In Australia, high local densities of macropodid marsupials in state parks, nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries are threatening biodiversity and pose a considerable management challenge. The high public profile of these species places socio-political constraints on the management options available. The use of fertility control techniques appears to offer an alternative. However, before a contraceptive system can be developed a detailed knowledge of the reproductive processes for that species must be generated. In this thesis, sexual maturity, seasonal reproduction, aspects of the endocrinology of reproduction and fertility control were investigated in the eastern grey kangaroo. In Victoria the eastern grey kangaroo is capable of breeding at all times of the year, although breeding is more synchronous than in northern populations, with 41% of the females breeding between December and January. In Victorian populations the onset of sexual maturity is delayed in both sexes, with females reaching maturity at 22 ± 1.2months and some males not reaching sexual maturity by 32 months of age. Male kangaroos showed seasonal changes that closely tracked the reproductive activity of the female kangaroos. Plasma testosterone concentrations were significantly elevated during the peak breeding period compared to all other times of the year. Both prostate and testis weights were low during winter when the reproductive activity of the females is low, although the difference was not significant.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/245201 |
| Creators | Nave, Christopher Dean |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
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