IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Howard, J.G.; Wildt, D.E. | |
| Physiological Reproduction in Felids and Contributions to Conservation | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
Biomedical advances have allowed 'hands-on' studies of reproductive anatomy, gametes, fertilization, developmental biology and sperm cryosensitivity in felids. The advent of noninvasive fecal hormone monitoring has permitted characterizing gonadal cyclicity, pregnancy and seasonality with emerging insights into adrenal function (stress). Twenty-eight of 36 extant wild felid species have benefited from these approaches. Basic studies continue to identify fascinating phenomena ranging from teratospermia (extraordinary numbers of malformed sperm) to exquisite light sensitivity in regulating seasonality (Pallas' cat) to influence of management/social systems on eliciting stress (clouded leopard) or reproductive suppression (cheetah). Applied research has focused mostly on assessing reproductive status in captivity or nature. For example, finding that Florida panthers ejaculated >90% pleiomorphic sperm helped justify subsequent _in situ_ genetic restoration. Certain 'assisted breeding' techniques, especially artificial insemination, also are being applied to manage felids _ex situ_. In summary, modern tools in reproductive sciences have been used to significantly increase scholarly knowledge about felids. Particularly revealing is that the mechanisms regulating reproduction are not always conserved across the Felidae family. Certain approaches also have application for assessing fertility potential of wild felids in captivity or nature, with a subset being tested to maximize retention of genetic diversity within _ex situ_ populations. |
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