ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2711-5006
Current Organisations
The University of Auckland
,
Massey University - Albany Campus
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.ANIREPROSCI.2007.11.002
Abstract: The pukeko (Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus) is widespread in New Zealand, and is the closest living relative to the endangered takahe (Porphyrio mantelli), which has a relatively high rate of infertility. In this study, sperm collected from a number of pukeko was analysed in order to model the reproductive physiology of the male takahe. In addition, testicular parameters were measured. To ascertain the best method of sperm collection five techniques for harvesting sperm were used on two occasions during the breeding season. All five techniques resulted in the successful recovery of sperm. However, the float-out technique produced the best quality s les. Following collection, the morphometry of unstained sperm was assessed. Our findings suggest that pukeko sperm is non-motile in the male reproductive tract. We found the mean sperm head length in the pukeko is 16.9mum, but sperm head length varied significantly between birds. Testicular weight and length was significantly correlated with bird weight (P<0.05). Within each bird, testes weights were asymmetric. However, testes length was significantly correlated (P<0.05). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in testes length between birds. The methodologies presented for obtaining and analysing pukeko sperm morphometry can be used to assist opportunistic studies of the reproductive biology of other New Zealand native birds.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-08-2014
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-02-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-2656.2008.01502.X
Abstract: 1. Differential male reproductive success is commonplace in mammals and frequently attributed to variation in morphological traits that provide in iduals with a competitive advantage in female defence mating systems. Other mammalian mating systems, however, have received comparatively little attention and correlates of male reproductive success in them are less well understood. 2. We studied a free-ranging population of North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben) exhibiting year-round in idual territoriality. Males must temporarily vacate their territories to locate spatially dispersed receptive females, thereby setting the stage for a scramble competition mating system. 3. We predicted that both male annual mating success (measured as the number of females copulated with) and annual reproductive success (measured as the number of offspring sired) would be positively correlated with both search ability (measured as the number of oestrous females located over the mating season) and effort (measured as mating season home range size), generating directional sexual selection on these two metrics. 4. Mating season home ranges of males showed, on average, an almost 10-fold increase relative to those measured during the nonmating season, while those of females showed a more moderate twofold increase and both annual mating and reproductive success of males was positively correlated with search ability and search effort. 5. The spatial dispersion of females, resulting from the strict territorial social structure of red squirrels, gave rise to a predicted scramble competition mating system. Furthermore, the strength of sexual selection on behavioural traits in this mating system equalled previous estimates for morphological traits in female defence mating systems.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2007
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2008
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-09-2011
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Melissa Gunn.