How thermal ecophysiology assists the conservation of reptiles: case studies from New Zealand’s endemic fauna

Environmental temperature profoundly influences the body temperatures of reptiles, and hence the rates at which physiological processes occur. We review progress in understanding the thermal ecophysiology of New Zealand’s endemic, terrestrial reptiles (tuatara, geckos, and skinks), and in applying this knowledge to conservation. By understanding the constraints and opportunities that environmental temperature places on different life-history stages, including embryos in nests and those that develop within live-bearing females, we can plan better translocations, improve captive management, and make stronger predictions about risks from changes in climate. We encourage conservation physiologists to offer leadership in demonstrating the societal transformations necessary to sustain a liveable planet.

Veterinary science on the conservation frontline

Experienced veterinary professionals use their specialist expertise gained from working with various taxa in captive situations such as zoos, falconry and exotic pets, to assist with all stages of wildlife conservation projects from initial stabilisation of critically-endangered populations through captive management, reintroduction/translocation and long-term monitoring.

Veterinary science on the conservation frontline

Experienced veterinary professionals use their specialist expertise gained from working with various taxa in captive situations such as zoos, falconry and exotic pets, to assist with all stages of wildlife conservation projects from initial stabilisation of critically-endangered populations through captive management, reintroduction/translocation and long-term monitoring.

Non-invasive genetic sexing technique for analysis of short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) populations

Identifying male and female echidnas is challenging due to the lack of external genitalia or any other differing morphological features. This limits studies of wild populations and is a major problem for echidna captive management and breeding. Non-invasive genetic approaches to determine sex minimise the need for handling animals and are used extensively in other mammals. However, currently available approaches cannot be applied to monotremes because their sex chromosomes share no homology with sex chromosomes in other mammals. In this study we used recently identified X and Y chromosome-specific sequences to establish a non-invasive polymerase chain reaction-based technique to determine the sex of echidnas. Genomic DNA was extracted from echidna hair follicles followed by amplification of two Y chromosome (male-specific) genes (mediator complex subunit 26 Y-gametolog (CRSPY) and anti-Müllerian hormone Y-gametolog (AMHY)) and the X chromosome gene (anti-Müllerian hormone X-gametolog (AMHX)). Using this technique, we identified the sex of 10 juvenile echidnas born at Perth Zoo, revealing that eight of the 10 echidnas were female. Future use of the genetic sexing technique in echidnas will inform captive management, continue breeding success and can be used to investigate sex ratios and population dynamics in wild populations.