A5061400688- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Sperm and Testicular Function
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Gut microbiota and health
- Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Conservation Techniques and Studies
University of Wollongong
2016-2025
The University of Western Australia
2010-2021
Ex situ conservation strategies for threatened species often require long-term commitment and financial investment to achieve management objectives. We present a framework that considers the decision adopt ex target as end point of several linked decisions. used tree intuitively represent logical sequence making. The first is identify specific actions most likely fundamental objectives recovery plan, with or without use ex-situ populations. Once this has been made, one decides whether...
Captive breeding and reintroduction programs have been established for several threatened amphibian species globally, but with varied success. This reflects our relatively poor understanding of the hormonal control reproduction stimuli required to initiate complete reproductive events. While hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis shares fundamental similarities both teleosts tetrapods, there are more differences than previously assumed. As a result, many captive fail reliably behaviour,...
Reproductive technologies, including sperm cryopreservation, offer conservationists enhanced capacity to genetically manage populations and improve the outcomes of conservation breeding programs (CBPs). Despite this potential, post-thaw quality amphibian is highly variable following research focused on protocol refinement needed. The aim study was twofold: (1) investigate effect addition bovine serum albumin (BSA) cryopreservation medium (pre-freeze), (2) caffeine activation (post-thaw),...
Amphibians are currently experiencing the highest extinction rate of any vertebrate class. Gamete cryopreservation and biobanking genetic resources important conservation tools to safeguard diversity imperiled species. While amphibian oocytes/embryos have proven difficult cryopreserve, sperm has been achieved in a growing number species, though with variable post-thaw recovery. Oxidative stress is major cause cell damage during results compromised quality. Supplementation extenders...
Conservation Breeding Programs (CBP's) are playing an important role in the protection of critically endangered anuran amphibians, but for many species recruitment is not successful enough to maintain captive populations, or provide individuals release. In response, there has been increasing focus on use Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), including administration reproductive hormones induce gamete release followed by vitro fertilisation. The objective this study was test efficacy two...
Research into the development of reproductive technologies for amphibians has increased in recent years due to rapid decline amphibian species globally. Reproductive have great potential overcome captive breeding failure and improve propagation genetic management threatened species. However, incorporation these conservation programs been protracted, primarily as a result trial-and-error approaches refinement hormone therapies. The present study investigated effects of: (1) GnRH-a dose (0,...
Abstract Supplementing declining populations with individuals from different (population augmentation) is increasingly being considered an effective way to genetically rescue threatened species. However, the general value of population augmentation remains contentious, largely because few studies have experimentally tested genetic consequences mixing populations. Among amphibians, which typically display fine‐scale structuring, there a high risk that might exacerbate decline via outbreeding...
In the majority of vertebrates, gametogenesis and gamete-release depend on pulsatile secretion luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) from hypothalamus. Studies attempting to artificially stimulate ovulation spermiation may benefit mimicking naturally episodic LHRH by administering priming injections a synthetic analogue (LHRHa). This study investigated impact low-dose LHRHa in Australian toadlet Pseudophryne guentheri. Toadlets were administered single dose two micrograms per. gram...
Animal coloration can be the result of many interconnected elements, including production colour-producing molecules de novo, as well acquisition pigments from diet. When acquired through diet, carotenoids (a common class pigments) influence yellow, orange, and red enhanced levels in brighter and/or changes hue or saturation. We tested hypothesis that dietary carotenoid supplementation striking black yellow southern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree, Amphibia: Anura). Our treatment...
Anurans exhibit a greater reproductive diversity than any other vertebrate order. However, studies investigating the effects of external fertilisation environment on success are limited to aquatic-breeding species. This study investigated medium osmolality, sperm concentration and short-term oocyte storage in terrestrial-breeding anuran, Pseudophryne guentheri. Split-clutch experimental designs were used determine optimal conditions. To effect storage, viability was assessed using...
Sperm-storage technologies aim to extend sperm longevity and increase the time available achieve artificial fertilisation. The of present study was quantify effects antibiotic supplementation (4mgmL(-1) gentamicin) altered gaseous storage environment (100%, 20% 0% O2) on in critically endangered booroolong frog, Litoria booroolongensis. A split-sample experimental design adopted, whereby each suspension (n=10) evenly divided among six treatments (100% O2 with antibiotic, 100% without...
Evolutionary theory predicts that selection will favour sperm traits maximize fertilization success in local environments. In externally fertilizing species, osmolality of the medium is known to play a critical role activating motility, but there remains limited evidence for adaptive responses osmotic this study, we used split-sample experimental design and computer-assisted analysis (i) determine optimal activation (% motility velocity) male common eastern froglets (Crinia signifera), (ii)...
The cryopreservation and storage of gametes (biobanking) can provide a long-term, low-cost option for the preservation population genetic diversity is particularly impactful when applied to manage selective breeding within conservation programs (CBPs). This study aimed develop sperm protocol critically endangered Booroolong frog (
The application of reproductive technologies to amphibian conservation breeding programs is gaining momentum and the field poised contribute significantly toward species recovery. We briefly discuss opportunities for enhance outcomes, including their potential genetic management, in turn, fitness threatened species. Despite this potential, an important consideration that not yet well understood degree which specific might influence (either enhance, or some instances potentially decrease)...
Effective activation of sperm motility is fundamental to successful artificial fertilisation; however, studies investigating optimal procedures in amphibians are lacking. This study found the osmolality media for and evaluated effect phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on longevity critically endangered booroolong frog, Litoria booroolongensis. To assess medium (10, 25, 50, 75, 100 200mOsmolkg-1) PDE (control, 2.5mM caffeine, 5mM pentoxifylline, theophylline theophylline) initial activation,...