Seasonal endocrine changes and breeding activity in mediterranean wild ruminants

Abstract

The methods of assisted reproduction commonly used in domestic animals are currently being applied to non-domestic species. This is because of the limitation of maintaining the genetic variability in the wild, as it occurs in wild ruminants of the Mediterranean Basin. Despite the apparent progress of the technology, success of the offspring to grow and become healthy adult individuals has remained low in wild species. Difficulties usually arise from insufficient information about basic reproductive biology, such as the seasonal changes in ovarian and testicular activity. Directional adaptive evolution involves development of speciespecific physiological reproductive patterns to cope with various environmental factors. Thus, species originating and living at the same latitude display different reproductive strategies to entrain the breeding activity at an optimal time of the year. The aim of this paper was to present current knowledge on reproductive physiology of Mediterranean wild ruminants as a basic prerequisite for the successful use of assisted reproduction methods. Special emphasis is given to seasonal endocrine changes, ovarian cycles and testicular activity of Iberian wild ruminants, together with the role of social interactions on the regulation of these events.