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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 22(4)

Seasonal reproduction in wild and captive male koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations in south-east Queensland

Camryn D. Allen A H , Deidré L. de Villiers B , Brett D. Manning B , David S. Dique B , Michelle Burridge C , Mandy L. Chafer C , Vere N. Nicolson C , Sophia C. Jago C , Allan J. McKinnon B , Rosemary J. Booth B , Jeff J. McKee D , Michael J. Pyne E , Yeng Peng Zee A , Geoff Lundie-Jenkins B , Peter Theilemann B , Richard J. Wilson F , Frank N. Carrick G and Stephen D. Johnston A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Animal Studies, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.

B Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.

C Dreamworld, Coomera, Qld 4209, Australia.

D Mobile Disease Ecology Unit, Ecosure, West Burleigh, Qld 4219, Australia.

E Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, Qld 4223, Australia.

F Department of Mathematics, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.

G Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.

H Corresponding author. Email: callen@salk.edu

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 22(4) 695-709 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD09113
Submitted: 4 May 2009  Accepted: 9 October 2009   Published: 25 March 2010

Abstract

The effects of breeding season (late spring to early autumn) on south-east Queensland male koala fertility were examined to improve the efficacy of the AI procedure and to determine the practicality of using free-range animals as semen donors for a genome resource bank. Seasonal changes in male koala reproductive function were assessed in a wild free-range population (n = 14; obtained every 6 weeks from January to November 2005), a necropsied healthy wild population (n = 84; obtained monthly from September 2004 to August 2005) and a captive population (n = 7; obtained monthly from October 2005 to October 2006). Reproductive parameters investigated included bodyweight, coat score, sternal gland area and activity, testosterone secretion, reproductive anatomy volume and semen quality (before and after cryopreservation). Collectively, these findings show that reproduction in male koalas from south-east Queensland changes seasonally and that winter appears to be the optimal season in which to collect semen samples by electroejaculation. While it was possible to repeatedly collect semen from free-range koalas for future genetic management via potential storage in a genome resource bank, the survival of these spermatozoa after cryopreservation was poor and will require further improvement.

Additional keywords: bulbourethral gland, cryopreservation, electroejaculation, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist, seminal characteristics, sternal gland, testicular size, testosterone.


Acknowledgements

The authors thank Kristen Lee (University of Queensland) for her assistance in the assessment of chlamydia in the captive and wild (live) populations of koalas. This project was funded by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Grant, the School of Animal Studies (SAS) within The University of Queensland and the Queensland Government’s Koala Enhanced Genetic Exchange Program (KEGEP).


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