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Endocrine Disruptor Research Initiative
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EDRI Federal Project Inventory:
Mechanisms and Evolution of Reproductive Suppression


  1. Sponsor Organization: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

  2. Project Title: MECHANISMS AND EVOLUTION OF REPRODUCTIVE SUPPRESSION

  3. Project Focus: ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS

  4. Description: This project will continue a study of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) begun June1991 in Tanzaniams Selous Game Reserve. African wild dogs are an endangeredspecies. Estimates of the number living in largest protected area on the continent, and holds thelargest remaining population of wild dogs (880 individuals). This research is part of alarger program to understand and reverse the wild dogs decline. Within a typical wilddog pack (of up to 20 adults), only the socially dominant pair breeds. This study willaddress the question of why social subordinates do not breed, even though they arereproductively mature. Two approaches will be used. First, demographic and geneticdata will be gathered to test a mathematical model of the evolution of reproductivesuppression. Second, behavioral and hormonal data will be collected in the wild, todetermine what physiological and behavioral mechanisms prevent reproduction bysubordinates. This research addresses two issues of broad significance. First, itexamines the manner in which social status affects reproduction (an issue with directrelevance for human reproduction, and for captive breeding of other endangeredspecies). Second, it examines the causes of decline of an endangered animal, in thehope of ensuring its survival in the wild.

  5. References:

  6. Category: MODELS

  7. Subcategory: BASIC RESEARCH

  8. Keywords for Experimental System/Species: DOG, MAMMAL. IN VIVO, FIELD STUDY

  9. Keywords for Experimental Endpoints: NEUROLOGICAL, REPRODUCTIVE, HORMONE MEASURES, SEX STEROIDS, PEPTIDE HORMONES,PHYSIOLOGY, BREEDING BEHAVIOR, STRESS RESPONSE, POPULATION DYNAMICS, GROWTH

  10. Chemical Agents: Sex Steroids

  11. Performing Institution: Rockefeller University

  12. Contact: Scott R Creel, 66th and York Avenue, New York, NY 10021 212 570- 8000, sccreel@vaxsar.vassar.edu

 

 
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