NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON APPLICATIONS OF NON-INVASIVE TECHNOLOGY TO WILDLIFE ENDOCRINE ASSESSMENT A workshop conducted jointly by Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad Venue: LaCONES, Hyderabad Date: Feb 7 9, 2012 1
Preamble Hormones are one of the important biological regulators governing reproductive status critical for perpetuation of animal species. Tracking gonadal and adrenal activity via hormonal analyses can be used to optimize animal health and reproduction. Such hormonal monitoring to assess reproductive potential of a target population of an endangered species is an important field of investigation in conservation biology. The traditional method of understanding the reproductive performance of a species has been to generate profiles of circulating reproductive hormones from blood samplings. Blood sampling restricts one to studying only those individuals confined within a laboratory or a zoo, and thus will not serve the purpose of understanding the reproductive patterns prevalent under in-situ conditions of free-ranging individuals of a species. In the case of small and non-endangered animals, it may, of course, be possible to sample blood on a regular basis through capture, tagging and tracking free-ranging individuals. However, this option is not available for free-ranging endangered species or for large mammals which pose considerable logistical challenges and ethical dilemmas. Thus, it becomes important for conservation biologists to develop and use non-invasive techniques for reproductive monitoring of such animals. This workshop was aimed at providing a comprehensive status report on the limitation and feasibilities of endocrine assessment of wild species such as Asian elephants, big cats and non-human primates. The first day of the workshop (February 7, 2012) included a session of invited lectures on selected topics relevant to the field of research, being delivered by key-resource persons. On the following two days, essential non-invasive experimental approaches to assess endocrine levels in biological and faecal samples were demonstrated, with a few hands on training to a selected ten participants. The participants selected for the hands on practical session were researchers and students from various parts of India, with an interest to learn and apply such endocrine tools to understand wildlife biology. 2
Committee Members of the Workshop Workshop/Course Directors Prof. Raman Sukumar Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Prof. Polani. B. Seshagiri Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Dr. Sisinthy Shivaji Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad Workshop/Course Conveners Dr. Ratna Ghosal Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Dr. Govindaswamy Umapathy Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad Resource Persons for Hands on Practical Session Dr. Andre Ganswindt Endocrine Research Laboratory Dept. of Zoology & Entomology Mammal Research Institute University of Pretoria South Africa Dr. Ratna Ghosal Centre for Ecological Sciences Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Mr. B. Sukesh Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Dr. Govindaswamy Umapathy Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad Shri. Vinod Kumar Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad Ms Rajni Jonna Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 3
List of Speakers 1) Dr. Raman Sukumar Professor and Chairman Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore rsuku@ces.iisc.ernet.in 2) Dr. Polani B. Seshagiri Professor Dept. of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics (MRDG) Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore polani@mrdg.iisc.ernet.in 3) Dr. Sisinthy Shivaji Scientist G (Director-grade Scientist) Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad shivas@ccmb.res.in 4) Dr. Andre Ganswindt Research Fellow Endocrine Research Laboratory Mammal Research Institute, Dept. of Zoology & Entomology University of Pretoria South Africa aganswindt@zoology.up.ac.za 6) Dr. Mewa Singh Professor Department of Psychology University of Mysore, Mysore msingh@psychology.uni-mysore.ac.in 7) Dr. Govindaswamy Umapathy Senior scientist Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad guma@ccmb.res.in 8) Dr. Nalluswamy Kalaivanan Assistant Veterinary Surgeon Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Tamil Nadu, Nilgiris kalaivanan1978@gmail.com 9) Dr. Ratna Ghosal Research Associate Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore rghosal@ces.iisc.ernet.in 5) Dr. Shomita Mukherjee Principal Scientist, Conservation Biology Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty post, Coimbatore 641108, TN shomitam@gmail.com 4
Scientific Program (Lecture Session) Day 1: 7 th February 2012 (Tuesday) 09.30-10.00 Registration 10:00-10:10 Inaugural address - Dr. Ch. Mohan Rao, Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology 10:10-10:30 (2) Course directors perspectives on The need for conducting the workshop - Questions, areas of interest and target species Prof. Raman Sukumar, Prof. Polani B. Seshagiri and Dr. Sisinthy Shivaji 10:30-11:30 Session I: Overview of wildlife endocrinology 10:30 11:00 Wildlife endocrine research A brief outline of the past and present - Dr. Andre Ganswindt 11:00 11:30 Wildlife endocrine research - scope and applications - Dr. Govindaswamy Umapathy 11:30 11:45 Tea 11:45-12:45 Session II: Endocrine assessment in Asian elephants 11:45-12:15 Population dynamics of Asian elephants and the need for endocrine assessment - Prof. Raman Sukumar 12:15 12:45 Endocrine tools to understand the reproductive biology of Asian elephants - Dr. Ratna Ghosal 12.45-13.00 Millipore-Merck Talk 13.00-14.00 Lunch 5
14:00-15:00 Session III: Endocrine assessment in big cats and other carnivores 14:00 14:30 Conservation of endangered animals biotechnological approach - Dr. Sisinthy Shivaji 14:30-15:00 Carnivore stools and molecular tools in (Re)productive management" - Dr. Shomita Mukherjee 15:00-15:15 Tea 15:15-16:15 Session IV: Endocrine assessment in primates 15:15 15:45 Reproductive endocrinology of non-human primates: common & endangered species - Prof. Polani B. Seshagiri 15:45 16:15 "Conservation status of primates in India and the potential application of noninvasive reproductive tools for their management." - Prof. Mewa Singh 16:15-16:45 Session V: Challenges in wildlife conservation 16:15-16:45 "Challenges in management of captive and wildlife species" - Dr. Nalluswamy Kalaivanan 16:45-17:30 Discussions and concluding session 6
Wet Workshop Practical Session Day 2: 8th February 2012 (Wednesday) 09:30-10:00 Target species and sampling methods - Dr. Ratna Ghosal 10:00 10:30 Steroid Extraction Principle and method - Dr. Govindaswamy Umapathy 10:30 13.30 Hands on Practical Training: Sample Handling and Extraction Sub-grouping for Practical Sessions (Total participants = 10) Participants to be divided into three sub-groups (A, B and C) 13:30 14:30 Lunch Sub group- A: Steroid extraction from dried faecal samples of elephants (Coordinated by Dr. Andre Ganswindt) Sub group- B: Steroid extraction from wet faecal samples of primates/big cats (Coordinated by Dr. Govindaswamy Umapathy) Sub group- C: Steroid extraction from serum samples of elephants (Coordinated by Dr. Ratna Ghosal) 14:30 15:00 Hormone assay methods and principles - Dr. Andre Ganswindt 15:00 18:00 Hands on Practical Training: ELISA experiment Participants to individually carry out the coating of ELISA plates 7
Day 3: 9th February 2012 (Thursday) 09:30 10:30 Demonstration by course coordinators 10:30-12:30 Hands on Practical Training: ELISA Experiment Participants to individually carry out dilution and addition of primary antibody to the coated ELISA plates 12:30-13:30 Demonstration by course coordinators (contd.) 13:30 14:30 Lunch 14:30 18:00 Hands on Practical Training: ELISA Experiment Participants to individually complete their ELISA experiments 8
Day1 (February 7, 2012): Lecture Session Inauguration of the workshop and Welcome Note Lecture Session 9
Inauguration of the workshop Lecture Session 10
Group photo List of Sponsors 11
Day2 (February 8, 2012): Practical Session 12
Day3 (February 9, 2012): Practical Session 13
Selected List of Participants for Hands-on Training Session 1) Bheem Dutt Joshi Project Fellow Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun joshidutt01@gmail.com 2) Puneet Pandey Junior Research Fellow Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun puneet.pandey09@gmail.com puneet.pandey@wii.gov.in 3) Sunita Khatiwara Junior Research Fellow Sikkim DBT-Project National Centre for Biological Sciences Bangalore sunitak@ncbs.res.in 4) Tanushree Srivastava Senior Research Fellow Sikkim - DBT Project National Centre for Biological Sciences Bangalore tanushrees @ncbs.res.in 5) Arijit Chaterjee JRF (Pursuing Ph.D) Dept. of Zoology West Bengal State University Barasat arijit8chatterjee@gmail.com 6) Smitha Daniel Project Fellow Dept. of Psychology University of Mysore Mysore simmy.smitha@gmail.com 7) Jayabharathy Ranganathan Senior Research Fellow Centre for Ecological Sciences Indian Institute of Sciecne Bangalore jayabharathyr@gmail.com 8) Dr. Vinita Sharma Lecturer Department of Zoology Seth Motilal P.G. College Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan vinita302003@gmail.com 9) Dr. Jatin Sarmah Assistant Professor Department of Zoology Arya Vidyapeeth College Guwahati lieutenant_jatin@rediffmail.com ibthub.avcollege@gmail.com 10) Hiranmaya Sharma Assistant Professor of Zoology D. N. Govt. College, Itanagar Arunachal Pradesh hiranmayasharmaj@rediffmail.com 14
List of Sponsors Indian Institute of Science, C.V Raman Avenue, Bangalore - 560012 Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad Department of Biotechnology, Lodhi Road, New-Delhi Ruffords Small Grants for Nature Conservation, London, United Kingdom Bioserve Biotechnologies (India) Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad Pearala Agencies and Hy Glass and Chemicals, Hyderabad Merck Millipore, Millipore (India) Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad 15