Reproductive performance in houbara bustard is affected by the combined effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivity
Abstract Although captive breeding programs are valuable for conservation, they have been shown to be associated with genetic changes, such as adaptation to captivity or inbreeding. In addition, reproductive performance is strongly age-dependent in most animal species. These mechanisms that potentia...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87436-z |
| _version_ | 1818431556830625792 |
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| author | Robin Rabier Loïc Lesobre Alexandre Robert |
| author_facet | Robin Rabier Loïc Lesobre Alexandre Robert |
| author_sort | Robin Rabier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Although captive breeding programs are valuable for conservation, they have been shown to be associated with genetic changes, such as adaptation to captivity or inbreeding. In addition, reproductive performance is strongly age-dependent in most animal species. These mechanisms that potentially impact reproduction have often been studied separately, while their interactions have rarely been addressed. In this study, using a large dataset of nine male and female reproductive parameters measured for 12,295 captive houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata undulata) over 24 years, we investigated the relative and interactive effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivity on reproduction. We clearly identified (1) senescence patterns in all parameters studied; (2) negative effects of inbreeding on sperm characteristics, display behavior, egg weight, egg volume and hatching probability; and (3) changes in phenotypic values for seven parameters according to number of generations in captivity. However, the effect sizes associated with age were substantially greater than those associated with inbreeding and number of generations in captivity. Beyond the independent effects of these three factors on reproductive parameters, the results highlighted their interactive effects and thus the importance of integrating them in the design of genetic management plans for conservation breeding programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:51:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b9998d10e0b4208b2348be5f55e95de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:51:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b9998d10e0b4208b2348be5f55e95de2022-12-21T22:55:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-04-0111111310.1038/s41598-021-87436-zReproductive performance in houbara bustard is affected by the combined effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivityRobin Rabier0Loïc Lesobre1Alexandre Robert2Reneco International Wildlife Consultant LLCReneco International Wildlife Consultant LLCCentre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne UniversitéAbstract Although captive breeding programs are valuable for conservation, they have been shown to be associated with genetic changes, such as adaptation to captivity or inbreeding. In addition, reproductive performance is strongly age-dependent in most animal species. These mechanisms that potentially impact reproduction have often been studied separately, while their interactions have rarely been addressed. In this study, using a large dataset of nine male and female reproductive parameters measured for 12,295 captive houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata undulata) over 24 years, we investigated the relative and interactive effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivity on reproduction. We clearly identified (1) senescence patterns in all parameters studied; (2) negative effects of inbreeding on sperm characteristics, display behavior, egg weight, egg volume and hatching probability; and (3) changes in phenotypic values for seven parameters according to number of generations in captivity. However, the effect sizes associated with age were substantially greater than those associated with inbreeding and number of generations in captivity. Beyond the independent effects of these three factors on reproductive parameters, the results highlighted their interactive effects and thus the importance of integrating them in the design of genetic management plans for conservation breeding programs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87436-z |
| spellingShingle | Robin Rabier Loïc Lesobre Alexandre Robert Reproductive performance in houbara bustard is affected by the combined effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivity Scientific Reports |
| title | Reproductive performance in houbara bustard is affected by the combined effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivity |
| title_full | Reproductive performance in houbara bustard is affected by the combined effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivity |
| title_fullStr | Reproductive performance in houbara bustard is affected by the combined effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reproductive performance in houbara bustard is affected by the combined effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivity |
| title_short | Reproductive performance in houbara bustard is affected by the combined effects of age, inbreeding and number of generations in captivity |
| title_sort | reproductive performance in houbara bustard is affected by the combined effects of age inbreeding and number of generations in captivity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87436-z |
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