Update on Ungulate Research at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (National Zoo) Ungulates at SCBI (Front Royal) Ungulates at Partner Institutions

Panama USA

White Oak Conservation

USA Brazil/Paraguay

Dubai, UAE Phote: Miami Metrozoo Ungulate Program at SCBI

• Maintain self-sustaining populations • Develop safe animal handling protocols for enhanced animal care and research • Conduct basic and applied research to enhance reproduction • Genomic tools for population management • Genome resource banking • Train the next generation of ungulate keepers and researchers Assisted Reproduction in the Eld’s Deer

• First IVF fawn • 2-4 cell stage embryos • 3 pregnancies; two still births • Collaborative research involving ZPO, AgResearch, and Smithsonian

Thongphakdee et al., 2011 Male Tufted Deer Reproductive Biology Development of Artificial Insemination – Addra Gazelle Development of Artificial Insemination – Addra Gazelle Artificial Insemination – Scimitar Horned Oryx

• 8 Females • Estrous synchronization using prostaglandins (Morrow et al., 2000) • Fresh semen AIs • AI – 56 h after the second prostaglandin injection

• 2-3 females pregnant (??) Ungulates Sperm Bank*

• Eld’s deer • Tufted deer • Sable antelope • Scimitar-horned oryx • Addra gazelle • Przewalski’s horse • Persian onager • Grevy’s zebra • Baird’s tapir • Mountain tapir • Malayan tapir

*Includes sperm from gamete rescue

Pukazhenthi et al., unpublished Source Population Alliance Genomics Source Population Alliance Genomic Services 1. Genetic variability analysis of herds/populations

2. Paternity/kinship analysis

3. Hybridization/admixture analysis

4. Genetic testing of individual animals: deleterious mutations that affect reproductive and general health Ungulate Genomics – General Approach • Whole genome analyses • SNP capture arrays • Population-level analyses

(SCBI/RZSS) (SDZG) (RZSS/SCBI) (SCBI)

• Samples shipped to RZSS (Addra gazelle, 92; Scimitar-horned oryx, 48) Comparative Tapir Reproduction Reproductive Endocrinology of Tapirs

30d Malayan 30-60d Baird’s

30d Mountain Lowland 30d

Pukazhenthi et al., 2013 Malayan Tapir Reproductive Assessment

Virginia Zoo; Guthrie et al., Mountain Tapir Reproductive Assessment

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Garelle et al.,) LA Zoo (Walser et al.,) Reproductive Pathologies in Mountain Tapir

• Microliths – mineralization of intra-tubular cellular debris

Scimitar-horned oryx

• Cryptorchidism • Uterine endometrial hyperplasia Conclusions

• Good husbandry is critical for studying ungulates

• Fundamental reproductive biology facilitates development of assisted breeding technologies

• Emerging genomic tools may permit improved management of our collections

• Reproductive pathologies are evident in tapirs (mountain) Conclusions

• Support research on your collection animals

• Remember to bank biomaterials when possible

• If you lose an animal, collect and ship reproductive tracts for sperm/oocyte/gonadal tissue preservation Thank you

Animal management staff: • Mark McNamara, Fauna • White Oak Conservation Research Inc. • South-East Zoo Alliance for • Virginia Zoo Reproduction and • Auburn University Conservation (SEZARC) • Cheyenne Mountain Zoo • Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) • ITAIPU, Brazil • Smithsonian National Zoo • SENACYT, Panama • The Wilds • Zoological Park Organization, Thailand • Jackson Zoo • Royal Zoological Society • Fossil Rim Wildlife Center of Scotland • Source Population Alliance • San Diego Zoo Global Members