| Little is known about the reproductive physiology of Mirza coquereli. In 1982, a captive breeding colony was created to facilitate reproductive and behavioral research in the US. Although the breeding colony was initially successful, M. coquereli soon stopped reproducing and no offspring have survived since 1997.;Fecal radioimmunoassay of steroid hormones, demographic and genetic analyses, and a habitat evaluation were used to investigate factors impeding the reproductive success of M. coquereli.;Significant differences did not exist in hormone levels among groups of animals, but significant seasonal variations in hormone levels did exist. Demographic and pedigree analyses revealed an aging population with low fecundity rates and inbreeding levels. It is unclear which factors were responsible for diminished reproduction, however, it appears that low founder population size plays an important role.;This research is the first of its kind on M. coquereli. Data gathered provide a new source of baseline data, and validate the use of fecal RIA techniques on M. coquereli, to apply to current conservation efforts. |
