Body condition index in breeding black iguana females (Ctenosaura pectinata) in captivity

The body condition index is a measure that attempts to describe energy storage compared to body length. This research was carried out with the aim of obtaining a body condition index in Ctenosaura pectinata. We used 40 adult females distributed between two groups. The iguanas were fed with four types of commercial food. They were also weighed in grams, their body lengths were measured in centimeters (total, snout-vent and head), body diameters were measured in centimeters (tail base, hip, leg, and pelvis) and body volume was measured in milliliters. Descriptive statistics were performed and variables were checked for normality. A Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to identify any related variables. A body condition index classification was obtained from the mean value and standard deviation (I: 2S-µ, II: S-µ, III: µ+S and IV: µ+2S) and a prediction equation for volume was obtained by Stepwise analysis. The body conditionindex turned to be highly accurate (r=0.98, pË‚0.0001). A body condition index classification in black iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata) was established, which will be useful for monitoring the body reserves of the species. Highlights: Body condition is a method to evaluate the reserves of animal fat tissues in their productive and reproductive states. In reptiles body conditions affects the females survival, egg size, and brood size, but it is not known in black iguana due to lack of information. Reproductive females black iguana classified as I (lean) and IV (excessively corpulent) presented non-reproductive conditions in captive condition.The body condition index is a measure that attempts to describe energy storage compared to body length. This research was carried out with the aim of obtaining a body condition index in Ctenosaura pectinata. We used 40 adult females distributed between two groups. The iguanas were fed with four types of commercial food. They were also weighed in grams, their body lengths were measured in centimeters (total, snout-vent and head), body diameters were measured in centimeters (tail base, hip, leg, and pelvis) and body volume was measured in milliliters. Descriptive statistics were performed and variables were checked for normality. A Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to identify any related variables. A body condition index classification was obtained from the mean value and standard deviation (I: 2S-µ, II: S-µ, III: µ+S and IV: µ+2S) and a prediction equation for volume was obtained by Stepwise analysis. The body conditionindex turned to be highly accurate (r=0.98, pË‚0.0001). A body condition index classification in black iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata) was established, which will be useful for monitoring the body reserves of the species. Highlights: Body condition is a method to evaluate the reserves of animal fat tissues in their productive and reproductive states. In reptiles body conditions affects the females survival, egg size, and brood size, but it is not known in black iguana due to lack of information. Reproductive females black iguana classified as I (lean) and IV (excessively corpulent) presented non-reproductive conditions in captive condition

Genetic variability and structure of jaguar (Panthera onca) in Mexican zoos

ArtículoGenealogical records of animals (studbook) are created to avoid reproduction between closely related individuals, which could cause inbreeding, particularly for such endangered species as the Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758). Jaguar is the largest felid in the Americas and is considered an important ecological key species. In Mexico, wild jaguar populations have been significantly reduced in recent decades, and population decline typically accompany decreases in genetic variation. There is no current census of captive jaguars in Mexico, and zoos do not follow a standardized protocol in breeding programs based on genetic studies. Here, we emphasise the importance of maintaining an adequate level of genetic variation and propose the implementation of standardised studbooks for jaguars in Mexico, mainly to avoid inbreeding. In addition, achieving the aims of studbook registration would provide a population genetic characterisation that could serve as a basis for ex situ conservation programmes

Determinación de la dieta del jaguar (Panthera onca) y puma (Puma concolor) en el municipio de Tamasopo, San Luis Potosí

En México se encuentran los felinos más grandes de América, el puma (Puma concolor) y el jaguar (Panthera onca). Debido al incremento en las fronteras agropecuarias, el jaguar y el puma se encuentran en peligro de extinción en varias áreas de su distribución. Aunada a su situación crítica, su comportamiento elusivo y críptico dificulta aún más la accesibilidad para realizar investigación acerca de su etología, hábitos alimenticios y estimación de parámetros poblacionales. Por ello, se ha tenido la necesidad de recurrir a otros métodos de investigación no invasivos que eviten el manejo directo, uno de estos métodos es la recolección de excretas para identificar los componentes de su dieta, con esta información, se puede evaluar si realmente estos felinos son los que están causando bajas a los ganaderos, y al ser una especie sombrilla, también puede dar noción del estatus de las demás especies que son parte de su dieta. Puede resultar difícil identificar en campo las excretas de varios carnívoros, por lo que es necesario relacionar los posibles rastros asociados que se encuentren en el lugar del hallazgo. Para evitar sesgos se cuenta con métodos alternativos de identificación en laboratorio, como la genética molecular. La PCR, la hibridación y el etiquetado de pruebas de ADN con marcadores radiactivos son técnicas que permiten reconstruir a partir de fragmentos pequeños o degradados de muestras, miles de copias de ADN para distinguir especies y subespecies. Con estas técnicas se identificaron con éxito 16 de 31 excretas colectadas en el área de estudio. Se colectaron 31 excretas de las cuales 13 fueron de puma y 8 de jaguar. Se realizó la identificación de pelos de presas encontrados en las heces, encontrando que el número total de presas para puma fue de 12, siendo el pecarí de collar y el tlacuache los más importantes. El número total de presas para jaguar fueron 9, y presentó en la dieta la misma importancia el pecarí de collar y el tlacuache, aunque se depredaron más individuos adultos. El índice de Pianka fue de 80.29%, lo cual sugiere una posible superposición alta en la dieta de los dos felinos que se encuentran en la sierra aledaña a Tamasopo, SLP. _______________ DETERMINATION OF THE JAGUAR (Panthera onca) AND PUMA (Puma concolor) DIETS IN MUNICIPIO OF TAMASOPO, SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, MÉXICO. ABSTRACT : The mountain lion (Puma concolor) and the jaguar (Panthera onca) in Mexico there are the largest felids in the Americas. Due to of the excessive development of urban areas, habitat fragmentation, diminishing of natural prey and continuous pursuit of the felids because they are considered predators of cattle. Jaguar and the mountain lion are threatened in many areas of their original distribution. Considering their critical situation, jaguar and puma also have elusive and cryptic behavior that make difficult to conduct research about their basic ecology. For many reasons, it had been necessary to develop alternative methods to minimize contact with them. One of those non invasive methods is scat collection to identify their diet components. This information could be used to evaluate if actually they are responsible of cattle losses in conflict areas. On the other hand, jaguar is considered umbrella specie, and because of its presence in some areas, it may indicate the good health of the region. Commonly it is difficult to identify scats of carnivorous species such as coyotes, wolves, cougars, jaguars, etc. Because of that, it is necessary to have the expertise in identifying them precisely. Nonetheless, it is common to overestimate or underestimate the rate of samples for both species. Recently, molecular techniques have been used for identifying DNA of predators, with possibilities to obtain success of more than 90%. The PCR is a technique that performs with a template of few or degraded fragments of DNA to replicate millions of copies, and by the addition of some specific primers that aid in the generation of new strands. We identified successfully, with molecular techniques, 8 jaguar scats and 13 puma scats of N = 31. We identified hairs and bones of preys present in the scats. The total number of prey type for cougar was 12; the most important preys were collared peccary and opossum. The total prey number for jaguar was 9; being also peccary and opossum the most important prey species found in their diet, but the difference was that jaguar predated older individuals in a higher proportion. The diet overlap based on a total of n= 16 scats ad the analysis conducted (Pianka index was 79.8%), suggests overlap between both felids that inhabit contiguous mountain range of Tamasopo, SLP.Tesis (Maestría en Ciencias, Especialista en Ganadería).- Colegio de Postgraduados, 2010.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT