Population dynamics and life-history evolution depend heavily on fecundity, which, in the coyote (Canis latrans), can vary substantially according to environmental conditions. Although well studied in the central part of its range, little is known about coyote reproduction in the Mediterranean climates associated with Pacificcoastal North America. I used postmortem examinations of 441 coyotes c...

Seasonal trends in energy storage of the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), a capital breeder, were investigated in Iceland, a North Atlantic feeding ground. The aim was to better understand the energy acquisition strategies of minke whales and the energetic costs that different reproductive classes face during the breeding season. We modelled total blubber volume, using blubber thicknes...

Most kelps (order Laminariales) exhibit distinct temporal patterns in zoospore production, gametogenesis and gametophyte reproduction. Natural fluctuations in ambient environmental conditions influence the intrinsic characteristics of gametes, which define their ability to tolerate varied conditions. The aim of this work was to document seasonal patterns in reproduction and gametophyte growth a...

Stress and reproduction are generally thought to work in opposition to one another. This is often manifested as reciprocal relationships between glucocorticoid stress hormones and sex steroid hormones. However, seasonal differences in how animals respond to stressors have been described in extreme environments. We tested the hypothesis that garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis, with limited repro...

The aim of the study was to identify the detailed impact of the season, parity and breed on reproductive performance of sows. The experimental material consisted of 2100 sows, in 3 breed variants: 700 PL, 700 PLW, 700 crossbreeds PL×PLW. Sows were observed until parity 5. In the context of the breed, depending on the order of parity groups of 140 sows were isolated. Then, sows were divided in t...

Green anole lizards are seasonal breeders, with male sexual behaviour primarily regulated by an annual increase in testosterone. Morphological, biochemical and behavioural changes associated with reproduction are activated by testosterone, generally with a greater effect in the breeding season (BS) than in the nonbreeding season (NBS). The present study investigates the possibility that differe...

The threat of the new pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 imposed a heavy burden on the public health system in Finland in 2009-2010. An extensive vaccination campaign was set up in the middle of the first pandemic season. However, the true number of infected individuals remains uncertain as the surveillance missed a large portion of mild infections. We constructed a transmission model to simulate ...

The purpose of the research was to assess changes in lactation activity cows and their impact on level reproduction, as well study fluctuations with respect genetic environmental factors. A sample 807 various ages formed for study. were kept a commercial farm Kharkiv region, Ukraine. Data from DairyPlan C21 software used It revealed that parameters Wood curve model significantly influenced by c...

Abstract The Chinese soft‐shelled turtle ( Pelodiscus sinensis ) is a reptile that undergoes seasonal reproduction. To produce enough spermatozoa during the mating season, immature can be quickly released from testis. Cell morphological changes related to maturation process are then completed in epididymis. In this way, develop simultaneously epithelium and lumen of seminiferous tubules, making...

Seasonal cycles of reproduction are common in many mammals and these are combined with the necessary energy budgeting for thermoregulatory challenges. Many mammals meet the challenge of changing environmental temperatures in winter by using torpor, a controlled reduction in body temperature and metabolic rate. We aimed to determine the effects of photoperiod and reproductive hormones on the sea...