Parental Age, Inbreeding and Incubation Method Influence Extremely Low Hatching Success in the Ex‐Situ Population of the Extinct in the Wild Sihek

Stopping declines in biodiversity is critically important, but it is only a first step toward achieving more ambitious conservation goals. The absence of an objective and practical definition of species recovery that is applicable across taxonomic groups leads to inconsistent targets in recovery plans and frustrates reporting and maximization of conservation impact. We devised a framework for comprehensively assessing species recovery and conservation success. We propose a definition of a fully recovered species that emphasizes viability, ecological functionality, and representation; and use counterfactual approaches to quantify degree of recovery. This allowed us to calculate a set of 4 conservation metrics that demonstrate impacts of conservation efforts to date (conservation legacy); identify dependence of a species on conservation actions (conservation dependence); quantify expected gains resulting from conservation action in the medium term (conservation gain); and specify requirements to achieve maximum plausible recovery over the long term (recovery potential). These metrics can incentivize the establishment and achievement of ambitious conservation targets. We illustrate their use by applying the framework to a vertebrate, an invertebrate, and a woody and an herbaceous plant. Our approach is a preliminary framework for an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Species, which was mandated by a resolution of IUCN members in 2012. Although there are several challenges in applying our proposed framework to a wide range of species, we believe its further development, implementation, and integration with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species will help catalyze a positive and ambitious vision for conservation that will drive sustained conservation action.

Advisory counsel survey and the role of IUI

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 33:143-158 (2017) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00775 Low reproductive success rates of common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in the northern Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon disaster (2010-2015) Nicholas M. Kellar1,*, Todd R. Speakman2, Cynthia R. Smith3, Suzanne M. Lane2, Brian C. Balmer2,4, Marisa L. Trego1, Krista N. Catelani1, Michelle N. Robbins1, Camryn D. Allen1, Randall S. Wells4, Eric S. Zolman2, Teresa K. Rowles5, Lori H. Schwacke2 1Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA 2Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA 3National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA 4Chicago Zoological Society, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA 5Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA *Corresponding author: nick.kellar@noaa.gov ABSTRACT: Following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, reproductive success rates in 2 northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) bottlenose dolphin stocks exposed to oil were evaluated for 4 yr during and after the spill (2010 to 2015) in efforts to assess population-level reproductive health. Pregnancy was determined from either (1) ultrasound examinations of the reproductive tract during capture-release health assessments, or (2) endocrine evaluations of blubber tissue collected from dart biopsies of free-ranging dolphins. Follow-up photo-identification was then used to track the status of pregnant females and any associated neonatal calves for a minimum of 1 yr after the initial pregnancy detection (IPD). For all pregnant females observed following IPD, individuals seen with a calf (reproductive success) and without one (reproductive failure) were recorded. The resulting estimated reproductive success rates for both GoM stocks (19.4%; 7/36) were less than a third of those previously reported in other areas not impacted by the spill (i.e. Sarasota Bay, FL; Indian River Lagoon, FL; and Charleston Harbor, SC) using similar techniques (64.7%; 22/34). We also evaluated the relationships between reproductive success and 13 potential covariates, including stock, ordinal date, progesterone, cortisol, thyroid hormone concentrations, leukocyte count, lung health score, and total body length. Among these, the results only provide strong evidence (Bayes factor >20) of a relationship between reproductive failure and the total leukocyte count covariate. The high reproductive failure rates measured in both GoM stocks following the DWH oil spill are consistent with mammalian literature that shows a link between petroleum exposure and reproductive abnormalities and failures. KEY WORDS: Oil spill · Petroleum · Pregnancy · Reproductive failure · Cetacean · Blubber progesterone · Ultrasound Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Kellar NM, Speakman TR, Smith CR, Lane SM and others (2017) Low reproductive success rates of common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in the northern Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon disaster (2010-2015). Endang Species Res 33:143-158. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00775 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 33. Online publication date: January 31, 2017 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2017 Inter-Research.

A growing captive population erodes the wild Red-crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) in China

We have already proposed the new concept of “Reproductive Success Rate” (RSR) pertaining to the pollen grains deposited on a stigma and the ovules in a pollinated flower (Namai and Ohsawa 1986). The RSR of pollen grains deposited on a stigma (RSR-P) and the RSR of ovules in a pollinated flower (RSR-O, i.e. ordinary seed set percentage) are calculated from the following equations: RSR-P(%) = (No. of seeds obtained) × 100 / (No. of pollen grains deposited) RSR-O(%) = (No. of seeds obtained) × 100 / (No. of ovules in pollinated flower) We also described the possible effect of the number of pollen grains deposited on a stigma to RSR-P and RSR-O such that the highest RSR-P is accomplished under limited pollination with about 1:1 ratio of pollen grains deposited to ovules in pollinated flower. Such limited pollination is presumed to give rise to the lowest intensity of male gametic competition in post pollination.

Female sandflies, Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae), were fed via chicken membrane on heparinized blood from eight species of mammal (human, horse, cow, pig, dog, rabbit, guinea-pig, hamster) and their reproductive success rates were compared. No appreciable differences between those fed on human and animal blood were detected with respect to the proportion of flies that fed successfully, mortality-rate within 24h, number of eggs laid per blood-fed female or egg viability. When mass-rearing sandflies for research purposes, membrane-feeding avoids practical difficulties encountered if sandflies are allowed to feed on live hosts (i.e. anaesthesia, distress from handling and postfeeding inflammation) and reduction of sandfly fecundity due to host antibody interference. Use of animal blood also eliminates risks of accidental transmission of human blood-borne pathogens, e.g. hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and is less expensive than maintenance of animals and their preparation for sandfly feeding.

This study employs mathematical modeling to investigate the impact of sex ratio changes on the sea lamprey population dynamics. Utilizing differential equations and specific models for population growth, reproduction success, and resource utilization efficiency, the study examines the effects of sex ratio on population dynamics, reproduction success rates, and resource usage efficiency. Diagrams illustrating variations in sex ratio and population quantities offer insights into their effects on population growth and ecological dynamics. The findings suggest that altering the sex ratio significantly influences reproductive success, resource efficiency, and overall ecosystem dynamics, potentially leading to changes in reproduction rates, population structure, genetic diversity, and predator-prey relationships. By analyzing the boosted Lotka-Volterra model, the study demonstrates that as the sex ratio effect (alpha) increases, significant fluctuations occur in prey populations, contributing to environmental instability. Moreover, predator populations exhibit greater variations and a sharp decline, indicating the intricate interaction between sex ratio, prey stability, and ecosystem dynamics. The conclusion is that changes in sex ratio have a significant impact on the ecosystem. Possible issues that might arise include changes in reproduction rate and population growth rate, changes in population structure, reduced genetic diversity, and changes in predator-prey relations. These results highlight the critical role of sex ratio in population dynamics and ecosystem stability, emphasizing the need for further exploration and management strategies in marine ecosystems.

The koala, Phascolarctos cinereus, is a seasonal breeder and the females are capable of producing one young each year. However, in many koala populations fertility among females is low. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of low reproductive success in female koalas, and to suggest procedures for the management of populations with low fertility. The main study was conducted between 1982 and 1984 on two island populations in Western Port Bay, Victoria. One on French Island had a high rate of reproductive success and the other, on Phillip Island had a low rate of reproductive success. Additional data were collected from a population in the Brisbane Ranges National Park, Victoria. A correlation was established between habitat and low reproductive success. On Phillip Island a sub-population of koalas feeding exclusively on Eucalyptus globulus foliage had the lowest reproductive success. Animals feeding on E.viminalis and E.ovata had the highest reproductive success, and the fertility of animals feeding on a mixture of the three species was intermediate.

Modern zoos actively collaborate in the conservation of many endangered species by captive breeding for reintroduction. This paper presents the reproductive success of a captive colony of northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita (NBI) at ZooBotanico de Jerez between 1993 and 2013 (21 years). Between 2004 and 2011 was “Proyecto Eremita”, a study of the best releasing techniques for hand-reared NBI in Cadiz in order to establish a free-range, self-sustained population in the wild. During this period, first-clutch eggs were artificially incubated and chicks were hand reared until fledgling stage, allowing the pair to produce a second or replacement clutch that was parent reared. This paper compares the colony’s reproductive success between the years where one single clutch was reared by the pairs (n=13) and the years of Proyecto Eremita (n=8), with two clutches, the first hand reared and the second parent reared. The reproductive success rate was measured in 300 nests. A total of 268 fledglings reached 2 months old, the age considered here as the reproductive success. Two reproductive variables were significantly higher during the Proyecto Eremita years: mean number of fledglings per nest (1.8 versus 0.3) and overall number of fledglings recorded per year (26.5 versus 4.3). The reproductive success of hand-reared clutches was similar to parent-reared clutches. There was a significant and negative effect of colony size on the percentage of birds paired and on reproductive success. Parent-reared clutches during the Proyecto Eremita showed a higher reproductive success compared to parent-reared clutches outside this period. The data show that a remarkably high percentage of mating pairs outside of the Proyecto Eremita period failed at reproduction, probably due to density-dependent effects. The combination of hand-rearing and parent-rearing methods used in this study was a very effective tool to significantly increase the number of fledglings produced for the reintroduction programme.

Linking population viability, habitat suitability, and landscape simulation models for conservation planning

In a 10-wk study, alterations in the rate of fertility, egg viability, and hatch parameters of adult geese exposed to different breeding methods were investigated. Twenty-four matured geese (4.0 ± 0.45 average weight) were randomly divided into three groups (TNM-natural mating group, TIM-artificial insemination group, TNI-natural mating and insemination group) of two replicates with four geese per replicate in a completely randomized design. Fresh semen collected from six ganders (5.2 ± 0.69 average weight) was pooled and used to inseminate the geese in TIM and TN1 at 0.2Ml at insemination times. The geese in TNM and TNI were allowed to mate naturally. Insemination and mating was done at 3 d interval and eggs from each treatment were collected daily. Incubation of eggs was done weekly, candling and transfer to hatcher were done on day 27 and goslings hatched out on day 30. Fertility, early embryo mortality (EEM), mid embryo mortality (MEM), late embryo mortality (LEM), hatch of fertile eggs (HOF), and hatch of set eggs (HOS) were obtained and analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA and means separated using least significant difference test. Geese in TNI had significantly higher fertility (93.33 ± 10.97%) than TNM (59.67 ± 31.29%) and TIM (83.60 ± 17.14%). The EEM was higher in TIM than in the two other groups while the HOF and HOS were higher in TNM and TNI than in TIM. This study suggests that in comparison with TIM, higher fertility, hatchability, and lower embryo mortality can be obtained when geese are inseminated and naturally mated simultaneously.

To estimate the future pregnancy success rate in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss. A retrospective cohort study including 103 women seen at a clinic for recurrent pregnancy loss (loss group) between January 2006 and December 2010 and a control group including 204 pregnant women seen at a low-risk prenatal care unit between May 2007 and April 2008. Both groups were seen in the university teaching hospital the Maternidade Climério de Oliveira, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Reproductive success rate was defined as an alive-birth, independent of gestational age at birth and survival after the neonatal period. Continuous variables Means and standard deviations (SD) were compared using Student's t-test and nominal variables proportions by Pearson χ2test. Out of 90 who conceived, 83 (91.2%) had reproductive success rate. There were more full-term pregnancies in the control than in the loss group (174/187; 92.1 versus 51/90; 56.7%; p<0.01). The prenatal visits number was satisfactory for 76 (85.4%) women in the loss group and 125 (61.3%) in the control (p<0.01). In this, the beginning of prenatal care was earlier (13.3; 4.2 versus 19.6; 6.9 weeks). During pregnancy, the loss group women increased the weight more than those in the control group (58.1 versus 46.6%; p=0.04). Although cervix cerclage was performed in 32/90 women in the loss group, the pregnancy duration mean was smaller (34.8 weeks; SD=5.6 versus 39.3 weeks; SD=1.6; p<0.01) than in the control group. Due to gestational complications, cesarean delivery predominated in the loss group (55/83; 64.7 versus 73/183; 39.5%; p<0.01). A very good reproductive success rate can be attributed to greater availability of healthcare services to receive pregnant women, through prenatal visits (scheduled or not), cervical cerclage performed on time, and available hospital care for the mother and newborn.

PURPOSETo estimate the future pregnancy success rate in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.METHODSA retrospective cohort study including 103 women seen at a clinic for recurrent pregnancy loss (loss group) between January 2006 and December 2010 and a control group including 204 pregnant women seen at a low-risk prenatal care unit between May 2007 and April 2008. Both groups were seen in the university teaching hospital the Maternidade Climério de Oliveira, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Reproductive success rate was defined as an alive-birth, independent of gestational age at birth and survival after the neonatal period. Continuous variables Means and standard deviations (SD) were compared using Student's t-test and nominal variables proportions by Pearson χ2test.RESULTSOut of 90 who conceived, 83 (91.2%) had reproductive success rate. There were more full-term pregnancies in the control than in the loss group (174/187; 92.1 versus 51/90; 56.7%; p<0.01). The prenatal visits number was satisfactory for 76 (85.4%) women in the loss group and 125 (61.3%) in the control (p<0.01). In this, the beginning of prenatal care was earlier (13.3; 4.2 versus 19.6; 6.9 weeks). During pregnancy, the loss group women increased the weight more than those in the control group (58.1 versus 46.6%; p=0.04). Although cervix cerclage was performed in 32/90 women in the loss group, the pregnancy duration mean was smaller (34.8 weeks; SD=5.6 versus 39.3 weeks; SD=1.6; p<0.01) than in the control group. Due to gestational complications, cesarean delivery predominated in the loss group (55/83; 64.7 versus 73/183; 39.5%; p<0.01).CONCLUSIONA very good reproductive success rate can be attributed to greater availability of healthcare services to receive pregnant women, through prenatal visits (scheduled or not), cervical cerclage performed on time, and available hospital care for the mother and newborn.

We examined hatching success, predation rates, rates of parasitism, sex ratio, and egg viability in eggs of the eastern spiny softshell (Apalone spiniferus spiniferus), a threatened species in Canada. Eggs were monitored from three populations, located at Thames River, Rondeau Provincial Park, and the Long Point National Wildlife Area, in southern Ontario, Canada in 1998. Concurrently, we measured organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans from eggs from the same nests. Contaminant concentrations in eggs were similar among sites. There was no correlation between hatching success, parasitism and depredation rates, or the proportion of hatchlings that were males with total PCBs or individual pesticides, but there was a positive correlation between egg viability with concentrations in eggs of total PCBs, and with five pesticides. We found no evidence that the reproductive success of softshell turtles was compromised due to organochlorine contamination. The most important factors determining hatching success of eggs was predation, followed by egg viability and parasitism.

The effects of oocyte aging on meiotic spindle dynamics have been well recognised, but the mechanisms underlying the effects are not well understood. In this paper we review the role of centrosomes and the microtubule cytoskeleton in meiotic spindle formation and maintenance, and the impact of oocyte aging on spindle integrity resulting in centrosome and microtubule dysfunctions that are associated with aneuploidy. Loss of spindle integrity includes dispersion of proteins from the centrosome core structure and loss of attachment of microtubules to centrosomes and kinetochores, which will result in abnormal chromosome separation. The inability of centrosomal proteins to accurately associate with the centrosome structure may be the result of destabilisation of the core structure itself or of microtubule destabilisation at the centrosome-facing microtubule areas that are acetylated in fresh oocytes but may not be acetylated in aging oocytes. Microtubule destabilisation prevents accurate motor-driven transport of centrosomal proteins along microtubules to form and maintain a functional centrosome. Other factors to form and maintain the MII spindle include signal transductions that affect microtubule dynamics and stability. Understanding the mechanisms underlying centrosome and microtubule dysfunctions during oocyte aging will allow diagnosis and analysis of oocyte quality and abnormalities as important aspects for targeted treatment of aging oocytes to extend or restore viability and developmental capacity. New therapeutic approaches will allow improvements in reproductive success rates in IVF clinics, as well as improvements in reproductive success rates in farm animals. This review is focused on: (1) centrosome and microtubule dynamics in fresh and aging oocytes; (2) regulation of centrosome and/or microtubule dynamics and function; and (3) possible treatments to extend the oocyte's reproductive capacity and viability span.