Spindler's PhD on
marsupial reproduction at the
University of Melbourne led her to the
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. There, Rebecca managed a laboratory and integrated reproduction, her own area of expertise with other disciplines of science to conserve species. She spent five
giant panda breeding seasons in the
Wolong Nature Reserve, coordinating the Smithsonian's Giant Panda and Wild China Programmes.[1] During this same period she established the Neotropical Carnivore Initiative and with colleagues throughout the Americas, embarking on a multidisciplinary program aimed at improving the health, reproduction and conservation of jaguars.[2] In 2007, she joined the team at Taronga as manager of research and conservation, coordinating and facilitating the research of the zoo science team investigating wildlife health, ecology, behaviour, reproduction, genetics and nutrition. Spindler also helped Taronga protect species and their habitats through the Taronga Field Conservation Grants.[3]
Huang, Y., D.S. Li, H.M. Zhang, J. Du, G.Q. Zhang, P.Y Wang, J.G. Howard, R. Spindler, B. Durrant and M.A. Olson. 2000. Electroejaculation and semen cryopreservation in giant pandas. Journal of Sichuan Teachers College 3, 238–243.
Huang, Y., DS. Li, J. Du, P.Y. Wang, H.M. Zhang, J.G. Howard and R. Spindler. 2001. Study for freezing semen of giant pandas. Chinese Journal of Zoology 36, 25–29.
Harnal, V.K., R. Spindler, S.L. Monfort, B. Pukazhenthi, D.M. Bird, and D.E. Wildt. 2001. Sperm
capacitation in vitro in the Eld's deer. Theriogenology 56, 399–413.
Spindler, R.E., Y. Huang, J.G. Howard, P. Wang, H. Zhang, G. Zhang and D.E. Wildt. 2004. Acrosomal integrity and capacitation are not influenced by sperm cryopreservation in the giant panda. Reproduction 127, 547–56.
http://www.reproduction-online.org/content/127/5/547.short
Huang Yan, Wang Pengyan, Spindler, Rebecca E., Howard, JoGayle, Zhang Hemin, Wildt, David E. 2004. Study on the influence of post-thaw motility on giant panda cryopreserved sperm by thawing rate and pentoxyfiline in vitro. Acta Theriologica Sinica 24: 286–292.
Spindler, R.E., Y. Huang, J.G. Howard, P. Wang, H. Zhang, G. Zhang and D.E. Wildt. 2006. Giant panda sperm decondensation is not influenced by cryopreservation Reproduction, Fertility and Development 18: 767-775.
http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=RD06030
Pelican, K.M., Spindler, R.E., Pukazhenthi, B.S., Wildt, D.E., Ottinger, M.A., Howard, J. 2010. Progestin Exposure Before Gonadotropin Stimulation Improves Embryo Development after In Vitro Fertilization in the Domestic Cat. Biology of Reproduction 83: 558–567.
http://www.biolreprod.org/content/83/4/558.short
Howard, J.G., Z. Zhang, D. Li, Y. Huang, M. Zhang, R. Hou, Z. Ye, G. Li, J. Zhang, S. Huang, H. Zhang, J. Zhang, R. E. Spindler and D. E. Wildt. 2006. Male reproductive biology in giant pandas in breeding programs in China. In: The Giant Panda: Biology, Veterinary Medicine and Management (eds., D.E. Wildt, A. Zhang, H. Zhang, D.L. Janssen and S. Ellis), in press. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Howard, J.G., Y. Huang, P. Wang, D. Li, G. Zhang, R. Hou, Z. Zhang, B.S. Durrant, R.E. Spindler, H. Zhang, A. Zhang and D.E. Wildt. 2006. Role and efficiency of artificial insemination and genome resource banking. In: The Giant Panda: Biology, Veterinary Medicine and Management (eds., D. E. Wildt, A. Zhang, H. Zhang, D.L. Janssen and S. Ellis). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Morato R. G., Queiroz V. d. S. and Spindler R. E. 2007 Importância do banco de amostras biológicas e do manejo em cativeiro na canservação de carnívoros neotropicais. In 'Manejo e conservação de carnívoros neotropicais'. (Eds. RG Morato, FHG Rodrigues, E Eizirik, PR Mangini, FCC Azavedo and J Marinho-Filho) pp. 229–244. (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA): Brasilia, Distrito Federal)
Spindler R. E., Songsasen, N. and Deem, S.L. 2007 Factors affecting the reproductive success of jaguars, in Manejo e Conservação de Carnivoros Neotropicais. Eds RG Morato, FHG Rodrigues, E Eizirik, PR Mangini, FCC Azavedo and J Marinho-Filho pp. 281–304. Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA): Brasilia, Distrito Federal
Spindler R.E. and D.E. Wildt. 2010. Male reproduction: assessment, management, assisted breeding and fertility control, in Wild Mammals in Captivity 2nd Ed (eds., D.G. Kleiman, K.V. Thompson, and S. Lumpkin). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
Spindler, R.E., Wiszniewski, J and Slip, D. (2012) The Potential Role of Zoos in Climate Change, in Climate Change. Eds, D Lunney and P Hutchins. Royal Zoological Society Publications.
Spindler RE and Wiszniewski 2013. Research in Zoos In "Zoo Keeping: An Introduction to the Science and Technology". MD Irwin, JB Stoner, AM Cobaugh (eds) University of Chicago Press.
Spindler RE, Keeley T and Satake N 2014. Applied Andrology in Endangered, Exotic and Wildlife Species. In "Animal Andrology: Theories and Applications". P Chenoweth and S Lorton (eds) CABI publishing.