Enhancing reproductive assessments of the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris by establishing optimal time period and inhibin B baseline concentrations

Abstract

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 39:283-292 (2019) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00972 Enhancing reproductive assessments of the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris by establishing optimal time period and inhibin B baseline concentrations Dana L. Wetzel1,*, John E. Reynolds III1,†, Robert K. Bonde2, Ryan W. Schloesser1, Leslie Schwierzke-Wade1,3, William E. Roudebush4 1Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA 2US Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA 3University of South Florida, College of Marine Sciences, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA 4University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Greenville, SC 29605, USA *Corresponding author: dana@mote.org†Deceased ABSTRACT: The Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris occupies coastal and riverine habitats that may influence the species’ endogenous biological rhythms, including its reproductive potential. Inhibin B provides a biomarker of gonadal function and reproductive potential in humans and other eutherian mammals. This study examined the influence of size, sex, and time of year on inhibin B levels in manatees sampled among 3 habitats with varying degrees of environmental stress in Florida. Inhibin B levels in 38 males averaged (±SE) 4.90 ± 0.23 pg ml-1; the average level in 31 females was 5.63 ± 0.46 pg ml-1. Elevated patterns in inhibin B were exhibited between mid-March and mid-August corresponding to increased mating activity and testicular function, with significant differences in inhibin B levels between male and female manatees (p = 0.03) throughout the year. No significant differences in inhibin B were detected between low- and high-impacted sampling locations during winter, suggesting the potential influence of environmental stress on manatee reproduction may be best examined between mid-March and mid-August—the midpoint of the reproductively active, non-winter time period. Establishing temporal baselines for inhibin B values may be useful in assessing manatee reproductive status and potential conservation threats, shedding light on fertility potential, and enabling future assessment of the effects of stressors on reproduction in Florida manatees. KEY WORDS: Florida manatee · Inhibin B · Reproduction · Conservation Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Wetzel DL, Reynolds JE III, Bonde RK, Schloesser RW, Schwierzke-Wade L, Roudebush WE (2019) Enhancing reproductive assessments of the Florida manatee Trichechus manatus latirostris by establishing optimal time period and inhibin B baseline concentrations. Endang Species Res 39:283-292. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00972 Export citation Mail this link - Contents Mailing Lists - RSS Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 39. Online publication date: August 22, 2019 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2019 Inter-Research.