Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Variation in Reproductive Success Across Captive Populations
T2 - Methodological Differences, Potential Biases and Opportunities
AU - Griffith, Simon C.
AU - Crino, Ondi L.
AU - Andrew, Samuel C.
AU - Nomano, Fumiaki Y.
AU - Adkins-Regan, Elizabeth
AU - Alonso-Alvarez, Carlos
AU - Bailey, Ida E.
AU - Bittner, Stephanie S.
AU - Bolton, Peri E.
AU - Boner, Winnie
AU - Boogert, Neeltje
AU - Boucaud, Ingrid C.A.
AU - Briga, Michael
AU - Buchanan, Katherine L.
AU - Caspers, Barbara A.
AU - Cichoń, Mariusz
AU - Clayton, David F.
AU - Derégnaucourt, Sebastien
AU - Forstmeier, Wolfgang
AU - Guillette, Lauren M.
AU - Hartley, Ian R.
AU - Healy, Susan D.
AU - Hill, Davina L.
AU - Holveck, Marie Jeanne
AU - Hurley, Laura L.
AU - Ihle, Malika
AU - Tobias Krause, E.
AU - Mainwaring, Mark C.
AU - Marasco, Valeria
AU - Mariette, Mylene M.
AU - Martin-Wintle, Meghan S.
AU - McCowan, Luke S.C.
AU - McMahon, Maeve
AU - Monaghan, Pat
AU - Nager, Ruedi G.
AU - Naguib, Marc
AU - Nord, Andreas
AU - Potvin, Dominique A.
AU - Prior, Nora H.
AU - Riebel, Katharina
AU - Romero-Haro, Ana A.
AU - Royle, Nick J.
AU - Rutkowska, Joanna
AU - Schuett, Wiebke
AU - Swaddle, John P.
AU - Tobler, Michael
AU - Trompf, Larissa
AU - Varian-Ramos, Claire W.
AU - Vignal, Clémentine
AU - Villain, Avelyne S.
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Our understanding of fundamental organismal biology has been disproportionately influenced by studies of a relatively small number of ‘model’ species extensively studied in captivity. Laboratory populations of model species are commonly subject to a number of forms of past and current selection that may affect experimental outcomes. Here, we examine these processes and their outcomes in one of the most widely used vertebrate species in the laboratory – the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). This important model species is used for research across a broad range of fields, partly due to the ease with which it can be bred in captivity. However despite this perceived amenability, we demonstrate extensive variation in the success with which different laboratories and studies bred their subjects, and overall only 64% of all females that were given the opportunity, bred successfully in the laboratory. We identify and review several environmental, husbandry, life-history and behavioural factors that potentially contribute to this variation. The variation in reproductive success across individuals could lead to biases in experimental outcomes and drive some of the heterogeneity in research outcomes across studies. The zebra finch remains an excellent captive animal system and our aim is to sharpen the insight that future studies of this species can provide, both to our understanding of this species and also with respect to the reproduction of captive animals more widely. We hope to improve systematic reporting methods and that further investigation of the issues we raise will lead both to advances in our fundamental understanding of avian reproduction as well as to improvements in future welfare and experimental efficiency.
AB - Our understanding of fundamental organismal biology has been disproportionately influenced by studies of a relatively small number of ‘model’ species extensively studied in captivity. Laboratory populations of model species are commonly subject to a number of forms of past and current selection that may affect experimental outcomes. Here, we examine these processes and their outcomes in one of the most widely used vertebrate species in the laboratory – the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). This important model species is used for research across a broad range of fields, partly due to the ease with which it can be bred in captivity. However despite this perceived amenability, we demonstrate extensive variation in the success with which different laboratories and studies bred their subjects, and overall only 64% of all females that were given the opportunity, bred successfully in the laboratory. We identify and review several environmental, husbandry, life-history and behavioural factors that potentially contribute to this variation. The variation in reproductive success across individuals could lead to biases in experimental outcomes and drive some of the heterogeneity in research outcomes across studies. The zebra finch remains an excellent captive animal system and our aim is to sharpen the insight that future studies of this species can provide, both to our understanding of this species and also with respect to the reproduction of captive animals more widely. We hope to improve systematic reporting methods and that further investigation of the issues we raise will lead both to advances in our fundamental understanding of avian reproduction as well as to improvements in future welfare and experimental efficiency.
KW - captive breeding
KW - captivity
KW - domestication
KW - husbandry
KW - model species
KW - reproductive failure
KW - Taeniopygia guttata
KW - zebra finch
U2 - 10.1111/eth.12576
DO - 10.1111/eth.12576
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85005959739
VL - 123
SP - 1
EP - 29
JO - Ethology
JF - Ethology
SN - 0179-1613
IS - 1
ER -