Zoology - Theses

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Aspects of the reproductive endocrinology of the echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus

Dean, Karen Marie ( 2000)

This thesis investigated some aspects of the reproductive endocrinology the shortbeaked-echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus. Measurements of seasonal changes in plasma steroid testosterone and corticosteroids were made in captive and free-ranging male echidnas. Non-invasive faecal sampling techniques were developed as an alternative to blood sampling for measuring endocrinological changes in both sexes. This thesis focussed on male reproduction for two reasons. First, it has long been suggested that female echidnas do not breed every year and will enter periods of torpor or inactivity during the breeding season if they are non-breeding (Broom, 1895; Griffiths, 1968; Rismiller, 1992; Rismiller and McKelvey, 1996). Males, however, are generally more active during the breeding season and have been observed to actively seek out females moving from train to train (Rismiller, 1992), thus making them easier subjects for study. Secondly, none of the females used for the blood sampling study were observed to mate or produce young during the course of the study, so making it difficult to adequately describe female reproduction in terms of the changes that occur in plasma concentrations of steroids. (From Abstract)