The Reproductive Biology of the Chelonia: Zoophysiology, cartea 38

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Phylogeny.- 1.2 Chelonian Reproductive Traits Compared with Other Reptiles.- 1.3 Anatomy of the Sexual Organs.- 1.4 Secondary Sexual Characteristics.- 2 Methods to Study Reproduction.- 2.1 Radiography.- 2.2 Ultra-sound Scanning.- 2.3 Laparoscopy and Biopsies.- 2.4 Blood Sampling.- 2.5 Considerations Regarding Captive Maintenance.- 3 Gonadal Cycles and Gamete Production.- 3.1 Sexual Maturity.- 3.2 Ovarian Cycle and Egg Production.- 3.3 Testicular Cycle and Sperm Production.- 3.4 Accessory Secretions and Insemination.- 3.5 Sperm Storage in the Female Genital Tract.- 4 Reproductive Behaviour.- 4.1 Migration.- 4.2 Sexual Behaviour.- 4.3 Nesting.- 4.4 Emergence from the Nest.- 5 Reproductive Cycles and Environment.- 5.1 Temperate Zone.- 5.2 Tropical and Subtropical Zone.- 5.3 Multi-Year Reproductive Cycles.- 5.4 Unpredictable Habitats.- 5.5 Conclusions.- 6 Control of Reproduction.- 6.1 Exogenous Factors.- 6.2 Endogenous Timing Mechanisms.- 6.3 Effects of Stress on Reproduction.- 6.4 Conclusions.- 7 Hormones and Reproduction.- 7.1 Gonadal Steroids.- 7.2 Gonadotropins.- 7.3 Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone.- 7.4 Pineal Hormones.- 7.5 Other Hormones.- 7.6 Hormones and Behaviour.- 7.7 Conclusions.- 8 Eggs and Embryonic Development.- 8.1 Egg Characteristics.- 8.2 Development and Hatching.- 8.3 Sex Determination.- 8.4 Effect of Incubation Environment on Neonates.- 9 Reproductive Patterns and Life History.- 9.1 Resource Allocation.- 9.2 Population Structure and Dynamics.- 10 Threats, Reproduction and Conservation.- 10.1 Environmental Degradation.- 10.2 Exploitation.- 10.3 Conservation Strategies.- 10.4 Commercial Captive Breeding Operations.- 10.5 Risk Minimisation in Assessing Reproduction in Live Chelonians.- 11 Conclusions and Outlook.- References.- SystematicIndex.

The author has been studying for more than 15 years the reproductive biology of some uncommon species of tortoises and turtles and has solved many problems with captive breeding of the world's most endangered chelonian species