Although all living beings modify their environment, human beings have acquired the ability to do so on a superlative space-time scale. As a result of industrialization and the use of new technologies, the anthropogenic impact has been increasing in the last centuries, causing reductions in the sizes or the extinction of numerous wild populations. In this sense, from the field of conservation genetics, various efforts have been made in recent decades to provide new knowledge that contributes to the conservation of populations, species, and habitats. In this book, we summarize the concrete contributions of researchers to the conservation of the Neotropical mammals using Molecular Ecology techniques. The book is divided into three major sections. The first section provides an up-to-date review of the conservation status of Neotropical mammals, the applications of the molecular markers in its conservation, and the use of non-invasive and forensic genetic techniques. The second and third sections present, respectively, a series of case studies in various species or taxonomic groups of Neotropical mammals.

This detailed volume explores animal embryogenesis in a way that aims to foster cross-model work and ideas by presenting methods that can be applied across laboratories and species boundaries. Improved protocols with updated advances in key traditional model systems are included, such as in amphibians, chicken, mouse, and zebrafish, as well as chapters on leopard gecko and the flexible-shelled slider turtle. Within these traditional model systems, new developments are presented, such as protocols for the analysis of cellular membranes and intracellular signals, light-controlled manipulation of function, and the analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data in the context of the embryo. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and fully updated, Vertebrate Embryogenesis: Embryological, Cellular, and Genetic Methods, Second Edition serves as an invaluable aid to scientists, educators, and the advanced general audience and will act as an inspiration to further our understanding and appreciation of animal development. Chapter 10, "Optogenetic Control of Subcellular Protein Location and Signalling in Vertebrate Embryos," is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Mapping of animal genomes has generated huge databases and several new concepts and strategies, which are useful to elucidate origin, evolution and phylogeny. Genetic and physical maps of genomes further provide precise details on chromosomal location, function, expression and regulation of academically and economically important genes. The series Genome Mapping and Genomics in Animals provides comprehensive and up-to-date reviews on genomic research on a large variety of selected animal systems, contributed by leading scientists from around the world. Laboratory animals are those species that by accident of evolution, domestication and selective breeding are amenable to maintenance and study in a laboratory environment. Many of these species are studied as 'models' for the biology and pathology of humans. Laboratory animals included in this volume are sea-urchin, nematode worm, fruit fly, sea squirts, puffer fishes, medaka fish, African clawed frog, mouse and rat.

Mammalian oocytes occupy a critical nexus in reproduction as they not only contribute half the genetic makeup of the embryo but also provide virtually all of the cytoplasmic building blocks required for sustaining embryogenesis. The journey that transforms a primordial germ cell into a mature oocyte (or egg) capable of fertilisation and embryonic development is of unrivalled complexity. The end-product of this remarkable developmental process is the "mature" egg, now replete with macromolecules and organelles, and poised to support embryonic development if fertilisation should occur. Given the importance of the oocyte for embryonic development, it is of no surprise that the oocyte holds centre stage in fertility clinics and greatly influences the outcome of assisted reproductive treatments (ARTs). Mammalian Oocyte Regulation: Methods and Protocols provides a highly diverse compendium of detailed methodologies - primarily focusing on the murine model but also including chapters on human oocytes - for enabling researchers to interrogate every aspect of mammalian oocyte development including recombination, meiotic maturation, oocyte substrate uptake, chromosomal segregation and fertilisation. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Mammalian Oocyte Regulation: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide to novice oocyte researchers, experts who wish to add another dimension to their established portfolio, as well as the wider research community.

Germ cells in sexually reproducing metazoa, through the germline lineage, are the route by which genetic material and cytoplasmic constituents are passed from one generation to the next in the continuum of life. Chapters in this book review germ cell development in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, discussing the biology, the genetics and the molecular mechanisms for various processes, as well as drawing comparisons with other organisms. Processes discussed include specification of germ cell fate, meiosis, gametogenesis, environmental/ physiological controls, epigenetics and translational control, fertilization and the oocyte-to-embryo transition. This book thus provides a comprehensive picture of the germline lineage and the continuum of life for the worm.

This edition provides the reader with an introduction to this subject. During the past five years there has been a virtual explosion of information on the different phases of fertilization.This book should be of interest to advanced undergraduates and graduate students in developmental biology, zoology and cell biology; researchers entering the field.

This book provides new insights into the universality of biological systems in animal reproduction and development by a comparative study of a variety of mechanisms in animals ranging from basal invertebrates to vertebrates, including mammals. Animals accomplish genetic diversity through meiosis and fertilization, and during embryogenesis animals must produce specialized cell types, including germ cells, in accordance with their individual body plan. This series of phenomena is essential to the continuity of life in the animal kingdom, and animals show various reproductive and developmental strategies. This volume, comprising four parts, reviews animal kingdom diversity, including reproductive strategies and germ cell differentiation mechanisms (Part 1), sex determination and differentiation (Part2), the mechanisms of fertilization (Part 3), and body axis formation (Part 4). Readers will find descriptions of the reproduction or development of 180 species, 13 phyla, 35 classes, 74 orders, 117 families, and 151 genera in this book. Of particular interest is the diversity of molecules and mechanisms used to achieve the same biological purpose in different animals. Undergraduates, graduate students, and professional scientists who want a deeper understanding of animal reproductive and developmental mechanisms will find this book to be of great value.

Hunting with falcons for houbara bustards was an integral part of traditional life in the desert. Over the last few decades, this magnificent bird - so well adapted to the desert environment - has become an endangered species, due both to continued hunting and to the degradation of its habitat by domestic livestock. This book highlights the achievements of the National Wildlife Research Center of Saudi Arabia in securing the survival of the species through captive breeding, with the aim of reintroducing the houbara to the wild. The breeding programme has proved to be the greatest source of information yet available on the bird, yielding important data not obtainable from wild houbaras. Propagation of the Houbara Bustard is a practical 'how-to' manual for breeding the bird in captivity. It also presents and summarises the background data on houbara diet, behaviour, physiology, reproductive biology and veterinary care that have enabled the breeding programme to succeed in the short span of eight years. It will be of interest not only to breeders of houbara and other bustard species, but to all those who are studying or managing wild populations.

Based on the presentations given by well-known specialists at a recent multidisciplinary conference of developmental psychobiologists, obstetricians, and physiologists, this book is the first exhaustive attempt to synthesize the present scientific knowledge on fetal behavior. Utilizing a psychobiological analytic approach, it provides the reader with an overview of the perspectives, hypotheses, and experimental results from a group of basic scientists and clinicians who conduct research to elucidate the role of fetal behavior in development. Experimental and clinical as well as human and animal data are explored via comparative developmental analysis. The ontogeny of fetal spontaneous activity -- via the maturation of "behavioral states" -- and of fetal responsiveness to sensory stimulation is studied in detail. Results are provided from studies of embryonic/fetal and newborn behavior in chicks, rats, sheep, primates, and humans. Knowledge of fetal behavior is crucial to the obstetrician, neonatologist, developmental psychologist, and even the future parents, in order to follow and assess the gradual development of spontaneous responsive movements of the fetus. While assessing this important information, this text also examines the neuro-behavioral events taking place during the fetal period as an aid to understanding normal and pathological life span development.

Dating back to the early Cambrian period, crustaceans had ample time to undertake endless experimentation with form and function. Today, no other group of plants or animals on the planet exhibit the range of morphological diversity seen among extant Crustacea. With more than 52,000 species, they are placed fourth in terms of overall species diversity. This book comprehensively elucidates the reproduction and development of all the taxonomic groups of Crustacea and bridges the gap between conventional zoologists and molecular biologists. Reproductive modes from the point of embryonic stem cells and primordial germ cells is discussed with a special section on cysts.

After drawing its first breath, every newborn mammal turns his or her complete attention to obtaining milk. This primal act was once thought to stem from a basic fact: milk provides the initial source of calories and nutrients for all mammalian young. But it turns out that milk is a much more complicated biochemical cocktail and provides benefits beyond nutrition. In this fascinating book, biologists Michael L. Power and Jay Schulkin reveal this liquid's evolutionary history and show how its ingredients have changed over many millions of years to become a potent elixir. Power and Schulkin walk readers through the early origins of the mammary gland and describe the incredible diversification of milk among the various mammalian lineages. After revealing the roots of lactation, the authors describe the substances that naturally occur in milk and discuss their biological functions. They reveal that mothers pass along numerous biochemical signals to their babies through milk. The authors explain how milk boosts an infant's immune system, affects an infant's metabolism and physiology, and helps inoculate and feed the baby's gut microbiome. Throughout the book, the authors weave in stories from studies of other species, explaining how comparative research sheds light on human lactation. The authors then turn their attention to the fascinating topic of cross-species milk consumption-something only practiced by certain humans who evolved an ability to retain lactase synthesis into adulthood. The first book to discuss milk from a comparative and evolutionary perspective, Power and Schulkin's masterpiece reveals the rich biological story of the common thread that connects all mammals.

Quantitative modeling of Mendelian genetics Quantitative Genetics with Special Reference to Plant and Animal Breeding provides authoritative guidance on improving genetic material in breeding programs through the application of Mendelian genetics. Beginning with a brief background on genetic modeling and breeding programs, the book compares breeding procedures and selection approaches while offering expert guidance on mathematical and Mendelian representation of various schema. Highly detailed and practically-focused with clear guidance on methods and calculations, this guide provides invaluable reference for the design of breeding programs in the laboratory or agricultural industry.

The animals loosely termed fish constitute more than half of all known vertebrate species. There are approximately 27,000 described living species of bony fishes (Euteleostomi = Osteichthyes), about 70 species of hagfishes and some 34 species of lampreys. Approximately 970 species are chondrichthyans, the sharks and their relatives, which were the subject of volume 3 in this series. It is perhaps because fishes live in a buoyant medium, whether it be fresh or sea water, that they show a diversity in body shapes that is unparalleled by other vertebrates. There is also a unique diversity in the modes of reproduction, whether by external or internal fertilization, and this, with the morphology and fine structure of the reproductive system and its components, is the subject of Part A. Part B deals with complementary topics: testes, sperm, and sperm competition; endocrinology of reproduction; pheromones and reproduction; copulatory structures: taxonomic overview and the potential for sexual selection; sexual selection: signaling and courtship; adaptation and evolution of reproductive mode in copulating cottoid species; fertilization; sex determination; parental care; reproduction in relation to conservation and exploitation of marine fishes; Cryopreservation of Gametes; Embryogenesis and Development; and Molecular Genetics of Development.

The first edition of The Endometrium was a landmark publishing event in reproductive biology and medicine. Many important developments have occurred in the field, and this new edition has been substantially updated and expanded to include new topics with an improved format. With the addition of several new authors and topics, the Second Edition of The Endometrium has developed new coverage of transcriptomics, stem cells, genetics and in-utero programming. Other new areas strengthen to include: placentology in human and animal models, taking account of the tremendous current interest in the maternal-fetal interface and its role in pregnancy pathology, neonatal and adult health. The layout has also been improved in order to aid browsing and cross-referencing. This is an invaluable up-to-date innovative text that will appeal to a worldwide spectrum of academic and professional readers including postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers in reproductive biology. As well as trainees and health care professionals in obstetrics and gynecology and allied disciplines such as assisted reproduction and oncology. A panel of internationally respected authors has been carefully chosen for their insight, clear, fair writing style and scholarly perspective.

With the decline in world fish stocks, our knowledge of fish reproduction has become fundamental. Reproduction is an essential commitment to future generation. It is also a continuous development process throughout ontogeny, requiring energetic, ecological, physiological, anatomical, biochemical and endrocrinological adaptations. The first chapters highlight important issues affecting fish normal ways of reproductive development; details would focus on species living in opposite environments, such as tropical and polar fishes; far related, as teleosts and cartilaginous fishes; and finally, fish having different reproductive strategies. Thereafter, since many fishes live in detrimental environments, mainly induced by the continuous input of xenobiotic substances into waterways, the authors found it highly pertinent to include this topic. Herein, the authors fix their attention on the factors and mechanisms that may well affect reproductionrelated hormonal systems as also on known consequences for fish living i

The second part of volume 6 discusses sexual selection of ultraviolet and structural signals; melanins and carotenoids as feather colorants and signals; sexual selection and auditory signaling; odors and chemical signaling; sexual dimorphism; sexual selection, signal selection and the handicap principle; courtship and copulation; sexual conflict and its implications for fitness; intra- and extra-pair paternity; parental care (including cooperative breeding); brood parasitism in birds; applications of reproductive biology to bird conservation and population management; embryogenesis and development; molecular genetics of avian sex determination and gonadal development. Many new illustrations are provided throughout the volume.

Aspects of reproduction covered in this volume include classification and phylogeny as revealed by molecular biology; anatomy of the male reproductive tract and organs; anatomy and evolution of copulatory structures; development and anatomy of the female reproductive tract; endocrinology of reproduction; ovarian dynamics and follicle development; spermatogenesis and testicular cycles; avian spermatozoa: structure and phylogeny; testis size, sperm size and sperm competition and lastly, fertilization.

Annelida is a diverse group of animals, commonly referred to as segmented worms and currently comprising around 14000 described species. Found in most marine and freshwater areas, annelids have also successfully occupied many subterranean habitats. This volume documents annelid reproduction in the context of their phylogenetic relationships. It presents an introduction and overview to the current systematics of annelids and provides reviews to broad aspects of reproduction across Annelida. The chapters cover oogenesis, sperm, mating, early development, larval development and larval ecology. The book also covers some of the major clades (or purported clades) of annelids and addresses similar issues. The final chapter covers some of the more problematic annelid groups in terms of their phylogenetic placement.

Prenatal life is the period of maximal development in animals, and it is well recognised that factors that alter development can have profound effects on the embryonic, fetal and postnatal animal. Scientists involved in research on livestock productivity have for decades studied postnatal consequences of fetal development on productivity. Recently, however, there has been a surge in interest in how to manage prenatal development to enhance livestock health and productivity. This has occurred largely due to the studies that show human health in later life can be influenced by events during prenatal life, and establishment of the Fetal Origins and the Thrifty Phenotype Hypotheses. This book, Managing the Prenatal Environment to Enhance Livestock Productivity reviews phenotypic consequences of prenatal development, and provides details of mechanisms that underpin these effects in ruminants, pigs and poultry. The chapters have been divided into three parts: Quantification of prenatal effects on postnatal productivity, mechanistic bases of postnatal consequences of prenatal development and regulators of fetal and neonatal nutrient supply.

Managing the Prenatal Environment to Enhance Livestock Productivity is a reference from which future research to improve the level of understanding and capacity to enhance productivity, health and efficiency of livestock in developing and developed countries will evolve. It is particularly timely given the development of molecular technologies that are providing new insight into regulation and consequences of growth and development of the embryo, fetus and neonate.

In the past three decades, considerable progress has been made in the mathematical analysis, modeling, and simulation of the fluid dynamics of liquid capsules and biological cells. In this book, leaders in the field explore topics related to the modeling and numerical simulation of capsule fluid dynamics and cell biomechanics. Providing an outstanding overview of the subject, the authors include results from their own ongoing research.

The book covers the fundamentals of cell and membrane mechanics, modeling hydrodynamics under various flow conditions, and drop and bubble dynamics associated with temperature variations and surfactant transport. The clear exposition and stand-alone format provided by Modeling and Simulation of Capsules and Biological Cells puts state-of-the-art information in a single source that will undoubtedly motivate further work in this developing field.

The ontogeny of each individual contributes to the physical, physiological, cognitive, neurobiological, and behavioral capacity to manage the complex social relationships and diverse foraging tasks that characterize the primate order. For these reasons Building Babies explores the dynamic multigenerational processes of primate development. The book is organized thematically along the developmental trajectory:conception, pregnancy, lactation, the mother-infant dyad, broader social relationships, and transitions to independence. In this volume, the authors showcase the myriad approaches to understanding primate developmental trajectories from both proximate and ultimate perspectives. These collected chapters provide insights from experimental manipulations in captive settings to long-term observations of wild-living populations and consider levels of analysis from molecule to organism to social group to taxon. Strepsirrhines, New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, apes, and humans are all well-represented. Contributions by anthropologists, microbiologists, psychologists, population geneticists, and other primate experts provide Building Babies a uniquely diverse voice. Building Babies features multi- and trans-disciplinary research approaches to primate developmental trajectories and is particularly useful for researchers and instructors in anthropology, animal behavior, psychology, and evolutionary biology. This book also serves as a supplement to upper-level undergraduate courses or graduate seminars on primate life history and development. In these contexts, the book provides exposure to a wide range of methodological and theoretical perspectives on developmental trajectories and models how researchers might productively integrate such approaches into their own work.

About 95 per cent of all known animal species are invertebrates. A knowledge of their sexual, reproductive, and developmental biology is essential for the effective management of species that are economically useful to man or are harmful to him, his crops, and livestock. This treatise is the first to cover all aspects of reproduction and development of the entire spectrum of invertebratesterrestrial, marine, freshwater, brackish-water, free-living, and parasitic. The chapters, by leading world experts in their fields, are up-to-date and informative, and suggest a number of problems for future research.

Reproduction is a fundamental feature of life, it is the way life persists across the ages. This book offers new, wider vistas on this fundamental biological phenomenon, exploring how it works through the whole tree of life. It explores facets such as asexual reproduction, parthenogenesis, sex determination and reproductive investment, with a taxonomic coverage extended over all the main groups - animals, plants including 'algae', fungi, protists and bacteria. It collates into one volume perspectives from varied disciplines - including zoology, botany, microbiology, genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, animal and plant physiology, and ethology - integrating information into a common language. Crucially, the book aims to identify the commonalties among reproductive phenomena, while demonstrating the diversity even amongst closely related taxa. Its integrated approach makes this a valuable reference book for students and researchers, as well as an effective entry point for deeper study on specific topics.

This book examines how biotechnology can improve livestock breeding and farming, and thereby also animal products. In the first chapters the reader will discover which techniques and approaches are currently used to improve animal breeding, animal health and the value of animal products. Particular attention is given to reproduction techniques, animal nutrition and livestock vaccines that not only enhance animal health but also have a significant effect on human health by ensuring safe food procurement and preventing zoonotic diseases. In addition, modern biotechnology can increase not only productivity but also the consistency and quality of animal food, fiber and medical products. In the second part of the book, issues such as how animal biotechnology could affect the environment and the important topic of animal waste management are explored. In the concluding chapter, the authors discuss future challenges related to animal biotechnology. This work will appeal to a wide readership, from scientists and professionals working in animal production, to those in farm animal management and veterinary science.

Researchers in the field of ecological genomics aim to determine how a genome or a population of genomes interacts with its environment across ecological and evolutionary timescales. Ecological genomics is trans-disciplinary by nature. Ecologists have turned to genomics to be able to elucidate the mechanistic bases of the biodiversity their research tries to understand. Genomicists have turned to ecology in order to better explain the functional cellular and molecular variation they observed in their model organisms. We provide an advanced-level book that covers this recent research and proposes future development for this field. A synthesis of the field of ecological genomics emerges from this volume. Ecological Genomics covers a wide array of organisms (microbes, plants and animals) in order to be able to identify central concepts that motivate and derive from recent investigations in different branches of the tree of life. Ecological Genomics covers 3 fields of research that have most benefited from the recent technological and conceptual developments in the field of ecological genomics: the study of life-history evolution and its impact of genome architectures; the study of the genomic bases of phenotypic plasticity and the study of the genomic bases of adaptation and speciation.