Morphometric and Morphologic Description of Crowned Solitary Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus) Spermatozoa: Working towards Development of a Suitable Freezing Protocol

LAILA LÓPEZ GOUDARD; GUILLERMO WIEMEYER; ULISES BALZA; MANUEL ENCABO; ANDRÉS CAPDEVIELLE; ADRIÁN SESTELO

Bariloche

Conferencia; I Worldwide Raptor Conference; 2013

Raptor Research Foundation

The Crowned Solitary Eagle is an endemic species from South America. In Argentina, it is considered an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and is included in Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). One of the limiting factors to developing a conservation strategy for this species is the overall lack of information on its natural history and actual status. In order to develop a comprehensive management plan for the species (either free or captive), it is important to incorporate use of reproductive biotechnological tools to conserve genetic variability. Here, we describe the morphological and morphometric characteristics of Crowned Solitary Eagle spermatozoa, obtained by using a standard protocol for sperm extraction and cryopreservation. This method was selected for being non-invasive. We collected sperm from one sexually mature male (13 yr old) housed at the Buenos Aires Zoo. The sampling period lasted three consecutive years, ranging from August to November (considered to be the reproductive period for the species) each year. During that period, we obtained 25 samples (attempted twice per week), and we cryopreserved one of these sperm samples. We also describe morphological and morphometrical descriptions of eosine-nigrosine, coomassie blue smears, and glutaraldehyde fixed samples, and illustrate head, middle piece, and tail (length and width). The present study is complementary to current studies to improve biotechnology on reproductive physiology and cryopreservation protocols carried out in our laboratory, with the aim of preserving genetic diversity of Crowned Solitary Eagle.