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USDA - APHIS - Wildlife Damage

National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC)

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Douglas Eckery

Dr. Douglas C. Eckery,
Research Wildlife Biologist

Contact Information

  • Address: Wildlife Services, NWRC, 4101 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521
  • Telephone: 970.266.6164
  • Fax: 970.266.6089
  • E-mail: douglas.c.eckery@aphis.usda.gov

NWRC Research Project: Contraceptive Technologies for Use in Wildlife Population and Disease Management

Dr. Doug Eckery is the Project Leader for NWRC's Contraceptive Technologies for Use in Wildlife Population and Disease Management project at.  His research is aimed towards the development of new methods of fertility control that can be integrated into wildlife management strategies.  Dr. Eckery spent 17 years in New Zealand researching the reproductive biology of the brushtail possum and investigating methods of fertility control for this species; and he played a key role in establishing the National Research Centre for Possum Biocontrol.  His current research is focused on the oral/mucosal delivery of vaccines and bioactives, gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the growth and survival of ovarian follicles, and determining the best use of contraceptive vaccines (e.g. GonaCon™) for managing wildlife populations.  He is an adjunct faculty of the School of Biological Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington (NZ) and the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University where he is also an affiliated faculty of the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory. 

Expertise Keywords

Reproduction, fertility control, contraception, vaccine development, chemical sterilization

Current Research

  • Development of mucosal contraceptive vaccines using virus-like particles
  • Mechanisms regulating growth and development of primordial follicles
  • Use of GonaCon™ to manage wildlife populations (e.g. deer, prairie dogs, wild horses) and feral dogs

Education

  • Ph.D., Colorado State University, Physiology
    M.S., Brigham Young University, Animal Science
    B.S., Brigham Young University, Animal Science

Previous Positions

  • Associate Professor Research Fellow/Senior Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
  • Senior Scientist, AgResearch, Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Upper Hutt, NZ

Publications:

Crawford, J. L., D. A. Heath, L. J. Haydon, B. P. Thomson, and D. C. Eckery. 2009. Gene Expression and Secretion of LH and FSH in Relation to Gene Expression of GnRH Receptors in the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula) Demonstrates Highly Conserved Mechanisms. Reproduction 137 (1): 129-140.

Crawford, J. L., S. Lun, J. Demmer, and D. C. Eckery. 2005. Prolactin in the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula): Development of Homologous Radioimmunoassay using Recombinant Possum Prolactin. General and Comparative Endocrinology 142 (3): 297-307.

Crawford, J. L., B. J. McLeod, and D. C. Eckery. 2011. The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis and Manipulations of the Oestrous Cycle in the Brushtail Possum. General and Comparative Endocrinology 170 (3): 424-448.

Crawford, J. L., B. J. McLeod, E. G. Thompson, P. R. Hurst, L. E. Colbourne, S. Lun, and D. C. Eckery. 1999. Plasma Gonadotropin Concentrations in the Cyclic Female Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). General and Comparative Endocrinology 116 (1): 73-80.

Crawford, J. L., B. Mester, B. Thomson, S. B. Lawrence, and D. C. Eckery. 2011. Prolactin Acts on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis to Modulate Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Gene Expression in the Female Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). General and Comparative Endocrinology 171 (1): 39-45.

Crawford, J. L., B. P. Thomson, M. F. Beaumont, and D. C. Eckery. 2006. Plasma Concentrations of Prolactin in Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus Vulpecula) in Different Physiological States. Journal of Endocrinology 190 (2): 295-305.

Eckery, D. C., J. L. Juengel, L. J. Whale, B. P. Thomson, S. Lun, and K. P. McNatty. 2002. The Corpus Luteum and Interstitial Tissue in a Marsupial, the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 191 (1): 81-87.

Eckery, D. C., S. B. Lawrence, J. L. Juengel, P. Greenwood, K. P. McNatty, and A. E. Fidler. 2002. Gene Expression of the Tyrosine Kinase Receptor c-Kit during Ovarian Development in the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Biology of Reproduction 66 (2): 346-353.

Eckery, D. C., S. Lun, B. P. Thomson, W. N. Chie, L. G. Moore, and J. L. Juengel. 2002. Ovarian Expression of Messenger RNA Encoding the Receptors for Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in a Marsupial, the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Biology of Reproduction 66 (5): 1310-1317.

Eckery, D. C., C. L. Moeller, T. M. Nett, and H. R. Sawyer. 1997. Localization and Quantification of Binding Sites for Follicle- Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone, Growth Hormone, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I in Sheep Ovarian Follicles. Biology of Reproduction 57 (3): 507-513.

———. 1994. Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin does Not Improve Superovulatory Response in Sheep. Journal of Animal Science 72 (9): 2425-2430.

Eckery, D. C., D. J. Tisdall, D. A. Heath, and K. P. McNatty. 1996. Morphology and Function of the Ovary during Fetal and Early Neonatal Life: A Comparison between the Sheep and Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Animal Reproduction Science 42 (1-4): 551-561.

Eckery, D. C., L. J. Whale, S. B. Lawrence, K. A. Wylde, K. P. McNatty, and J. L. Juengel. 2002. Expression of mRNA Encoding Growth Differentiation Factor 9 and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 during Follicular Formation and Growth in a Marsupial, the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 192 (1-2): 115-126.

Eymann, J., C. A. Herbert, B. P. Thomson, T. E. Trigg, D. W. Cooper, and D. C. Eckery. 2007. Effects of Deslorelin Implants on Reproduction in the Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Reproduction, Fertility and Development 19 (8): 899-909.

Haydon, L. J., J. L. Juengel, B. P. Thomson, and D. C. Eckery. 2008. Expression of mRNAs Encoding Oestrogen Receptor (ER) α and ERβ, Androgen Receptor and Progesterone Receptor during Gonadal and Follicular Development in the Marsupial Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Reproduction, Fertility and Development 20 (3): 335-349.

Herbert, C. A., D. C. Eckery, T. E. Trigg, and D. W. Cooper. 2007. Chronic Treatment of Male Tammar Wallabies with Deslorelin Implants during Pouch Life: Effects on Development, Puberty, and Reproduction in Adulthood. Biology of Reproduction 76 (6): 1054-1061.

Herbert, C. A., T. E. Trigg, M. B. Renfree, G. Shaw, D. C. Eckery, and D. W. Cooper. 2004. Effects of a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Implant on Reproduction in a Male Marsupial, Macropus Eugenii. Biology of Reproduction 70 (6): 1836-1842.

———. 2005. Long-Term Effects of Deslorelin Implants on Reproduction in the Female Tammer Wallaby (Macropus Eugenii). Reproduction 129 (3): 361-369.

Juengel, J. L., L. J. Haydon, B. Mester, B. P. Thomson, M. Beaumont, and D. C. Eckery. 2010. The Role of IGFs in the Regulation of Ovarian Follicular Growth in the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Reproduction 140 (2): 295-303.

Juengel, J. L., T. M. Nett, T. R. Tandeski, D. C. Eckery, H. R. Sawyer, and G. D. Niswender. 1995. Effects of Luteinizing Hormone and Growth Hormone on Luteal Development in Hypophysectomized Ewes. Endocrine 3 (5): 323-326.

Juengel, J. L., L. J. Whale, K. A. Wylde, P. Greenwood, K. P. McNatty, and D. C. Eckery. 2002. Expression of Anti-Müllerian Hormone mRNA during Gonadal and Follicular Developmental in the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Reproduction, Fertility and Development 14 (5-6): 345-353.

Shuttleworth, G., D. C. Eckery, and P. Awram. 2005. Oral and Intraperitoneal Immunization with Rotavirus 2/6 Virus-Like Particles Stimulates a Systemic and Mucosal Immune Response in Mice. Archives of Virology 150 (2): 341-349.

Western, A. H., D. C. Eckery, J. Demmer, J. L. Juengel, K. P. McNatty, and A. E. Fidler. 2003. Expression of the FcRn Receptor (α and β) Gene Homologues in the Intestine of Suckling Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula) Pouch Young. Molecular Immunology 39 (12): 707-717.

Whale, L. J., D. C. Eckery, and J. L. Juengel. 2003. Determination of Steroidogenic Potential of Ovarian Cells of the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula). Biology of Reproduction 69 (3): 947-958.

Wilson, J. D., G. Shaw, M. B. Renfree, R. J. Auchus, M. W. Leihy, and D. C. Eckery. 2005. Ontogeny and Pathway of Formation of 5α-Androstane-3α,17β-Diol in the Testes of the Immature Brushtail Possum Trichosurus Vulpecula. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 17 (6): 603-609.

Last Modified: May 2, 2013