ANIMAL 1 REPRODUCTION Eutherian Mammals Hamadryas Baboon Hamadryas Baboons form social hierarchies that involve the formation of troops, bands, clans and harems. A harem is the smallest unit and usually includes a dominant breeding male, females and young. Bachelor groups also exist. 1. What is the reproductive advantage of living in groups? 2. How do females indicate their readiness to mate? 3. What technology has been used to control reproduction in this group? Table of reproductive features attracting a mate Live birth or egg laying of young per litter Care
Page 2 Eutherian Mammals Asian Elephant The unsustainable Palm Oil industry has affected the South East Asian environment dramatically, leaving the Asian elephant particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and poaching. As a result, the Asian Elephant is endangered. To help safeguard this species for the future, Melbourne Zoo has invested a large amount of its resources into breeding its Asian Elephants. 1. Mek Kapah (female) and Bong Su (male) previously lived together in the Historic Elephant Enclosure for decades. Why did they never breed? 2. Why did Melbourne Zoo opt for Artificial Insemination (AI) with each elephant instead of waiting for natural conception to occur? 3. All members of the herd help care for the young. What are the reproductive advantages of this behaviour? Table of reproductive features attracting a mate Live birth or egg laying of young per litter Care Did you know that elephants are generally born hind feet first rather than head first? This is believed to be an evolutionary trait from when animals were born underwater (like whales) and can cause a number of issues now on land.
Page 3 Eutherian Mammals Orang-utan Orang-utans are generally solitary; however, young spend up to eight years in the care of their mother. During this time, young orang-utans learn their survival skills, including climbing, locating and remembering food sources and avoiding predators. Male orang-utans move into areas inhabited by females for mating, then leave the female who raises the young. 1. What is the advantage for orang- utans living a solitary life? Dewi (juvenile female) was conceived naturally in 2011, to parents Santan (male) and Maimunah (female). Dewi was their second successful reproductive event, with Menyaru (sub-adult male), born in 2003. 2. Describe some of the reproductive technologies that have been employed by Melbourne Zoo to increase Maimunah s chance of conception. Describe how the keepers prepared Maimunah for motherhood. 3. Observe Maimunah s interaction with Dewi for five- minutes, list the behaviours you observe in the table below. Parenting Behaviour Other Behaviour Table of reproductive features attracting a mate Live birth or egg laying Care
Page 4 Palm Oil What s Reproduction got to do with it? The single biggest threat to the survival of orang-utans is the unsustainable production of palm oil. Its rampant cultivation is destroying rainforest habitat at an alarming rate. The simple fact is that Australian consumers can t tell whether they are contributing to this crisis because palm oil is not clearly labeled on most food products instead it is often grouped under the misleading category of vegetable oil. Since late 2009, Zoos Victoria s Don t Palm Us Off campaign has advocated for the mandatory labeling of palm oil in all food products in Australia and New Zealand. Meet Marissa Zoos Victoria employs Reproductive Biologists who specialize in the planning of successful reproductive outcomes for our endangered species. Dr Marissa Parrott leads a team of specialists at Zoos Victoria. She is an example of how working as a biologist can help to save the world. Get involved! We are now one step closer to mandatory palm oil labeling becoming a reality with the palm oil Bill through the Senate and off to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Bill is in the hands of the politicians but you can still help ensure mandatory labeling in Australia by writing/emailing your Federal MP and telling them you want palm oil labeled! Write to food manufacturers asking whether they source sustainable palm oil Purchase foods with sustainable palm oil when they are appropriately labeled You can help make transparent labeling a reality by writing to your Federal MP, let them know that you want the choice Write to Food standards Australia New Zealand with your thoughts and concerns on the issue. How is Palm Oil labeled?
Page 5 Eutherian Mammals Sumatran Tiger Cats are solitary animals, with the exception of lions that live in a social group. Female tigers care for their young for up to 18 months. Mature males live a solitary life within an established territory. A male s territory can overlap that of several females. Female cats are induced ovulators, where the stimulation of mating is needed for ovulation to occur. At the tiger exhibit, you may notice a range of strong smells in the area surrounding the exhibit. 1. Outline the significance of smell for solitary animals such as tigers 2. Explain the reproductive advantages of territorial behaviour 3. Even though Ramalon (male) and Binjai (female) were genetically suited to breed, explain why Melbourne Zoo kept them separated for two years before introducing them in the same enclosure to mate. 4. Describe the major threat to the Sumatran Tiger s habitat. Explain the impact this has had on the species and what Zoos Victoria is doing to protect them from extinction. Table of Reproductive features attracting a mate Live birth or egg laying Care
Page 6 Marsupials Wombat, Potoroo Marsupials are mammals that give birth to underdeveloped young that migrate into the pouch to complete their development. The common wombat is an ambassador animal for our Wipe 4 Wildlife Campaign. This campaign encourages the community to help save local wildlife by making the switch to recycled toilet paper and choosing products with the FSCÆ logo. 1. Rather than record the birth date of marsupials, Zoo keepers take note of the date the joey lives Permanently Out of the Pouch (the POP date). Explain reasons why this is done. Explain Marsupial diapause. Suggest the reproductive and survival advantages of this adaptation. Table of Reproductive features attracting a mate Live birth or egg laying Care.
Page 7 Monotremes Platypus and Echidna Monotremes are mammals that are oviparous or egg-laying and produce milk from mammary glands. There are only three living examples of monotremes today; the platypus and two species of echidna 1. Monotremes are said to have characteristics of eutherian, marsupial, reptile and birds. Describe how monotreme reproductive characteristics are similar to each of these groups of animals. 2. Use the Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the characteristics of monotremes to other mammals. EUTHERIAN MONOTREME MARSUPIAL Table of Reproductive features attracting a mate Live birth or egg laying Care. I
Page 8 Invertebrates Stick Insects Stick Insects belong to a group called arthropods. Many arthropods have adapted to a method of reproduction called parthenogenesis. This method is defined as asexual reproduction where offspring may develop from unfertilized eggs. The development of unfertilized eggs allows the female to pass her DNA on to the next generation. 1. Describe the sexual dimorphism of the Stick Insect species you observe, commenting on size, shape and any differences in behaviour you observe. 2. Explain the difference between asexual and sexual reproduction 3. In the classroom, list the species that have adapted to the following reproductive methods Asexual 4. Suggest the reproductive advantages and disadvantages of parthenogenesis (asexual reproduction). Advantage Disadvantage Did you know some reptile populations are made up entirely of females?
Page 9 Learning Space Animal: Green Tree Frog attracting a mate Live birth or egg laying Care of young Animal: Snake Species attracting a mate Live birth or egg laying Care of young Animal: Lizard attracting a mate Live birth or egg laying of young per litter Care of young
Page 10 Glossary Fertilisation Ovulation Oestrus Copulation reproduction Asexual reproduction Gestation period dimorphism Parthenogenesis Oviparous Viviparous Ovoviviparous the union of the sperm and egg (gametes) as occurs in animals or plants that reproduce sexually the release of the egg from the ovary the period of fertility that usually coincides with ovulation during which a female will copulate with males the act of placing sperm inside the body of the female animal the behaviour that precedes mating; usually aimed at attracting a mate any reproduction which involves the union of the sperm and the egg, regardless of how the egg and sperm meet any reproduction that does not involve the union of sperm and egg the length of time it takes for a fertilised egg to develop to birth marked physical differences between the sexes a type of asexual reproduction found in some animals (including stick insects) where offspring can develop from unfertilised eggs Producing eggs that hatch outside the body Giving birth to living offspring that develop within the mother's body Producing eggs that hatch within the female's body without obtaining nourishment from it