Conservation Endocrinology: a Noninvasive Tool to Understand Relationships between Carnivore Colonization and Ecological Carrying Capacity

摘要: : Reproductive technology, especially the diagnosis of pregnancy by radioimmunoassay fecal steroid metabolites, is an important component captive propagation, but its role in our understanding ecological interactions and situ biological restoration has been more limited. Where large herbivores have “released” from predation extirpation carnivores, controversy often exists about possible detrimental effects at ecosystem level. A related concern that reestablishment carnivores may decrease availability prey populations for human subsistence. We suggest assays can be a valuable tool to help distinguish between roles versus food-imposed limitations on population size their juvenile recruitment wild species. explored this issue through analyses progestagen concentration ( FPC) levels document moose (Alces alces) southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, site where wolves (Canis lupus) grizzly bears ( Ursus arctos) are recolonizing former habitats after absence than 60 years. Pregnancy was clearly discernible (mean FPC pregnant nonpregnant females, respectively: 10.60 vs. 2.57 μg/g; p < 0.0001). Among potential confounding variables need considered if applied demographic questions whether baseline values affected handling, neonate survival assessed, sampling efforts directed both animals. With these issues accounted for, local experienced rates among highest North America. rates, however, dropped 90% 1966 75% today, rendering them lowest fifteenth percentile Our findings relatively low frequency not likely result predation, they illustrate how endocrinology involving reproductive events within context. They also affirm noninvasive generally inexpensive endocrinological procedures will applicable predators prey, continue arise because global efforts, study rare ungulates remote systems data difficult obtain. Resumen: La tecnologia reproductiva, especialmente el diagnostico de embarazo por radioinmunoensayo metabolitos fecales es un componente importante la progacion en cautiverio, pero su papel entendimiento interacciones ecologicas y restauraciones biologicas ha estado mas limitado. En sitios donde se he “liberado” herbivoros grandes mediante extirpacion carnivoros, presentan frecuentemente controversias sobre los posibles efectos negativos nivel econsistema. Una preocupacion relacionada que re-establecimineto carnivoros podria disminuir viabilidad poblaciones presas para subsistencia humana. Nosotros sugerimos analisis prenez pueden ser una herramienta valiosa ayudar distinguir entre papeles depredacion contra limitaciones alimento impuestas tamano poblacional sus reclutamiento juveniles silvestres. Exploramos este tema niveles concentracion progestagenos documentar embarazos alces ecosistema sureno del gran Yellowstone, sitio lobos osos estan recolonizando anteriormente usados, despues ausencia anos. El fue claramente (FCP promedio pra hembras prenadas no respectivamente: 10.6 vs mg /g; 0.001). Entre las potencialmente confundentes necesitan consideradas si FCP aplicado situaciones demograficas saber valores base son afectados manejo, evaluar supervivencia neonatos dirijir esfuerzos muestreo tanto animales prenados como prenados. Con estos aspectos tomados consideracion, poblacion experimentado tasas altas Norteamerica. Sin embargo, disminuyeron cerca actualmente, colocandolas quinceavo percentil bajo Nuestros resultados sugieren relativamente baja frecuencia posible causa depredacion, e ilustran endocrinologia puede aplicada asuntos relacionados con eventos reproductivos dentro contexto ecologico. Esto tambien afirma procedimientos endocrinologicos invasivos generalmente baratos aplicados para: Entender depredadores presas, asunto continuara sugiendo debido globales restauracion, estudio ungulados raros sistemas remotos datos dificiles obtener.