Advanced assisted reproduction technologies in endangered mammalian species.

A new synergistic approach of classical conservation strategies combined with advanced assisted reproduction technologies (aART) allows for protection and rescue of endangered keystone species at the brink of extinction, which can help to safeguard complex ecosystems. Reproduction biology and management in mammal species is not only challenging in regards to their diverging sizes, anatomy, and often unknown physiology; it also requires customized training or chemical restraint protocols for safe handling. Besides these general challenges, there are several new assisted reproduction techniques (ART) specifically tailored to critically endangered mammals.

Mating without intromission in a bat.

Copulatory behaviours stand as cornerstones of sexual selection, yet they remain mysterious in many species. Because of their nocturnal and elusive lifestyle, the copulatory behaviours of bats have been mostly overlooked. Several aspects of bat reproduction differ from other mammals (e.

The neonatal southern white rhinoceros ovary contains oogonia in germ cell nests.

The northern white rhinoceros is functionally extinct with only two females left. Establishing methods to culture ovarian tissues, follicles, and oocytes to generate eggs will support conservation efforts using in vitro embryo production. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of the structure and molecular signature of any rhinoceros, more specifically, we describe the neonatal and adult southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) ovary; the closest relation of the northern white rhinoceros.

Mammalian maxilloturbinal evolution does not reflect thermal biology.

The evolution of endothermy in vertebrates is a major research topic in recent decades that has been tackled by a myriad of research disciplines including paleontology, anatomy, physiology, evolutionary and developmental biology. The ability of most mammals to maintain a relatively constant and high body temperature is considered a key adaptation, enabling them to successfully colonize new habitats and harsh environments. It has been proposed that in mammals the anterior nasal cavity, which houses the maxilloturbinal, plays a pivotal role in body temperature maintenance, via a bony system supporting an epithelium involved in heat and moisture conservation.

The functional anatomy of elephant trunk whiskers.

Behavior and innervation suggest a high tactile sensitivity of elephant trunks. To clarify the tactile trunk periphery we studied whiskers with the following findings. Whisker density is high at the trunk tip and African savanna elephants have more trunk tip whiskers than Asian elephants.

Macrophages from naked mole-rat possess distinct immunometabolic signatures upon polarization.

The naked mole-rat (NMR) is a unique long-lived rodent which is highly resistant to age-associated disorders and cancer. The immune system of NMR possesses a distinct cellular composition with the prevalence of myeloid cells. Thus, the detailed phenotypical and functional assessment of NMR myeloid cell compartment may uncover novel mechanisms of immunoregulation and healthy aging.

Pup Recruitment in a Eusocial Mammal-Which Factors Influence Early Pup Survival in Naked Mole-Rats?

In eusocial insects, offspring survival strongly depends on the quality and quantity of non-breeders. In contrast, the influence of social factors on offspring survival is more variable in cooperatively breeding mammals since maternal traits also play an important role. This difference between cooperative insects and mammals is generally attributed to the difference in the level of sociality.

Comparative analysis of thyroid hormone systems in rodents with subterranean lifestyle.

African mole-rats are subterranean rodents inhabiting underground burrows. This habitat entails risks of overheating, hypoxia, and scarce food availability. Consequently, many subterranean species have evolved low basal metabolism and low body temperature, but the regulation of these traits at the molecular level were unknown.

Induced pluripotent stem cells and cerebral organoids from the critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros.

Less than 80 Sumatran rhinos (SR, are left on earth. Habitat loss and limited breeding possibilities are the greatest threats to the species and lead to a continuous population decline. To stop the erosion of genetic diversity, reintroduction of genetic material is indispensable.

Application of decision tools to ethical analysis in biodiversity conservation.

Achieving ethically responsible decisions is crucial for the success of biodiversity conservation projects. We adapted the ethical matrix, decision tree, and Bateson's cube to assist in the ethical analysis of complex conservation scenarios by structuring these tools so that they can implement the different value dimensions (environmental, social, and animal welfare) involved in conservation ethics. We then applied them to a case study relative to the decision-making process regarding whether or not to continue collecting biomaterial on the oldest of the two remaining northern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), a functionally extinct subspecies of the white rhinoceros.

The role of colour patterns for the recognition of flowers by bees.

Bees discriminate between many different colours of flower petals, but it is not well understood how they perceive and learn patterns frequently found in flowers with colourful structures. We used multi-spectral imaging to explore chromatic cues in concentric flower patterns as they are seen through the low-resolution eyes of the honeybee. We find a diversity of colour combinations, which suggests that plants might exploit the sensory capabilities of pollinators, like bees, that learn colours easily.

Unique Features of the Tissue Structure in the Naked Mole Rat (): Hypertrophy of the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Spatial Mitochondrial Rearrangements in Hepatocytes.

The reason for the exceptional longevity of the naked mole rat () remains a mystery to researchers. We assumed that evolutionarily, acquired the ability to quickly stabilize the functioning of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to adjust metabolism to external challenges. To test this, a comparison of the hepatic mitochondria and ER of and C57BL/6 mice was done.

Global response of conservationists across mass media likely constrained bat persecution due to COVID-19.

Most people lack direct experience with wildlife and form their risk perception primarily on information provided by the media. The way the media frames news may substantially shape public risk perception, promoting or discouraging public tolerance towards wildlife. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, bats were suggested as the most plausible reservoir of the virus, and this became a recurrent topic in media reports, potentially strengthening a negative view of this ecologically important group.

Trigeminal ganglion and sensory nerves suggest tactile specialization of elephants.

Sensory nerves are information bottlenecks giving rise to distinct sensory worlds across animal species. Here, we investigate trigeminal ganglion and sensory nerves of elephants. The elephant trigeminal ganglion is very large.

Progressive reorganization of mitochondrial apparatus in aging skeletal muscle of naked mole rats ( as revealed by electron microscopy: potential role in continual maintenance of muscle activity.

The authors examined the ultrastructure of mitochondrial apparatus of skeletal muscles of naked mole rats () from the age of 6 months to 11 years. The obtained results have demonstrated that the mitochondria in skeletal muscles of naked mole rats aged below 5 years is not well-developed and represented by few separate small mitochondria. Mitochondrial reticulum is absent.

Alternative Animal Models of Aging Research.

Most research on mechanisms of aging is being conducted in a very limited number of classical model species, i.e., laboratory mouse (), rat (), the common fruit fly () and roundworm ().