Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorHarmon, Heather Louise
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-11T00:08:26Z
dc.date.available2016-08-11T00:08:26Z
dc.date.issued2001-08
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11122/6775
dc.descriptionThesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2001en_US
dc.description.abstractThe decline of western Alaskan Steller sea lions (SSLs) may be related to changes in reproductive rates. However, our understanding of SSL reproductive biology is poor. My objectives were to determine if saliva samples are a valid alternative to plasma samples for measurements of peripheral progesterone and testosterone, to describe annual cycles of steroid concentrations, and to provide anatomical verification of reproductive endocrinology. Samples were collected from adult, captive and wild SSLs. Progesterone and testosterone concentrations in paired plasma and saliva samples were highly correlated (96% and 84%, respectively). Captive SSLs had seasonal variations in these steroids that did not follow typical pinniped patterns, suggesting that reproductive activity may be sensitive to social cues. The wwild SSLs exhibited steroid patterns similar to other seasonal breeders. Vaginal cytology could not be evaluated for detecting estrus because no samples were obtained during estrus. Testes volume was correlated to plasma testosterone concentrations (71%).en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.titleSeasonal reproductive endocrinology and anatomy of Steller sea lions (Eumetopia jubatus)en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
refterms.dateFOA2020-01-25T02:07:53Z


Files in this item

Thumbnail
Name:
Harmon_H_2001.pdf
Size:
127.0Mb
Format:
PDF

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record