Motile Sperm Output by Male Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) Managed Ex Situ Is Influenced by Public Exposure and Number of Care-Givers.
The collective cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) population in zoological institutions has never been self-sustaining because of challenges in natural reproduction. A retrospective analysis of North American zoo-breeding records has revealed that >90% of litters produced since 2003 occurred in facilities 'off-display' from the public. We examined seminal, endocrine, and behavioral traits of 29 adult male cheetahs that were: 1) managed in public exhibit or off-display facilities; 2) maintained by different numbers of cheetah-specific care-givers; and 3) living adjacent to varying numbers of adult conspecifics. Cheetahs housed off-display produced more total motile sperm/ejaculate (P = 0.04) than on-exhibit males. This finding was mirrored in our laboratory's historical records where two-fold more total motile sperm (P < 0.01) were measured in ejaculates from individuals with no public exposure (n = 43) compared to on-exhibit (n = 116) counterparts. Males at institutions with ≤3 care-givers also produced more total motile sperm/ejaculate (P < 0.03) and spent more time behaviorally active (P < 0.01) than at facilities using >3 care-givers. Exposure to high numbers of conspecifics within the same institution did not impact (P > 0.05) seminal traits, and presence of the public, care-giver number, or animals/facility had no influence (P > 0.05) on androgen or glucocorticoid excretion or other behavioral metrics. Findings indicate that male cheetahs are sensitive to general public exposure and too many care-givers, resulting in compromised motile sperm output/ejaculate with mechanism of action unrelated to altered androgen or glucocorticoid excretion.
Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America.
Diana C
DC
Koester
Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America; New Century College, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America.
Elizabeth W
EW
Freeman
Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America.
Janine L
JL
Brown
Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America.
David E
DE
Wildt
Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
Kimberly A
KA
Terrell
Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America; Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America.
Ashley D
AD
Franklin
Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America.
Adrienne E
AE
Crosier
D002612:Acinonyx / Q000502:physiology*; D000728:Androgens / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004542:Ejaculation; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D000728:Androgens; D005938:Glucocorticoids