Aspects of the life history and breeding biology of the Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus), (Marsupialia: Burramyidae) in alpine Victoria.

1990 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
I.M. Mansergh ◽  
J. Scotts D
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Rare Event ◽  
Cycle Period ◽  
Differential Survival ◽  
Active Season ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
In The Wild

From February 1982 to November 1989, a trapping and captive breeding program was undertaken to examine the life history of the vulnerable Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus), the only Australian mammal restricted to the alpine and subalpine region. During the active season (Oct.-Apr.) over 38 000 trapnights in the habitat throughout Victoria yielded over 900 individual B. parvus captured on over 3 800 occasions. Burramys parvus is a polyoestrous species (mean cycle period of 20.3 days) and produces supernumerary young, up to twice the number of available teats (4). In the wild, breeding is highly synchronised to spring and a single litter is carried p.a. (x = 3.6; mode = 4). Whilst B. parvus retains the capacity to produce a second litter, this is a rare event in the wild and would be selected against as there would be insufficient time to obtain fat reserves for hibernation. At birth and independence the sex ratio of the cohort is at parity, yet at any time the sex ratio of the B. parvus population is always biased toward females due to differential survival of the sexes (at breeding I M: 4-6 F). In autumn, females that would survive winter were on average > 12 % heavier than those not retrapped. One female was at least 11 years old whilst the oldest male recorded was 4 years. Burramys parvus is the longest lived small terrestrial mammal known. Aspects of the life histo ry are discussed in the context of adaptions to the alpine environment and are compared to other small mammals in the habitat and in other cold climates, and to other small marsupial diprotodonts.

scholarly journals Historical DNA analysis reveals living descendants of an extinct species of Galápagos tortoise

2008 ◽  
Vol 105 (40) ◽  
pp. 15464-15469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikos Poulakakis ◽  
Scott Glaberman ◽  
Michael Russello ◽  
Luciano B. Beheregaray ◽  
Claudio Ciofi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Charles Darwin ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
Galapagos Archipelago ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
In The Wild

Giant tortoises, a prominent symbol of the Galápagos archipelago, illustrate the influence of geological history and natural selection on the diversification of organisms. Because of heavy human exploitation, 4 of the 15 known species (Geochelone spp.) have disappeared. Charles Darwin himself detailed the intense harvesting of one species, G. elephantopus, which once was endemic to the island of Floreana. This species was believed to have been exterminated within 15 years of Darwin's historic visit to the Galápagos in 1835. The application of modern DNA techniques to museum specimens combined with long-term study of a system creates new opportunities for identifying the living remnants of extinct taxa in the wild. Here, we use mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite data obtained from museum specimens to show that the population on Floreana was evolutionarily distinct from all other Galápagos tortoise populations. It was demonstrated that some living individuals on the nearby island of Isabela are genetically distinct from the rest of the island's inhabitants. Surprisingly, we found that these “non-native” tortoises from Isabela are of recent Floreana ancestry and closely match the genetic data provided by the museum specimens. Thus, we show that the genetic line of G. elephantopus has not been completely extinguished and still exists in an intermixed population on Isabela. With enough individuals to commence a serious captive breeding program, this finding may help reestablish a species that was thought to have gone extinct more than a century ago and illustrates the power of long-term genetic analysis and the critical role of museum specimens in conservation biology.

scholarly journals Complex admixture preceded and followed the extinction of wisent in the wild

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Węcek ◽  
Stefanie Hartmann ◽  
Johanna L. A. Paijmans ◽  
Ulrike Taron ◽  
Georgios Xenikoudakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Incomplete Lineage Sorting ◽  
Population History ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Lineage Sorting ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
Before And After ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Population Processes ◽  
Using Data

AbstractRetracing complex population processes that precede extreme bottlenecks may be impossible using data from living individuals. The wisent (Bison bonasus), Europe’s largest terrestrial mammal, exemplifies such a population history, having gone extinct in the wild but subsequently restored by captive breeding efforts. Using low coverage genomic data from modern and historical individuals, we investigate population processes occurring before and after this extinction. Analysis of aligned genomes supports the division of wisent into two previously recognised subspecies, but almost half of the genomic alignment contradicts this population history as a result of incomplete lineage sorting and admixture. Admixture between subspecies populations occurred prior to extinction and subsequently during the captive breeding program. Admixture with the Bos cattle lineage is also widespread but results from ancient events rather than recent hybridisation with domestics. Our study demonstrates the huge potential of historical genomes for both studying evolutionary histories and for guiding conservation strategies.

scholarly journals Rarely Observed Behaviors and Occurrences of Black-footed Ferrets Preconditioning for Wild Release 2014–2017

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-249
Author(s):  
Tyler N. Tretten
Keyword(s):  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Cynomys Ludovicianus ◽  
Intermediate Step ◽  
Prairie Dog ◽  
Mustela Nigripes ◽  
Crotalus Viridis ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Endangered Status

Abstract Black-footed ferrets Mustela nigripes became extinct in the wild in 1987 when the last known wild animals were removed from a remnant population in an attempt to save the species by beginning a captive breeding program. Breeding efforts were successful, and since 1991 wildlife managers have annually released ferrets back into the wild at sites within the ferrets' historic range. Before their release into the wild, ferrets undergo a preconditioning stage in a quasi-natural habitat which better prepares them for life in the wild after a captive upbringing. Due to their nocturnal, fossorial, and largely solitary lifestyle, combined with their expansive habitat and endangered status, there are undoubtedly a multitude of behaviors ferrets exhibit that are not commonly observed. Here I detail multiple aspects of rarely described black-footed ferret ecology including black-tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus hunting stratagems, interactions with prairie rattlesnakes Crotalus viridis viridis, predation on birds, and sudden unexplained deaths of entire ferret family groups. The preconditioning setting that serves as an intermediate step between a captive and wild life for captive-reared ferrets allows for wildlife managers to witness ferret behaviors, though similar situations conceivably occur somewhat regularly in the wild.

scholarly journals The effect of captivity on the oral health of the critically endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.S. Antonelli ◽  
C.L. Leischner ◽  
J.J. Ososky ◽  
A. Hartstone-Rose
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Periodontal Diseases ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Prairie Dogs ◽  
Westward Expansion ◽  
Mustela Nigripes ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
Soft Diet ◽  
In The Wild

Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes (Audubon and Bachman, 1851)), a North American species of mustelid, faced near extinction after westward expansion during the 20th century destroyed a majority of the population of prairie dogs (genus Cynomys Rafinesque, 1817), their primary food source. Fearing extinction of the black-footed ferret, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured the entire population between 1985 and 1987 and began a captive breeding program. While in captivity, the fertility and genetic diversity of the species was closely monitored; however, there is little information about other health consequences of this breeding program. For instance, the black-footed ferrets have been fed a diet that is very different than what they consume in the wild. How did the composition of this diet affect the oral health of these animals? An analysis of dentition of wild and captive black-footed ferrets reveals that calculus accumulation and periodontal diseases occurred with greater severity in captive black-footed ferrets, suggesting that such oral pathologies arose from the unnaturally soft diet fed to them. These findings offer insight into how mechanical properties of diet can affect oral health and how these dietary properties should be considered, not only in regard to the health of black-footed ferrets but also to the health of all mammals including humans.

scholarly journals Born to Be Wild: Evaluating the Zoo-Based Regent Honeyeater Breed for Release Program to Optimise Individual Success and Conservation Outcomes in the Wild

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy S. Tripovich ◽  
Gordana Popovic ◽  
Andrew Elphinstone ◽  
Dean Ingwersen ◽  
Glen Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Pedigree Information ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Captive Breeding Program ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Release Program ◽  
Individual Success ◽  
The Impact

Evaluating the effectiveness of captive breeding programs is central to improving conservation outcomes in released animals. However, few studies have assessed the impact of the strategies and trade-offs involved in husbandry decisions and the selection of traits on the success of breeding programs. This study evaluated a range of husbandry features including an animal's environment, health, and traits of the released individual and its parents involved in the zoo-based Regent Honeyeater breed for release program to optimise individual reproductive success and survivability, leading to improved conservation outcomes in the wild. We analysed 285 birds using a penalised Cox proportional hazard model to assess survival and an ordinal logistic model to evaluate the reproductive success of zoo bred birds released to the wild. Key features identified by the study highlight the importance of having parents that are successful breeders and parents that have an overall higher lifetime reproductive output. However, there were associated quantity-quality trade-offs, as the success of young (i.e., released birds) produced by parents was negatively associated to the number of clutches per year (where one clutch per year was found optimal). The study demonstrated the importance of considering the parental effects on the traits of its offspring beyond its pedigree information and found there was an associated decline in fitness of its offspring with older fathers. Song tutoring using wild Regent Honeyeaters was also important for increased survival post-release. Other important factors are discussed within the review. In general, the study recommended that a multi-faceted approach in the assessment and evaluation of the captive breeding program, to identify markers that will improve conservation outcomes of future releases.

Prey tell: what quillback rockfish early life history traits reveal about their survival in encounters with juvenile coho salmon

2020 ◽  
Vol 650 ◽  
pp. 7-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
HW Fennie ◽  
S Sponaugle ◽  
EA Daly ◽  
RD Brodeur
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Otolith Microstructure Analysis ◽  
Pelagic Juvenile

Predation is a major source of mortality in the early life stages of fishes and a driving force in shaping fish populations. Theoretical, modeling, and laboratory studies have generated hypotheses that larval fish size, age, growth rate, and development rate affect their susceptibility to predation. Empirical data on predator selection in the wild are challenging to obtain, and most selective mortality studies must repeatedly sample populations of survivors to indirectly examine survivorship. While valuable on a population scale, these approaches can obscure selection by particular predators. In May 2018, along the coast of Washington, USA, we simultaneously collected juvenile quillback rockfish Sebastes maliger from both the environment and the stomachs of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch. We used otolith microstructure analysis to examine whether juvenile coho salmon were age-, size-, and/or growth-selective predators of juvenile quillback rockfish. Our results indicate that juvenile rockfish consumed by salmon were significantly smaller, slower growing at capture, and younger than surviving (unconsumed) juvenile rockfish, providing direct evidence that juvenile coho salmon are selective predators on juvenile quillback rockfish. These differences in early life history traits between consumed and surviving rockfish are related to timing of parturition and the environmental conditions larval rockfish experienced, suggesting that maternal effects may substantially influence survival at this stage. Our results demonstrate that variability in timing of parturition and sea surface temperature leads to tradeoffs in early life history traits between growth in the larval stage and survival when encountering predators in the pelagic juvenile stage.

scholarly journals The impact of sex ratio and economic status on local birth rates

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 20130027 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Chipman ◽  
E. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Female Competition ◽  
Birth Rates ◽  
Economically Deprived ◽  
Human Mating ◽  
The Impact

Human mating and reproductive behaviour can vary depending on various mechanisms, including the local sex ratio. Previous research shows that as sex ratios become female-biased, women from economically deprived areas are less likely to delay reproductive opportunities to wait for a high-investing mate but instead begin their reproductive careers sooner. Here, we show that the local sex ratio also has an impact on female fertility schedules. At young ages, a female-biased ratio is associated with higher birth rates in the poorest areas, whereas the opposite is true for the richest areas. At older ages, a female-biased ratio is associated with higher birth rates in the richest, but not the poorest areas. These patterns suggest that female–female competition encourages poorer women to adopt a fast life-history strategy and give birth early, and richer women to adopt a slow life-history strategy and delay reproduction.

scholarly journals Phenotypic plasticity of labile traits in the wild

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon E. Brommer
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Statistical Approach ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Quantitative Genetic Parameters

Abstract Individual-based studies allow quantification of phenotypic plasticity in behavioural, life-history and other labile traits. The study of phenotypic plasticity in the wild can shed new light on the ultimate objectives (1) whether plasticity itself can evolve or is constrained by its genetic architecture, and (2) whether plasticity is associated to other traits, including fitness (selection). I describe the main statistical approach for how repeated records of individuals and a description of the environment (E) allow quantification of variation in plasticity across individuals (IxE) and genotypes (GxE) in wild populations. Based on a literature review of life-history and behavioural studies on plasticity in the wild, I discuss the present state of the two objectives listed above. Few studies have quantified GxE of labile traits in wild populations, and it is likely that power to detect statistically significant GxE is lacking. Apart from the issue of whether it is heritable, plasticity tends to correlate with average trait expression (not fully supported by the few genetic estimates available) and may thus be evolutionary constrained in this way. Individual-specific estimates of plasticity tend to be related to other traits of the individual (including fitness), but these analyses may be anti-conservative because they predominantly concern stats-on-stats. Despite the increased interest in plasticity in wild populations, the putative lack of power to detect GxE in such populations hinders achieving general insights. I discuss possible steps to invigorate the field by moving away from simply testing for presence of GxE to analyses that ‘scale up’ to population level processes and by the development of new behavioural theory to identify quantitative genetic parameters which can be estimated.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document