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Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 54(3)

Establishing long-term colonies of marsupials to provide models for studying developmental mechanisms and their application to fertility control

Lynne Selwood A B and Shuliang Cui A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Zoology, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: l.selwood@zoology.unimelb.edu.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 54(3) 197-209 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO05052
Submitted: 1 September 2005  Accepted: 8 March 2006   Published: 22 June 2006

Abstract

To study marsupial developmental mechanisms and their application to fertility control, it is necessary to develop reliable procedures for breeding, colony maintenance, reproductive monitoring for obtaining known-age embryos and, if possible, an induced ovulation protocol. These procedures also provide means to enhance conservation of endangered species. Such procedures are examined in the stripe-faced dunnart, an excellent model for developmental analysis, and the common brush-tail possum, an agricultural and ecological pest species in New Zealand that has become a model for fertility control in marsupials. A long-term colony of the stripe-faced dunnart has been in existence for 21 years, and the procedures for its maintenance and continued survival are outlined, and include minimal reproductive contributions from wild-caught animals, and development of an appropriate timetable of development and induced-ovulation protocols. Common brushtail possum colonies are relatively frequent but have regular input from wild-caught animals. Procedures that minimise competition for prized resources and allow successful group housing of possums are outlined. For both species the available development timetables, in vitro techniques and induced ovulation protocols are essential tools for the study of developmental mechanisms and fertility control, respectively, and also have considerable implications for conservation of these and other species.


Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry New Zealand, The Foundation for Research Science and Technology, New Zealand, The University of Melbourne and the Australian Research Council. We are grateful for assistance with colony maintenance from K. Nanyakkara, E. Menkhorst and A. Nation.


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