FAS Abstracts 2004 Meeting Page

Biological Sciences (BIO A): BIO-10

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Evidence of spontaneous ovulation in the Cape ground squirrel, Xerus inauris. L.M. BOUCHIE (1), J.M. WATERMAN (1), N.C. BENNETT (2) and T. JACKSON (2). (1) Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, (2) Univ. of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa. Whether ovulation is spontaneous or induced can have important implications for the evolution of reproductive strategies and social systems of a species. The Cape ground squirrel, Xerus inauris, is a highly social, non-hibernating ground squirrel found in southern Africa. To determine the method of ovulation in this species, ten males and 15 females were brought into captivity for a period of 15 weeks. Female urine was collected under different conditions and subsequently analyzed for progesterone content using RIA. The ovaries of six females were examined for follicular development. Hormonal and histological evidence suggests that the Cape ground squirrel is a spontaneous ovulator. This is the first evidence of spontaneous ovulation in a ground-dwelling squirrel.