Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40719253›Full record

ArticleZoo biology

Reproductive Traits of Zoo-Bred and Wild-Bred Eastern Massasaugas (Sistrurus catenatus) at Species Survival Plan® Conservation Breeding Centres and Other Facilities.

Jonathan D Choquette, Trevor E Pitcher, Anne Yagi, Corentin Fournier, Rick Vos, Jacqueline D Litzgus

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Zoo biology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jonathan D ChoquetteSchool of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9965-4359
Trevor E PitcherDepartment of Integrative Biology & Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Anne Yagi8Trees Inc., Fonthill, Ontario, Canada.
Corentin FournierWildlife Preservation Canada (WPC), Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Rick VosToronto Zoo, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jacqueline D LitzgusSchool of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Funding

Funding was provided by Ontario Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (17-20-WPC3; 9-23-WPC2), Ganawenim Meshkiki (EGBI 2021-08), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (ReNewZoo 481954-2016). No funders played a direct role in the design, development or undertaking of this study. This project received funding support from the Government of Ontario; such support does not indicate endorsement by the Government of Ontario of the contents of this publication.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Species recovery efforts may require establishment of ex situ populations to supply augmentation or reintroduction projects. The Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a small rattlesnake with an ex situ breeding program maintained by a consortium of conservation breeding centres. Small population size in human care has restricted the supply of animals for in situ conservation, thus, the development of improved ex situ breeding protocols was recommended. The objectives of our retrospective study were to (1) describe and compare reproductive traits between two groups of Massasauga litters born in human care: wild-bred litters (i.e., conceived in the wild) and zoo-bred litters, (2) test for factors associated with improved reproductive output in zoo-bred litters, and, (3) make recommendations for standardizing ex situ breeding protocols. Data were collected on Massasauga birth events that occurred from 2000 to 2020 at 13 North American zoos and partner facilities. Six outcomes related to litter size and survival of offspring were compared between zoo-bred (n = 43) and wild-bred litters (n = 51). Odds ratios were used to test for correlations between nine predictor variables and four response variables in zoo-bred litters. We found higher mean litter size and number of live young per litter in wild-bred litters (12 and 10, respectively) compared to zoo-bred litters (6 and 2). Wild-bred litters more often contained live young and less often contained unfertilized ova (98% and 34% of litters, respectively) than did zoo-bred litters (58% and 81%). Experimentation on the effectiveness of alternative mating practices is warranted to improve reproductive output in human care, thereby increasing capacity to support in situ conservation.

Indexed as

Animals, WildAnimals, ZooConservation of Natural ResourcesReproductionAnimal HusbandryAnimalsBreedingCrotalinaeFemaleLitter SizeMalePregnancyRetrospective StudiesVenomous Snakesconservation breedingpit vipersupplementationviperidaezoological park

Identifiers

PMID40719253
PMCPMC12681048

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.