Ex situ conservation genetics: a review of molecular studies on the genetic consequences of captive breeding programmes for endangered animal species

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1843-1861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin A. Witzenberger ◽  
Axel Hochkirch
Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2986
Author(s):  
Joan Manubens ◽  
Oriol Comas ◽  
Núria Valls ◽  
Lluís Benejam

The strong decline of freshwater fish species in Europe implies that further ex-situ conservation plans should be implemented in the near future. The present study reflects our experience with the Pyrenean sculpin (Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Mester, 1964)—a small cottid endemic to the Hispano-French Garona River basin. In recent years, the Spanish Pyrenean sculpin population has reached a limit situation. Because of that, the non-profit association ADEFFA—with support from the public administration—started the first captive breeding program for this species in 2006. Fourteen years later, this study presents the results and evaluates the different steps of the program, with the aim of discussing and improving the ex-situ conservation plans for this and other cold freshwater species. There is a description and a comparison between six consecutive phases during the captive breeding process: nesting behaviour, courtship, egg fixation, parental care (incubation), hatching and survival during juvenile development. The purposes of this project are to: (1) identify the most determining phases for a successful captive breeding; (2) identify the factors that had a major influence to the success of the critical phases; and (3) increase the number of the offspring. This study is based on thirty-three wild individuals collected from Garona River (Val d’Aran, Spanish Pyrenees). During the program, twelve couples spawned in captive conditions, with around 2300 eggs laid. Eight couples bred successfully, with 751 hatched individuals and 608 juveniles reared. The analysis of each step of the captive breeding does not reveal significant differences between phases, so it can be concluded that they are all critical at the same level. In the literature, similar study-cases of captive breeding programs identify incubation and survival phases as the most critical. Consequently, the management made for this project has probably allowed to overcome in part the main impediments described in other similar programs.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan I. Jarvi ◽  
Susan I. Jarvi ◽  
Paul C. Banko ◽  
Paul C. Banko

The application of molecular techniques to conservation genetics issues can provide important guidance criteria for management of endangered species. The results from this study establish that PCR-based approaches for sex determination developed in other bird species (Griffiths and Tiwari 1995; Griffiths et al. 1996, 1998; Ellegren 1996) can be applied with a high degree of confidence to at least four species of Hawaiian honeycreepers. This provides a rapid, reliable method with which population managers can optimize sex ratios within populations of endangered species that are subject to artificial manipulation through captive breeding programmes or geographic translocation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Ken Dara Cita ◽  
Jarwadi Budi Hernowo ◽  
Burhanuddin Masy'ud

<p>Recently, the population of the lesser bird of paradise (Paradisaea minor Shaw, 1809) has been decreasing due to illegal hunting, illegal trading, and habitat destruction. Meanwhile, ex situ conservation efforts of this bird are lacked and very low in the success of breeding. The aims of this research were to identify and analyze the component that determines the successful ex situ conservation of the lesser bird of paradise. The study was conducted from March until May 2016 in the TMII Bird Park, Mega Bird and Orchid Farm (MBOF), Ragunan Zoo, Bandung Zoo, and Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) in Qatar. Data<br />included an internal and external biological aspect of species, captive breeding technique, and social aspect, and were analyzed by Principle Component Analysis (PCA). The statistical analysis resulted that there were five determinant factors of successful ex situ conservation of lesser bird of paradise which the first determinant factors were maturity, diet, and ability of animal keeper.</p>


PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. e18249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Congiu ◽  
Jose Martin Pujolar ◽  
Anna Forlani ◽  
Silvia Cenadelli ◽  
Isabelle Dupanloup ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusrizal Akmal ◽  
Chairun Nisa ◽  
Savitri Novelina

Pangolin is an animal that has special attention by CITES since 1985. This is due to increase of market demand, especially from China. It causes the illegal hunting is increasing, so that alleged wild population decreases dramatically. Overcoming of decreasing of the pangolin populations in the wild, could be anticipated by captive breeding. The information about the status of the reproductive biology of wild animals is very important for implementation of ex situ conservation activities. One of the aspects of the reproductive biology of wild animals is knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive organs both males and females.Nowdays, data on morphological characteristics of male reproductive organs of pangolin (M. javanica) still limited. The data obtained of this study is new information in reproductive biology, especially on the morphological characteristics of the male reproductive organs of pangolin (M. javanica). In addition, the information can be the data base that is important in the effort to support ex situ conservation.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Gisela Kaplan

This paper discusses paradoxes in our relationship to and treatment of birds in captive and conservation contexts. The paper identifies modern and new challenges that arise from declining bird numbers worldwide. Such challenges have partly changed zoos into providers of insurance populations specifically for species at risk of extinction. They have also accelerated fieldwork projects, but by using advanced technological tools and in increasing numbers, contradictorily, they may cause serious harm to the very birds studied for conservation purposes. In practice, very few avian species have any notable protection or guarantee of good treatment. The paper first deals with shortcomings of identifying problematic avian behavior in captive birds. It then brings together specific cases of field studies and captive breeding for conservation in which major welfare deficits are identified. Indeed, the paper argues that avian welfare is now an urgent task. This is not just because of declining bird numbers but because of investment in new technologies in field studies that may have introduced additional stressors and put at risk bird survival. While the paper documents a substantial number of peer-reviewed papers criticizing practices counter to modern welfare standards, they have by and large not led to changes in some practices. Some solutions are suggested that could be readily implemented and, to my knowledge, have never been considered under a welfare model before.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11490
Author(s):  
Fuhua Zhang ◽  
Na Xu ◽  
Wenhua Wang ◽  
Yishuang Yu ◽  
Shibao Wu

Background The gut microbiomes of mammals are closely related to the diets of their hosts. The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is a specialized myrmecophage, but its gut microbiome has rarely been studied. Methods Using high-throughput Illumina barcoded 16S rRNA amplicons of nine fecal samples from nine captive Sunda pangolins, we investigated their gut microbiomes. Results The detected bacteria were classified into 14 phyla, 24 classes, 48 orders, 97 families, and 271 genera. The main bacterial phyla were Firmicutes (73.71%), Proteobacteria (18.42%), Actinobacteria (3.44%), and Bacteroidetes (0.51%). In the PCoA and neighbor-net network (PERMANOVA: pangolins vs. other diets, weighted UniFrac distance p < 0.01, unweighted UniFrac distance p < 0.001), the gut microbiomes of the Sunda pangolins were distinct from those of mammals with different diets, but were much closer to other myrmecophages, and to carnivores, while distant from herbivores. We identified some gut microbiomes related to the digestion of chitin, including Lactococcus, Bacteroides, Bacillus, and Staphylococcus species, which confirms that the gut microbiome of pangolins may help them to digest chitin. Significance The results will aid studies of extreme dietary adaption and the mechanisms of diet differentiation in mammals, as well as metagenomic studies, captive breeding, and ex situ conservation of pangolins.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 244
Author(s):  
Bainah Sari Dewi ◽  
Akhmad Kamaluddin ◽  
Yoshua Gdemakarti

The existence of the deer population that continue to decline in its natural habitat need conservation efforts, such as through ex-situ conservation. Deer captive breeding is one of the ex-situ conservation efforts to ensure the sustainability of wildlife from the threat of extinction. This research aims to know the public perception towards the management and development of captive deer in an effort to improve the conservation of deer was ex-situ. This research was conducted in October – November 2018 in three stations of the captive breeding of sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) and timor deer (Cervus timorensis) in University of Lampung and timor deer (Cervus timorensis) breeding in Tahura Wan Abdul Rachman through interviews to respondents and then the data collected were analyzed descriptively. The results showed a positive public perception towards the development of captive breeding. The results also showed the community supports on the development of deer captive breeding, the management of captive breeding, habitat suitability characteristics, the existence of species and species treatment in captivity, and the development of deer captive as object conservation-based tourism. Keywords: captive reeding, perception, deer


2021 ◽  
pp. 24-27
Author(s):  
Jay Redbond

The Nguru spiny pygmy chameleon (Rhampholeon acuminatus) is endemic to the Nguru mountains in Tanzania. It is assessed as Critically Endangered and is collected from the wild for the pet trade. An ex-situ population of this species was recently established at The Wild Planet Trust, Paignton Zoo, in the hope of learning more about the husbandry and biology of this species. We report on the captive husbandry of adults and the successful breeding, hatching and rearing of juveniles. Females carried four eggs but laid them in pairs. When eggs were incubated at 19.2-22.8 °C, hatchlings emerged roughly 180 days after laying. The hatchlings had a total length of about 30 mm and weighed 0.2-0.3 g. To our knowledge, this is the first published account of captive breeding for this species. The husbandry methods described could be used to establish populations of this and other Rhampholeon species in captivity, which in turn would reduce the demand for wild caught (Rhampholeon), as well as inform future conservation breeding programmes for this species.


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