About

I am a conservation biologist interested in the development and application of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs), such as sperm cryopreservation and IVF to the conservation of wildlife.

My honours (Biological Sciences, Class I; 2016) and PhD (Biological Sciences; 2021) in the Conservation Biology Research Group at the University of Newcastle, Australia focused on development of ARTs in amphibians, which are experiencing severe declines worldwide. My PhD, titled “Development of sperm cryopreservation and assisted reproductive technologies for the conservation of threatened Australian tree frogs” focused on the hormonal induction and cryopreservation of sperm from Australian tree frogs (Pelodryadidae) and included the successful production of sexually mature individuals using cryopreserved sperm and IVF in both Litoria fallax and L. aurea. This research has potential to help manage genetic diversity in both captive and wild populations and reduce the cost of captive assurance colonies.

Following the unprecedented 2019/20 megafires in Australia, I was part of a team funded by DAWE to monitor population size and collect sperm from 10 fire-affected amphibian species in both burnt and unburnt sites along the East coast of Australia. Sperm cryopreservation was performed in the field, with samples transported for storage at the Taronga Cryodiversity bank. This project represents a crucial step towards applying laboratory research and developed ART protocols across wildlife conservation.

My post-doc at the Aquatic Germplasm and Genetic Resources Center (Louisiana State University Agricultural Center) transferred these skills to a biomedical setting to help develop germplasm repository capabilities for the aquatic biomedical models the Mexican Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum and the African Clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. This aids in preservation of valuable transgenic and mutant research lines developed by the National stock centers, Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center and National Xenopus Resource.

I have also collaborated on other projects that focus on biobanking sperm in reptiles and assessing the cost and benefits of applying biobanking to amphibian breeding programs. I also have an interest in applying these technologies to the conservation of other Australian wildlife, such as the koala, which is currently predicted to be extinct by 2050.

Rose works with an endangered amphibian, the green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea). Photo: Dean Lenga

Publications

All in one: single-season multi-clutching in an ephemeral pool-breeding frog that is otherwise virtually semelparous

J Gould, J Clulow, P Rippon, R Upton, S Clulow

Journal of Zoology, 2023

Tadpole fingerprinting: Using tail venation patterns to photo-identify tadpole individuals of a threatened frog

John Gould, James Taylor, Bryce Davies, Rachael Donelly, Kate Schmahl, Cassandra K. Bugir, Chad T. Beranek, Jess McGregor, Stephen V. Mahony, Rebecca Seeto, Rose Upton, Colin McHenry, Alex Callen

Austral Ecology, vol. 48(3), 2023, pp. 585-599

Paradigm shift in frog sperm cryopreservation: reduced role for non-penetrating cryoprotectants

Rose Upton, Simon Clulow, Kim Colyvas, Michael Mahony, John Clulow

Reproduction, vol. 165(6), 2023, pp. 583–592

Sperm cryopreservation in an Australian skink (Eulamprus quoyii)

Rebecca J. Hobbs, Rose Upton, Leesa Keogh, Karen James, James Baxter-Gilbert, Martin J. Whiting

Reproduction, Fertility and Development, CSIRO Publishing, 2021

Integrating biobanking could produce significant cost benefits and minimise inbreeding for Australian amphibian captive breeding programs

Lachlan G. Howell, Peter R. Mawson, Richard Frankham, John C. Rodger, Rose M. O. Upton, Ryan R. Witt, Natalie E. Calatayud, Simon Clulow, John Clulow

Reproduction, Fertility and Development, vol. 33, 2021 Apr 17, pp. 573–587

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