breeding period
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2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisca M. Real ◽  
Miguel Lao-Perez ◽  
Miguel Burgos ◽  
Stefan Mundlos ◽  
Dario G. Lupianez ◽  
...  

In species with seasonal breeding, male specimens undergo substantial testicular regression during the non-breeding period of the year. However, the molecular mechanisms that control this biological process are largely unknown. Here, we report a transcriptomic analysis on the Iberian mole, Talpa occidentalis, in which the desquamation of live, non-apoptotic germ cells is the major cellular event responsible for testis regression. By comparing testes at different reproductive states (active, regressing and inactive), we demonstrate that the molecular pathways controlling the cell adhesion function in the seminiferous epithelium, such as the MAPK, ERK and TGF-beta signalling, are altered during the regression process. In addition, inactive testes display a global upregulation of genes associated with immune response, indicating a selective loss of the immune privilege that normally operates in sexually active testes. Interspecies comparative analyses using analogous data from the Mediterranean pine vole, a rodent species where testis regression is controlled by halting meiosis entry, revealed a common gene expression signature in the regressed testes of these two evolutionary distant species. Our study advances in the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms associated to gonadal seasonal breeding, highlighting the existence of a conserved transcriptional program of testis involution across mammalian clades.


2022 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-210
Author(s):  
Ricardo Zambarda Vaz ◽  
◽  
Liliane Cérdotes ◽  
Rangel Fernandes Pacheco ◽  
Dayana Bernardi Sartori ◽  
...  

This study examines the impact of the body mass index (BMI) at calving on the development and postpartum efficiency of cows of Zebu origin. The study involved 87 cows and their calves [pure Nellore (N) or predominant Nellore composition in a cross with Charolais (C) (3/4N1/4C and 5/8N3/8C)]. The mothers were grouped into classes according to their BMI at calving, namely, ‘small’, ‘moderate’ and ‘large’. Body mass index was determined by dividing the body weight of the cows by their length and by hip height and then dividing the result by 10. Cows were weighed at calving, at weaning, at the end of the breeding period and at the diagnosis of pregnancy. Calves were weighed at birth, at early weaning (63 days) and at 210 of age. To evaluate milk yield and quality, milk was collected at 21, 42 and 63 days after calving. Milk yield was measured by the direct method, with manual milking, followed by analysis of the lactose, fat, total solids and crude protein contents. Pregnancy rate was similar between the three BMI groups; however, cows with a lower BMI were more efficient at calving in producing kilograms of calf per kilogram of cow kept. Higher BMI provide higher milk yields, without affecting its quality, as well as heavier calves at early weaning and at 210 days of age.


BMC Zoology ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuanmin Kong ◽  
Dan Liu ◽  
Atul Kathait ◽  
Yonglu Cui ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is the largest and one of the most endangered cats in the world. In wild and captive cats, communication is mainly dependent on olfaction. However, vocal communication also plays a key role between mother and cubs during the breeding period. How cubs express their physiological and psychological needs to their mother and companions by using acoustic signals is little known and mainly hindered by the difficult process of data collection. Here, we quantitatively summarized the vocal repertoire and behavioral contexts of captive Amur tiger cubs. The aim of the present work was to investigate the behavioral motivations of cub calls by considering influential factors of age, sex, and rearing experiences. Results The 5335 high-quality calls from 65 tiger cubs were classified into nine call types (Ar-1, Ar-2, Er, eee, Chuff, Growl, Hiss, Haer, and Roar) produced in seven behavioral contexts. Except for Er, eight of the nine call types were context-specific, related to Play (Ar-2, eee, and Roar), Isolation (Ar-1), Offensive Context (Haer, Growl, and Hiss), and a friendly context (Chuff). Conclusions The results suggest that cubs are not quiet, but instead they express rich information by emitting various call types, which are probably crucial for survival in the wild. We herein provide the first detailed spectrogram classification to indicate vocal repertoires of calls and their coding with respect to behavioral contexts in Amur tiger cubs, and we pave the steps for revealing their social communication system, which can be applied for conservation of populations. These insights can help tiger managers or keepers to improve the rearing conditions by understanding the feline cubs’ inner status and needs by monitoring their vocal information expressions and exchanges.


2022 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Magalhães da Silva Freitas ◽  
Gilberto Nepomuceno Salvador

Abstract Aim Determine the length-weight relationship (LWR), the period of reproduction, and evaluate the variation of the condition factor (K) of Hypostomus affinis from two coastal drainages in southeastern Brazil, assessing the influence of the rainfall on these biological aspects. Methods fish were sampled quarterly between April 2008 and April 2010 in tributaries of the Doce River basin (DRB) and the Paraíba do Sul River basin (PSRB). Specimens were caught using gillnets. LWR parameters were assessed by location and sex through a t-test. We used the frequency of mature specimens (FM) to evaluate the breeding period. Both FM and K values were assessed by a sinusoidal equation. Results A total of 492 specimens was captured, of which 128 were from the Doce River basin (DRB) and 364 from the Paraíba do Sul River basin (PSRB). In both areas, specimens showed a negative allometric growth type. We collected mature specimens along the studied period in both drainages, with the highest frequency observed at the beginning of the rainy season. We found a positive correlation between the rate of matures and the local rainfall variation. The condition factor (K) was lower for specimens from DRB and did not show a cyclic trend. On the other hand, we observed a cyclic chance of the K values for the individual from the PSRB, peaking in the transitional dry-rainy period. However, it was not possible to correlate it to the rainfall variation. Conclusions LWR parameters of H. affinis were consistent with data already available in the literature. The rainfall may influence the FM but not the K values. In this case, biological characteristics such as reproduction and (or) feeding may be jointly driving a discrete variation of K values. The reduction in K values in the rainy periods suggests a remarkable energetic cost for the reproductive process. In short, our results help us to understand the life cycle of a fish species within a highly modified environment, especially by dams.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Rendi Fathoni Hadi ◽  
Wara Pratitis Sabar Suprayogi ◽  
Eka Handayanta ◽  
Sudiyono Sudiyono ◽  
Aqni Hanifa ◽  
...  

<p><em><strong>Increasing the Productivity of Kampong Chicken in the Putra Budi SME’s Mojolaban District Sukoharjo Regency</strong></em>. Putra Budi Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) located in Bekonang Village, Mojolaban Subdistrict, Sukoharjo Regency, is a business unit owned by Mr Apri with traditional kampong chicken breeding with a capacity of 50-100 chickens/period. Mr Apri. Putra Budi SMEs is engaged in traditional village chicken farming with a capacity of 50-100 chickens/period. Mr Apri started this business 5 years ago, but the maintenance method is still simple and has not been carried out intensively so that the productivity is low. Chicken sales are carried out on a wholesale basis, causing lower prices. Providing feed that does not meet the standard needs of livestock. The main problem faced by Putra Budi SME’s lies in the management of native chicken maintenance which includes management of feed, cages, sanitation, selection of broodstock, and hatching which are carried out traditionally (extensively). This service aims to increase the business of native chicken cultivation by implementing intensive cultivation, diversifying the marketing pattern of native chickens, and being able to increase partner income. Some of the solutions offered are to provide broader knowledge about the management of domestic chicken rearing which is still extensive/traditional towards programmed intensive management. The result of this service activity is that SME’s can apply feed management by selecting feed raw materials around the location and the practice of compiling quality native chicken rations, broiler-type chicken maintenance systems that are free from dangerous diseases/viruses, increasing productivity, efficiency, and speed of return on investment, and can establish cooperation with restaurants or SMEs processing native chicken. Based on the economic analysis carried out, the maintenance of the Putra Budi village chickens with 200 chickens experienced a 5% depletion and earned a profit of IDR 1,400,000 per breeding period.</p>


2021 ◽  
pp. 69-107
Author(s):  
Anton A. Abushin ◽  
◽  
Gennady I. Erdnenov ◽  

The article presents the results of the Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) study in the Republic of Kalmykia. 135 breeding territories of eagles were examined and 155 birds were observed during summer registrations and counts. The average distribution density of the occupied breeding territories in 2021 in the main part of the area was 2.15 (1.54–2.99)/100 km², in the zone of the large number of food resources – 5.72 (4.45–7.35)/100 km². The percentage of occupied breeding territories was 71%, and 43% of the occupied territories were successful. The number of nestlings in broods ranged from 1 to 3, averaging 1.81±0.69 per successful nest (n=43) and 0.73±0.95 per occupied nest (n=105). The percentage of nests with dead clutches and nestlings was high at all surveyed plots. The main diet of eagles during the breeding period included the Little Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus pygmaeus) (44%) and several additional prey items. A preliminary assessment of habitat suitability for the Steppe Eagle in terms of food conditions was carried out using GIS methods. Based on the registration data and clarification of the breeding range borders (47086.7 km²), the number of the Steppe Eagle in Kalmykia was re-estimated at 789 (587–1059) pairs. The signs indicating a negative trend in the population intensified: the percentage of immature birds in breeding pairs was 27%, the percentage of abandoned breeding territories was 19%. There is a consolidation of breeding groups in the population nucleus with a simultaneous decrease in breeding density at the periphery. Among the negative anthropogenic factors in 2021 there were the following: mass mortality on power lines, destruction of the food potential by the locals, disturbance during breeding, probable taking away of nestlings from nests.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aymeric Fromant ◽  
John P.Y. Arnould ◽  
Karine Delord ◽  
Grace J Sutton ◽  
Alice Carravieri ◽  
...  

Abstract Niche theory predicts that to reduce competition for the same resource, sympatric ecologically similar species should exploit divergent niches and segregate in one or more dimensions. Seasonal variations in environmental conditions and energy requirements can influence the mechanisms and the degree of niche segregation. However, studies have overlooked the multi-dimensional aspect of niche segregation over the whole annual cycle, and key facets of species co-existence still remain ambiguous. The present study provides insights into the niche use and partitioning of two morphologically and ecologically similar seabirds, the common (CDP, Pelecanoides urinatrix) and the South Georgian diving petrels (SGDP, P. georgicus). Using phenology, at-sea distribution, diving behavior and isotopic data (during the incubation, chick-rearing and non-breeding periods), we show that the degree of partitioning was highly stage-dependent. During the breeding season, the greater niche segregation during chick-rearing than incubation supported the hypothesis that resource partitioning increases during energetically demanding periods. During the post breeding period, while the observed species-specific latitudinal differences were expected, CDP and SGDP also migrated in very divergent directions. This may indicate the implication of processes other than inter-species niche competition. Our results demonstrate the importance of integrative approaches combining concepts and techniques from different fields to better understand the co-existence of ecologically similar species. The stage-dependent and context-dependent niche segregation highlights the need for whole-year and multiple-site studies of niche partitioning of sympatric species. This is particularly relevant in order to fully understand the short and long-term effects of ongoing environmental changes on species distributions and communities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michał Korniluk ◽  
Paweł Białomyzy ◽  
Grzegorz Grygoruk ◽  
Tomasz Tumiel ◽  
Piotr Świętochowski ◽  
...  

AbstractMost long-distance migrating passerines that breed in Europe spend their winters in Africa, with only a few species migrating eastward to spend the non-breeding period in South Asia. The use of the Indo-European flyway is rare and has been poorly studied so far. However, it is extremely interesting as within that system we are currently witnessing a recent range expansion of European breeding long distance migrants and thus the lengthening of migration routes. It may therefore conceal a unique migratory strategies and behaviour that can help us to understand the underlying factors and mechanisms determining the evolution of migration routes, strategies and breeding range extinction. Based on light-level geolocator we reveal a first track of the Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) migration, providing insight into the migration pattern, timing and behaviour of the species that recently has extended its migration routes. Unexpectedly, the studied individual did not retrace a recent range expansion that runs north and east from the Caspian Sea but followed a migration route running south form the Caspian sea, suggesting possible presence of an alternative species range expansion. The overall migration distance between the breeding site in Poland and the non-breeding site in Pakistan was about 10,420 km and included two endurance movement phases (920 and 2240 km) covering 30% of the whole journey length, with an average movement speed of 574 km/day. We explain this migration behaviour as an adaptation for crossing the ecological barriers imposed by arid environments.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259656
Author(s):  
Stewart Finlayson ◽  
Tyson Lee Holmes ◽  
Geraldine Finlayson ◽  
Rhian Guillem ◽  
Charles Perez ◽  
...  

We tracked pallid swifts (Apus pallidus brehmorum) from a single breeding colony in Gibraltar over two years. Our results show movement of birds between specific regions within the non-breeding geographical area at specific times of the year. The tracking of a single individual showed remarkable fidelity to the areas visited between years. Furthermore, two pallid swifts tracked over the entire eight-month non-breeding period, while in Africa, gave no indication of coming to land, supporting previous findings of an airborne existence in swifts outside the breeding season. In addition, the crossing of the Sahara Desert to and from breeding grounds is remarkably fast, with one individual crossing it in just over a day. We discuss our findings in the context of bird migration evolutionary strategies.


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