Reproductive traits in captive and free-ranging males of the critically endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)

Abstract

The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the most endangered felid in the world. Adequate genetic management of in situ and ex situ populations, and linkage between both, require knowledge on male reproductive biology and factors influencing it. We examined the influence of age, free-ranging versus captive conditions and seasonality on phenotypic, endocrine and semen traits, and links between reproductive traits and male fertility. Males had relatively small testes, produced low sperm numbers, a low proportion of normal sperm, and a high proportion of motile sperm. Young (2-year-old) males had lower testosterone levels, fewer sperm, and a lower proportion of motile and normal sperm than R4-year-old males. No major differences were found in semen traits before and after the mating season or between free-ranging and captive males, although the latter had better sperm motility. Males with larger relative testes weight and more sperm copulated more frequently, whereas males that produced more sperm with higher motility produced more cubs per female. In conclusion, small relative testes size and low sperm quality could indicate either low levels of sperm competition or high levels of inbreeding. Young males are probably subfertile; there is a slight trend for males in the captive breeding programme to have better semen quality than wild males, and males with higher sperm production are sexually more active and more fertile. These findings have major implications for decisions regarding which males should breed, provide samples for the genetic resource bank, or participate in programmes involving the use of assisted reproductive techniques.

Electroejaculation and semen buffer evaluation in the microbat Carollia perspicillata

“…This ejaculate was emitted at the very end of the procedure while males were awakening and starting to move. Studies using EE with mammals often report the collection of several ejaculates with distinct characteristics [36,37]. In the second phase with the eight subsequent males, we thus decided to prolong the manipulation time beyond narcosis and electric stimulation, and we obtained a second ejaculate in seven of the eight attempts.…”

Seasonal changes in activity of males’ reproductive system in Eurasian lynx

“…Sperm quality in two other Lynx species was estimated as well (Gañán et al, 2009a,b;. The percentage of morphologically intact sperm was 23.7% in Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) (Gañán et al, 2009a) and did not differ in captive-hold and wild males (Gañán et al, 2010). In bobcat (Lynx rufus) this index was even lower (Gañán et al, 2009b), probably because the sampling was done out of mating season.…”

The Role of Genomics in Conservation and Reproductive Sciences

“…(Pukazhenthi and Wildt 2004 ;Comizzoli et al 2009 ;Wildt et al 2010 ). Among the growing number of examples of captive populations that are have had important roles in augmenting or establishing wild populations are Puerto Rican parrots (Brock and White 1992 ), California condors (Geyer et al 1993 ), Micronesian kingfi shers (Haig et al 1995 ), whooping cranes (Jones et al 2002 ) and primate species [e.g., lion-tailed macaques (Morin and Ryder 1991 ), bonobos (Reinartz and Boese 1977 )], black-footed ferrets (Cain et al 2011 ), and Iberian lynx (Vargas et al 2008 ;Gañán et al 2010 ).…”