Seasonal oestrous cycle activity of captive female koalas in south-east Queensland
K. Ballantyne A C , A. Lisle A , A. Mucci B and S. D. Johnston A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
B Dreamworld, Coomera, Qld 4209, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: kate_068@msn.com
Australian Mammalogy 37(2) 245-252 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM14018
Submitted: 29 November 2013 Accepted: 28 June 2015 Published: 7 August 2015
Abstract
This study investigated the seasonality of behavioural oestrus in a captive koala population in south-east Queensland. A total of 33 sexually mature koalas were examined over a 4-year period (2009–12) to determine the possible influence of temperature, photoperiod and rainfall on the incidence of expression of behavioural oestrus without the confounding effect of lactation or limiting food resource availability. Although signs of behavioural oestrus were detected throughout the year, an obvious seasonality was apparent, with significantly fewer females displaying behavioural oestrus in late autumn and winter (May–August) than September to April (P < 0.0001). While average monthly photoperiod (P < 0.0001) and average monthly temperature (P < 0.0001) were significantly related to oestrous behaviour, rainfall was not (P > 0.05). A better understanding of the seasonality of reproductive function in the female koala will facilitate the use of reproductive management-assisted breeding technology to enable improved genetic management in captive populations.
References
Allen, C. D., Burridge, M., Mulhall, S., Chafer, M. L., Nicolson, V. N., Pyne, M., Zee, Y. P., Jago, S. C., Lundie-Jenkins, G., Holt, W. V., Carrick, F. N., Curlewis, J. D., Lisle, A. T., and Johnston, S. D. (2008). Successful artificial insemination in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) using extended and extended-chilled semen collected by electroejaculation. Biology of Reproduction 78, 661–666.| Successful artificial insemination in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) using extended and extended-chilled semen collected by electroejaculation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXjvVaiur4%3D&md5=ccb9548b1924294d710fe255e20298dfCAS | 18094357PubMed |
Ballantyne, K., Anderson, S. T., Mucci, A., Nicolson, V. C., and Johnston, S. D. (2015). Plasma prolactin concentrations during lactation, pouch young development and the return to behavioural oestrus in captive koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Reproduction, Fertility and Development , .
| Plasma prolactin concentrations during lactation, pouch young development and the return to behavioural oestrus in captive koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blanshard, W. H. (1994). Medicine and husbandry of koalas. In ‘Wildlife: the T.G. Hungerford Refresher Course for Veterinarians’. (Ed. Anon.) pp. 547–623. (University of Sydney Post Graduate Committee in Veterinary Science: Sydney.)
Bowyer, R. T. (1991). Timing of parturition and lactation in southern mule deer. Journal of Mammalogy 72, 138–145.
| Timing of parturition and lactation in southern mule deer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bronson, F. H. (2009). Climate change and seasonal reproduction in mammals. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 364, 3331–3340.
| Climate change and seasonal reproduction in mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1MnpsFamtw%3D%3D&md5=7e29bf075f2f8cfad4cafc3c4ef2ec04CAS | 19833645PubMed |
Ellis, W., Bercovitch, F., Fitzgibbon, S., Meilzer, A., Villiers, D., and Dique, D. (2010). Koala birth seasonality and sex ratios across multiple sites in Queensland, Australia. Journal of Mammalogy 91, 177–182.
| Koala birth seasonality and sex ratios across multiple sites in Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goodman, R. L. (1999). Seasonal reproduction, mammals. In ‘Encyclopedia of Reproduction. Vol 4’. (Eds E. Knobil and J. D. Neill.) pp. 341–351. (Academic Press: Sydney.)
Handasyde, K. A. (1986). Factors affecting reproduction in the female koala Phascolarctos cinereus. Ph.D. Thesis, Monash University, Melbourne.
Handasyde, K. A., Mcdonald, K. A., Than, K. A., Michaelides, J., and Martin, R. W. (1990). Reproductive hormones and reproduction in the koala. In ‘Biology of the Koala’. (Eds A. K. Lee, K. A. Handasyde and G. D. Sanson.) pp. 203–210. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
Johnston, S. D. (1994). The reproductive biology of the Queensland koala. Honours Thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Johnston, S. D. (1999). Studies towards the development of an artificial insemination program in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Johnston, S. D., Mcgowan, M. R., O’Callaghan, P., Cox, R., and Nicolson, V. (2000a). Studies of the oestrous cycle, oestrus and pregnancy in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 120, 49–57.
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXntlCiur8%3D&md5=e61a50a549ea1c73669d726446baefc7CAS | 11006145PubMed |
Johnston, S. D., Mcgowan, M. R., O’Callaghan, P., Cox, R., and Nicolson, V. (2000b). Natural and artificial methods for inducing the luteal phase in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 120, 59–64.
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXntlCiurw%3D&md5=5767e7150b74e62aadfda49d66a64af8CAS | 11006146PubMed |
Johnston, S. D., O’Callaghan, P., Nilsson, K., Tzipori, G., and Curlewis, J. D. (2004). Semen-induced luteal phase and identification of a LH surge in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 128, 629–634.
| Semen-induced luteal phase and identification of a LH surge in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXhtVSis7nK&md5=db7ee53c5c8e0ced7c801b2eaa38312fCAS |
Martin, R. W., and Handasyde, K. A. (1990). Population dynamics of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in southeastern Australia. In ‘Biology of the Koala’. (Eds A. K. Lee, K. A. Handasyde and G. D. Sanson.) pp. 75–84. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
McLean, N., and Handasyde, K. A. (2006). Sexual maturity, factors affecting the breeding season and breeding in consecutive seasons in populations of overabundant Victorian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Australian Journal of Zoology 54, 385–392.
| Sexual maturity, factors affecting the breeding season and breeding in consecutive seasons in populations of overabundant Victorian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mitchell, P., and Martin, R. W. (1990). The structure dynamics of Koala populations – French Island in perspective. In ‘Biology of the Koala’. (Eds A. K. Lee, K. A. Handasyde and G. D. Sanson.) pp. 97–108. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
O’Callaghan, P. (1996). Growth and mortality of koala pouch and back young. In ‘Proceedings of the Australian Koala Foundation Annual Conference’. pp. 101–109. (Australian Koala Foundation: Brisbane).
Thompson, V. D. (1987). Parturition and development in the Queensland koala at San Diego Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook 26, 217–222.
| Parturition and development in the Queensland koala at San Diego Zoo.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tyndale-Biscoe, C. H. (1979). Ecology of small mammals. In ‘Ecology of Small Mammals’. (Ed. D. M. Stoddart.) pp. 343–379. (Chapman and Hall: London.)
White, N. A., and Kunst, N. D. (1990). Aspects of the ecology of the koala in south-east Queensland. In ‘Biology of the Koala’. (Eds A. K. Lee, K. A. Handasyde and G. D. Sanson.) pp. 109–116. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
Withers, P. C. (1992). ‘Comparative Animal Physiology’. (Saunders College Pub: Fort Worth, TX.)
