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Swinbourne AM, Phillips CJC, Janssen T, Lisle A, Keeley T, Johnston SD. Reproductive biology of captive female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Part 2: oestrous behaviour. Reprod Fertil Dev 2018; 30:1424-1433. [PMID: 29742384 DOI: 10.1071/rd17539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The poor captive breeding success of southern hairy-nosed wombats (SHNWs; Lasiorhinus latifrons) has been attributed to the difficulty in accurately characterising oestrous behaviour and their relationship to circulating reproductive hormones. Over two wombat breeding seasons, the use of infrared cameras for 24-h remote behavioural monitoring and the analysis of urine samples collected from seven captive females, were investigated to determine the relationship between behaviour and changes in urinary progesterone metabolites (P4M). Urinary P4M was divided into two concentrations: (1) ≤ baseline P4M values and (2)>baseline P4M values and evaluated against urine volume (mL) and the duration (s) and frequency of 23 behaviours recorded for 8 days surrounding D0 of the luteal phase (D0: a sustained increase in P4M for three or more consecutive days). When P4M was ≤ baseline, the duration of urination and volume both decreased, whereas the duration and frequency of both pacing and rump bites by the female towards the male increased. These results suggest that there were detectable behavioural changes that can be mapped to the changes in the SHNW oestrous cycle, which may be used as behavioural indicators to identify the reproductive status of females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyce M Swinbourne
- Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Ground Floor, Building 8117A, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
| | - Clive J C Phillips
- Centre of Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Science, Room 102, White House (Gatton), The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
| | - Tina Janssen
- Australian Animals Care and Education, PO Box 138, Mount Larcom, Qld 4695, Australia
| | - Allan Lisle
- Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Ground Floor, Building 8117A, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
| | - Tamara Keeley
- Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Ground Floor, Building 8117A, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
| | - Stephen D Johnston
- Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Ground Floor, Building 8117A, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
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Swinbourne AM, Johnston SD, Janssen T, Lisle A, Keeley T. Reproductive biology of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Part 1: oestrous cycle characterisation. Reprod Fertil Dev 2018; 30:1412-1423. [PMID: 29742383 DOI: 10.1071/rd17497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Southern hairy-nosed wombats (SHNWs: Lasiorhinus latifrons) do not breed well in captivity. To better understand their reproduction, daily urine samples were collected from nine captive females and analysed for volume (mL), specific gravity and a qualitative index of the number of epithelial cells, then stored at -20°C until samples could be analysed for progesterone metabolites (P4M). The mean oestrous cycle length was 35.1±2.4 days; however, individual cycle length ranged from 23 to 47 days. The mean luteal phase length was 20.8±1.3 days (range: 12 to 33 days). Urinary P4M was divided into four oestrous cycle stages: (1) early follicular phase, (2) late follicular phase, (3) early luteal phase, (4) late luteal phase, and analysed against urinary characteristics. During the late follicular phase, urine volume decreased (P=0.002) while urine specific gravity (P=0.001) and concentration of epithelial cells (P=0.004) both increased. The level of variability in oestrous cycle length suggests that some captive females may exhibit abnormal cycles; however, the changes in the urinary characteristics associated with the different stages of the oestrous cycle appear to offer a possible non-invasive means of monitoring the reproductive status of captive SHNWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyce M Swinbourne
- Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Ground Floor, Building 8117A, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
| | - Stephen D Johnston
- Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Ground Floor, Building 8117A, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
| | - Tina Janssen
- Australian Animals Care and Education, PO Box 138, Mount Larcom, Qld 4695, Australia
| | - Alan Lisle
- Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Ground Floor, Building 8117A, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
| | - Tamara Keeley
- Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Ground Floor, Building 8117A, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
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