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Variation in Reproductive Success Across Captive Populations: Methodological Differences, Potential Biases and Opportunities
Author(s) -
Griffith Simon C.,
Crino Ondi L.,
Andrew Samuel C.,
Nomano Fumiaki Y.,
AdkinsRegan Elizabeth,
AlonsoAlvarez Carlos,
Bailey Ida E.,
Bittner Stephanie S.,
Bolton Peri E.,
Boner Winnie,
Boogert Neeltje,
Boucaud Ingrid C. A.,
Briga Michael,
Buchanan Katherine L.,
Caspers Barbara A.,
Cichoń Mariusz,
Clayton David F.,
Derégnaucourt Sebastien,
Forstmeier Wolfgang,
Guillette Lauren M.,
Hartley Ian R.,
Healy Susan D.,
Hill Davina L.,
Holveck MarieJeanne,
Hurley Laura L.,
Ihle Malika,
Tobias Krause E.,
Mainwaring Mark C.,
Marasco Valeria,
Mariette Mylene M.,
MartinWintle Meghan S.,
McCowan Luke S. C.,
McMahon Maeve,
Monaghan Pat,
Nager Ruedi G.,
Naguib Marc,
Nord Andreas,
Potvin Dominique A.,
Prior Nora H.,
Riebel Katharina,
RomeroHaro Ana A.,
Royle Nick J.,
Rutkowska Joanna,
Schuett Wiebke,
Swaddle John P.,
Tobler Michael,
Trompf Larissa,
VarianRamos Claire W.,
Vignal Clémentine,
Villain Avelyne S.,
Williams Tony D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/eth.12576
Subject(s) - captivity , biology , taeniopygia , zebra finch , variation (astronomy) , captive breeding , reproductive success , ecology , zoology , evolutionary biology , habitat , population , demography , endangered species , sociology , astrophysics , neuroscience , physics
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.