Jennifer Høy-Petersen, Lucie Lemière, Dan P. Thompson, Alexandra Thiel, John A. Crouse, Erik Ropstad, Anne Randi Græsli, Jon M. Arnemo, Alina L. Evans
{"title":"Vaginal temperature and collar activity variations in relation to fecal progestagens of captive moose","authors":"Jennifer Høy-Petersen, Lucie Lemière, Dan P. Thompson, Alexandra Thiel, John A. Crouse, Erik Ropstad, Anne Randi Græsli, Jon M. Arnemo, Alina L. Evans","doi":"10.1186/s40317-023-00345-y","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Background Timing of reproductive events can be crucial for a species’ population growth and stability. Accurate detection of reproductive phenology presents a challenge to scientists studying wild species, including moose ( Alces alces ). Currently, there are several established methods for monitoring reproductive activity and events in domestic ruminants, including the use of biologging devices. The main objective of this study was to determine whether female moose display a distinct thermal and activity pattern associated with luteal activity during the estrous cycle, which could be used to determine the onset of their breeding season. We deployed biologging devices and collected fecal samples from 12 captive female moose on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA to explore variation in vaginal temperature and collar activity and the relationship between these variables and fecal progestagen concentrations. Fecal samples were collected from mid-August to mid-October and analyzed using radioimmunoassay to determine the concentration of fecal progestagens to classify luteal activity. Results Captive female moose displayed an identifiable thermal pattern during the onset of luteal activity from mid-September to mid-October, associated with the initial estrous cycle of their breeding season. In contrast, we did not observe a distinct pattern in activity during this period. Recurring patterns in both vaginal temperature and activity were identified between mid-October and mid-November, however, which were likely associated with subsequent estrous cycles but not included in our fecal sampling period. Conclusions This study supports that female moose display an identifiable pattern in vaginal temperature which is associated with luteal activity of the initial estrous cycle of the breeding season. An identifiable pattern was observed for both vaginal temperature and activity registrations at the presumed timing of subsequent estrous cycle of the breeding season.","PeriodicalId":37711,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biotelemetry","volume":"102 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Animal Biotelemetry","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-023-00345-y","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Abstract Background Timing of reproductive events can be crucial for a species’ population growth and stability. Accurate detection of reproductive phenology presents a challenge to scientists studying wild species, including moose ( Alces alces ). Currently, there are several established methods for monitoring reproductive activity and events in domestic ruminants, including the use of biologging devices. The main objective of this study was to determine whether female moose display a distinct thermal and activity pattern associated with luteal activity during the estrous cycle, which could be used to determine the onset of their breeding season. We deployed biologging devices and collected fecal samples from 12 captive female moose on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA to explore variation in vaginal temperature and collar activity and the relationship between these variables and fecal progestagen concentrations. Fecal samples were collected from mid-August to mid-October and analyzed using radioimmunoassay to determine the concentration of fecal progestagens to classify luteal activity. Results Captive female moose displayed an identifiable thermal pattern during the onset of luteal activity from mid-September to mid-October, associated with the initial estrous cycle of their breeding season. In contrast, we did not observe a distinct pattern in activity during this period. Recurring patterns in both vaginal temperature and activity were identified between mid-October and mid-November, however, which were likely associated with subsequent estrous cycles but not included in our fecal sampling period. Conclusions This study supports that female moose display an identifiable pattern in vaginal temperature which is associated with luteal activity of the initial estrous cycle of the breeding season. An identifiable pattern was observed for both vaginal temperature and activity registrations at the presumed timing of subsequent estrous cycle of the breeding season.
Animal BiotelemetryAgricultural and Biological Sciences-Animal Science and Zoology
CiteScore
4.20
自引率
11.10%
发文量
33
审稿时长
10 weeks
期刊介绍:
Animal Biotelemetry is an open access peer-reviewed journal that publishes the results of studies utilizing telemetric techniques (including biologgers) to understand physiological, behavioural, and ecological mechanisms in a broad range of environments (e.g. terrestrial, freshwater and marine) and taxa. The journal also welcomes descriptions and validations of newly developed tagging techniques and tracking technologies, as well as methods for analyzing telemetric data.