Population ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Adult Sex Ratio ◽  
Population Strategy

In adjacent areas in north-eastern New South Wales, T. vulpecula occurs in the open forest and woodland and T. caninus occurs in the closed and tall open forest; both species are found in the pine plantation. T. vulpecula has a single breeding season in autumn when all females 1 y old and older reproduce. The young become independent around 175 days old and disperse at up to 2 y old. Mortality is low (15%) among dependent young but considerably higher among independent dispersing individuals. T. caninus also has a single autumn breeding season. The young become independent around 240 days old but disperse after 18-26 months, females moving before males. Mortality is high (56%) among dependent young but less so among subadults. An adult sex ratio of parity is the result of a higher survival among subadult males than females offsetting the reverse in adults. Some 2-y-old and all 3-y-old females reproduce but a few older females fail to breed in certain years. There is evidence that the high mortality of dependent young and failure of older females to breed is associated with offspring of previous years remaining in the population. Adult males and females appear to form a pair-bond. Population parameters of T. vulpecula described from other areas show considerable variation; this flexibility in population strategy explains the species' success in occupying a diversity of habitats and rapidly colonizing new areas.

Validation of the formation and appearance of annual marks in the otoliths of yellowtail (Trachurus novaezelandiae) and blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) in New South Wales

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Stewart ◽  
Douglas J. Ferrell ◽  
Neil L. Andrew
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Age Estimation ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Age Class ◽  
South Wales ◽  
In Captivity

Yellowtail (Trachurus novaezelandiae) and blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) were captured off the coast of New South Wales, marked with oxytetracycline, and kept in captivity for 1 year. The fish were periodically sampled to validate the use of their otoliths for age estimation. Opaque marks were formed during the year in the otoliths of yellowtail apparently aged 0 to 7 years and in apparently 1-year-old blue mackerel. These marks were formed in winter for both species, but did not become visible until early summer in some fish. There was an association between the growth rate of the otolith and the detection of opaque marks. Within an age class, fish with the fastest growing otoliths tended to have their most recently formed opaque marks visible earliest. These relationships between growth rate and the probability of correctly assigning an age class have important implications for ageing fish. Extra keyword: ageing

scholarly journals The phytochemical and morphological diversity analysis of Ziziphus nummularia (Burm.f.) Wight & Arn. populations in South of Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 588-603
Author(s):  
Kourosh ZANDIFAR ◽  
Hassanali NAGHID BADI ◽  
Ali MEHRAFARIN ◽  
Majid G. NOHOOJI
Keyword(s):  
Wild Population ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Leaf Length ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Ziziphus Nummularia ◽  
High Diversity

Ziziphus nummularia is a multipurpose and tropical tree with medicinal, nutritional, industrial, and economic values. This tree, which belongs to the Rhamnaceae family, is originated from the South of Asia and North of Africa. This research was carried out to investigate the phytochemical and morphological diversity of 20 wild populations collected from different Southern regions of Iran. Statistical significant difference ranges between population were found in respect to saponin of the leaf (2.2-5.4 mg/g) and fruit (1.2-3.2 mg/g), phenol of the leaf (0.7-2.9 mg/g) and fruit (0.03-0.4 mg/g), tannin of the leaf (0.8-3.5 mg/g) and fruit (1.5-1.7 mg/g), and flavonoid of the leaf (3.3-4.3 mg/g) and fruit (1.5-2.4 mg/g). A factor analysis based on principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first three components (PC1-PC3) explain 79.04% of total variations. The first component (PC1) is explained by the most important traits of the PCA coefficient such as the leaf saponin, width of the end leaf, fruit saponin, length of the end leaf, leaf length and width, and leaf phenol with 42% of the total variation. Hierarchical cluster analysis divided the populations into four main groups with high diversity. In general, the Izeh Tarakab population had the highest content of leaf and fruit saponin. The content of leaf and fruit saponin as the major secondary metabolite could be a good determinant for detecting diversity in the wild population of Z. nummularia.

Nematode parasites of free-living rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) in eastern Australia

1966 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
JD Dunsmore
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Nematode Parasites ◽  
South Central ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Regular Sampling ◽  
A Site ◽  
North Western

(1) Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (Zeder, 1800) in wild rabbits in Australia has been studied by more or less regular sampling of rabbit populations in four climatically different areas of eastern Australia. (2) In a semi-arid locality in north-western New South Wales, T. retortaeformis is rarely found; in a subtropical area of south-central Queensland it was found only in small numbers and many rabbits were apparently free of infection. In an area of the Riverina district of New South Wales most rabbits were infected but parasite numbers were rarely high. The highest levels of infection were recorded at a site in a subalpine area of New South Wales. (3) It was possible to build up a detailed picture of the dynamics of T. retortaeformis in rabbits throughout their lives at Snowy Plains, the subalpine site, in which breeding of rabbits is limited to a relatively few months each year. During their first 6-8 months of life (prior to their first breeding season) male and female rabbits carry moderate numbers of T. retortaeformis with the males carrying somewhat more parasites than the females. During the breeding season T. retortaeformis numbers in female rabbits increase very markedly (about tenfold) while numbers in male rabbits are decreasing to a low level (their lowest during the year). Following breeding, worm numbers in female rabbits drop quite rapidly while those in males increase to a similarly moderate level. Apparently a similar cycle of events occurs during each 12 months of a rabbit's life. (4) At Urana, in the Riverina plain region the cycle of events described above for Snowy Plains could not be seen, although T. retortaeformis was found in moderate numbers. This may have been due to infrequent sampling, lack of a defined rabbit breeding season, or some other factor.

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