Factors Associated with Reproductive Success in Captive Vancouver Island Marmots (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>)
The Vancouver Island marmot (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>) is Canada’s most endangered endemic mammal. In 1997, a conservation breeding-for-release program was established to supplement wild marmot populations. Retrospective analyses of captive breeding studbook records since 2000 indic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/387 |
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| author | Laura H. Graham Emily M. Leishman Kahlee Demers Douglas P. Whiteside Malcolm McAdie |
| author_facet | Laura H. Graham Emily M. Leishman Kahlee Demers Douglas P. Whiteside Malcolm McAdie |
| author_sort | Laura H. Graham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Vancouver Island marmot (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>) is Canada’s most endangered endemic mammal. In 1997, a conservation breeding-for-release program was established to supplement wild marmot populations. Retrospective analyses of captive breeding studbook records since 2000 indicate the age of the sire and the dam significantly impacted the odds of successfully weaning a litter. Dams and sires between 5 and 7 years of age had more than double the odds of reproductive success compared to older animals. Successful reproduction by the dam in the previous year also doubled the odds of successfully weaning a litter in subsequent years. Assessment of adrenal function via fecal glucocorticoid analyses indicated established breeding pairs had decreased stress compared to new pairs (5.74 ± 0.28 ng/g vs. 7.60 ± 0.34 ng/g; <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Pairs that were ultimately successful at weaning pups in a breeding season had decreased stress compared to unsuccessful pairs (6.05 ± 0.34 ng/g vs. 7.22 ± 0.28 ng/g; <i>p</i> = 0.0006). These endocrine results suggest social buffering via familiarity and breeding/pair bond formation may be decreasing stress in established and successful pairs, respectively. The results of this study will be used to assist in the captive breeding management of this species to optimise numbers of animals produced to supplement the wild populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:01:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8888cf9e2cc3428b9e865dc3814235b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:01:47Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-8888cf9e2cc3428b9e865dc3814235b02024-02-09T15:06:26ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-01-0114338710.3390/ani14030387Factors Associated with Reproductive Success in Captive Vancouver Island Marmots (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>)Laura H. Graham0Emily M. Leishman1Kahlee Demers2Douglas P. Whiteside3Malcolm McAdie4WRG Conservation Foundation, West Montrose, ON N0B 2V0, CanadaDepartment of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaIndependent Researcher, Maple Ridge, BC V2W 0A9, CanadaWilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6, CanadaMarmot Recovery Foundation, Nanaimo, BC V9R 6X6, CanadaThe Vancouver Island marmot (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>) is Canada’s most endangered endemic mammal. In 1997, a conservation breeding-for-release program was established to supplement wild marmot populations. Retrospective analyses of captive breeding studbook records since 2000 indicate the age of the sire and the dam significantly impacted the odds of successfully weaning a litter. Dams and sires between 5 and 7 years of age had more than double the odds of reproductive success compared to older animals. Successful reproduction by the dam in the previous year also doubled the odds of successfully weaning a litter in subsequent years. Assessment of adrenal function via fecal glucocorticoid analyses indicated established breeding pairs had decreased stress compared to new pairs (5.74 ± 0.28 ng/g vs. 7.60 ± 0.34 ng/g; <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Pairs that were ultimately successful at weaning pups in a breeding season had decreased stress compared to unsuccessful pairs (6.05 ± 0.34 ng/g vs. 7.22 ± 0.28 ng/g; <i>p</i> = 0.0006). These endocrine results suggest social buffering via familiarity and breeding/pair bond formation may be decreasing stress in established and successful pairs, respectively. The results of this study will be used to assist in the captive breeding management of this species to optimise numbers of animals produced to supplement the wild populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/387Vancouver Island marmotendangered speciesreproductionstress |
| spellingShingle | Laura H. Graham Emily M. Leishman Kahlee Demers Douglas P. Whiteside Malcolm McAdie Factors Associated with Reproductive Success in Captive Vancouver Island Marmots (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>) Animals Vancouver Island marmot endangered species reproduction stress |
| title | Factors Associated with Reproductive Success in Captive Vancouver Island Marmots (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>) |
| title_full | Factors Associated with Reproductive Success in Captive Vancouver Island Marmots (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Factors Associated with Reproductive Success in Captive Vancouver Island Marmots (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Associated with Reproductive Success in Captive Vancouver Island Marmots (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>) |
| title_short | Factors Associated with Reproductive Success in Captive Vancouver Island Marmots (<i>Marmota vancouverensis</i>) |
| title_sort | factors associated with reproductive success in captive vancouver island marmots i marmota vancouverensis i |
| topic | Vancouver Island marmot endangered species reproduction stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/387 |
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