Reproductive status of a female white cockatoo (<i>Cacatua alba</i>) based on relationships among urofecal steroid hormone dynamics, molting, and body weight

Abstract

The detailed reproductive physiology of cockatoos based on gonadal hormone dynamics is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate ovarian activity by monitoring urofecal sex steroid hormone profiles in a captive female white cockatoo (Cacatua alba) and to noninvasively reveal basic reproductive physiology by comparing the hormone profiles with the laying dates, body mass changes, and molt progress. Urofeces were collected regularly for approximately 4 years from one female that frequently laid unfertilized eggs under singlerearing conditions. Urofecal progesterone (P4) and estradiol-17β (E2) were measured by enzyme immunoassay. In addition, body mass and the number of fallen feathers were measured periodically. The urofecal P4 concentration peaked at an average of 17.7 days after the start of the rise in urofecal E2 concentration, and egg laying began on the day after the peak urofecal P4 concentration. The clutch size was usually two eggs, with an average interval of 4.5 days between eggs in each egg-laying cycle. There was a significant correlation between the dynamics of E2 concentration in urofeces and body mass. The results strongly suggest that E2 and P4 reflect the follicle growth and ovulation status, respectively, and that noninvasive monitoring of hormone dynamics using urofeces can accurately capture ovarian activity in the white cockatoo. Furthermore, changes in body mass can predict follicular growth, and reproduction and molt are antagonistic.

KEPADATAN, DISTRIBUSI, DAN ETNO ORNITOLOGI KAKATUA PUTIH (Caccatua alba) DI DESA KAHATOLA

“…Studi tentang populasi kakatua putih (Cacatua alba) di Indonesia mengungkapkan temuan penting. Penelitian yang dilakukan pada 2008-2009 menunjukkan kisaran populasi 8.629-48.393 burung dengan kepadatan 1,58-8,86 individu per kilometer persegi (Satoshi et al, 2022). Selain itu, penelitian ini menekankan pentingnya melindungi spesies endemik seperti kakatua jambul kuning (Cacatua sulphurea) di Indonesia karena status kritisnya dan ancaman yang mereka hadapi, terutama dari hilangnya habitat dan perangkap (E. A.…”

“…Kakatua putih (Cacatua alba) merupakan spesies endemik yang ditemukan di Indonesia, khususnya di daerah berhutan seperti hutan terbuka, hutan bakau, rawa, dan daerah pertanian (Satoshi et al, 2022) (Inggit et al, 2022). Burung-burung ini biasanya diamati di sekitar pembukaan lahan dan sungai, menunjukkan kemampuan beradaptasi mereka terhadap berbagai habitat.…”