FECAL STEROID ANALYSIS FOR MONITORING OVARIAN AND TESTICULAR FUNCTIONIN DIVERSE MILD CARNIVORE, PRIMATE AND UNGULATE SPECIES

Faecal steroid metabolite monitoring has become a well-established too l for evaluating reproductive activity in diverse mammalian species. W e have used this non-invasive technique systematically for developing longitudinal reproductive databases that have been useful for augmenti ng captive management and propagation of wildlife species. We rely upo n a simple faecal steroid extraction technique that is both efficient and adaptable across taxa. Faecal oestradiol and progestogen (female) or androgen (male) metabolites are quantified in extracts using valida ted radioimmunoassays that have proven useful in a diversity of specie s. This paper presents examples from the more than 30 mammalian specie s that we have studied to date, illustrating a broad spectrum of uses for non-invasive faecal steroid monitoring. Data are presented on: 1) oestrous cyclicity (Alaskan moose, black rhinoceros, scimitar-horned o ryx, African wild dog, sun bear, sloth bear, African elephant); 2) sea sonality (black-footed ferret, black rhinoceros, sable antelope, yello w baboon, sun bear, scimitar-horned oryx); 3) pregnancy (black-footed ferret, maned wolf Alaskan moose, black rhinoceros, sun bear, sloth be ar); and 4) evaluation of hormonal protocols (i.e., oestrous synchroni zation, ovulation induction) used with assisted reproductive technique s (scimitar-horned oryx). The non-invasive feature of faecal hormone m onitoring, the ease of sample collection and the demonstration that ex cretion patterns reflect physiological function provide evidence for t he enormous utility of this technique. Undoubtedly, a major benefit of this approach will be vastly improved basic knowledge that can be use d to improve management strategies.