Post-release breeding of translocated sharp-tailed grouse and an absence of artificial insemination effects
Steven R. Mathews A B , Peter S. Coates
A E , Jennifer A. Fike C , Helena Schneider D , Dominik Fischer D , Sara J. Oyler-McCance C , Michael Lierz D and David J. Delehanty B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA 95620, USA.
B Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA.
C US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA.
D Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
E Corresponding author. Email: pcoates@usgs.gov
Wildlife Research 46(1) 12-24 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR18094
Submitted: 2 June 2018 Accepted: 23 August 2018 Published: 21 December 2018
Abstract
Context: Translocation has become a widely used method to restore wildlife populations following extirpation. For some species, such as lekking grouse, which breed at traditional mating grounds, reproduction is linked to culturally established geographic locations. Cultural centres are lost upon extirpation, making restoration into otherwise rehabilitated habitats especially challenging. The process by which species with culturally dependent reproduction sometimes become re-established is poorly understood and merits investigation to improve conservation strategies.
Aims: We reintroduced CSTG to vacant habitat in north-central Nevada, USA, from 2013 to 2017, with concordant goals of promoting females to nest and males to lek. We tested the utility of performing artificial insemination (AI) on females before translocation and we conducted paternity analyses to understand male reproduction.
Methods: We monitored females for the effects of AI on nest initiation, nest survival and egg fertility. We used post-hatch extra-embryonic membranes and other tissues to evaluate paternity of chicks produced at the restoration site.
Key results: Artificial insemination had no effect on female survival or nest initiation, and did not fertilise any eggs within nine sampled clutches (n = 102 eggs). Most paternity was attributable to male residents that had survived for ≥1 year at the restoration site before the arrival of translocated females.
Conclusions: Artificial insemination neither aided nor harmed female reproduction. A small number of translocated, resident adult males sired reproduction following female release.
Implications: The presence of resident males at restoration sites may be more likely to result in post-translocation reproduction than is pre-translocation AI. Restoring CSTG to vacant habitat should focus on translocating females into suitable nesting habitat while simultaneously ensuring that reproductively capable males are available within or adjacent to the nesting habitat.
Additional keywords: conservation ecology, conservation genetics, conservation management, management strategies, population management, radio telemetry, reproductive behaviour, threatened species, wildlife management.
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