scholarly journals Habitat establishment, captive breeding and conservation translocation to save threatened populations of the Vulnerable European mudminnow Umbra krameri

Oryx ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 718-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sándor Tatár ◽  
Bálint Bajomi ◽  
András Specziár ◽  
Balázs Tóth ◽  
Magdolna Müllerné Trenovszki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Conservation Activity ◽  
Artificial Ponds ◽  
Threatened Habitats ◽  
Laboratory Breeding ◽  
Natural Recruitment ◽  
Umbra Krameri

AbstractIn Europe 37% of freshwater fish are threatened. However, conservation activity is less widespread for fish compared to other vertebrate groups. The Vulnerable European mudminnow Umbra krameri is a marshland fish endemic to the Carpathian Basin. Its range and population have declined significantly since the 1990s. The main threats to the species are habitat loss and the invasive Chinese sleeper Perccottus glenii. During 2008–2012 a species conservation programme was established to rescue broodstocks from threatened populations, breed them under controlled conditions, translocate both rescued fish and their laboratory-reared offspring to surrogate habitats, and finally reintroduce offspring to their original habitats. Broodstocks from three threatened habitats were bred in the laboratory and produced offspring appropriate for stocking. Six artificial ponds were created in the pilot study area according to the environmental needs of the species, four of which proved to be suitable surrogate habitats in which translocated fish survived and reproduced successfully. Populations in the original habitats were supplemented with fish from laboratory breeding and from the natural recruitment of surrogate habitats, with special care of the corresponding broodstocks. Future challenges include improving our knowledge about the ecological processes in which the European mudminnow participates, identifying the most threatened populations, habitats suitable for restoration and potential areas for creation of surrogate habitats, and enhancing induced propagation methodology.

Captive management and the maintenance of genetic diversity in a vulnerable marsupial, the greater bilby

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily J. Miller ◽  
Mark D. B. Eldridge ◽  
Keith Morris ◽  
Neil Thomas ◽  
Catherine A. Herbert
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Captive Populations ◽  
Genetic Impact ◽  
Captive Breeding Programs

The endemic Australian greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is a vulnerable and iconic species. It has declined significantly due to habitat loss, as well as competition and predation from introduced species. Conservation measures include a National Recovery Plan that incorporates several captive breeding programs. Two of these programs were established within 12 months of one another (1997/98), with the same number and sex ratio of founding individuals, but executed different breeding strategies: (1) unmanipulated mating in semi–free range natural habitat versus (2) minimising mean kinship in large enclosures, with the supplementation of new individuals into both populations. This study evaluates the long-term genetic impact of these programs and examines the congruency between the pedigree studbook estimates of diversity and molecular data. Our data demonstrate that genetic diversity was maintained in both populations, with the supplementation of new individuals contributing to the gene pool. The studbook estimates of diversity and inbreeding are not consistent with the microsatellite data and should not solely be relied upon to evaluate the genetic health of captive populations. Our analyses suggest that captive breeding programs may not require costly and intensive management to effectively maintain long-term genetic diversity in a promiscuous species.

Corrigendum to: Conservation of quolls (Dasyurus spp.) in captivity – a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 378
Author(s):  
Julie M. Old ◽  
Hayley J. Stannard
Keyword(s):  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
White Spots ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
The Family ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
The Impact

Quolls are carnivorous marsupials in the family Dasyuridae with characteristic white spots. They are distributed throughout Australia and New Guinea, but uncommonly seen due to their mostly nocturnal solitary nature, and large home ranges. All Australian quolls are listed as ‘near threatened' or ‘endangered' at state, national and international levels, largely due to human-induced threats. Threats include introduced predators, habitat loss through clearing and modifications including changed fire regimes, disease, human persecution, vehicle collisions and accidental or targeted poisoning by humans and cane toads (Rhinella marina). Conservation efforts that have focussed on reducing introduced predators, and minimising the impact of cane toads, have aided some translocations, hence species recovery in some local areas of Australia has occurred. Where species conservation has required captive breeding for translocation, successful captive management has been crucial. We summarise research conducted in captivity on aspects of birth and development, health and disease, and blood and nutrition parameters of quolls, and suggest future directions for research. Further research on captive and wild quoll populations will benefit future translocations, reintroductions and conservation through increased knowledge, improved maintenance and husbandry of captive colonies, and monitoring of wild populations.

Conserving Mackinder's eagle owls in farmlands of Kenya: assessing the influence of pesticide use, tourism and local knowledge of owl habits in protecting a culturally loathed species

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 252-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
DARCY L. OGADA ◽  
PAUL MURIITHI KIBUTHU
Keyword(s):  
Species Conservation ◽  
Ecological Literacy ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Pesticide Use ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Negative Beliefs ◽  
Common Control ◽  
Vertebrate Pests

SUMMARYFarmlands can be good habitat for owls and owls can benefit farmers, but pesticide use can negatively affect owls and within many regions of Africa owls are loathed owing to beliefs that they bring misfortune or death. Since 1997, a small-scale owl tourism initiative that educates farmers about owls and benefits them financially has been operating in central Kenya. Pesticide use, farmers' beliefs and knowledge about owls, and the impacts that tourism can have on farmers' attitudes and behaviour towards owls in rural Kenya were surveyed. Agricultural pests were the most serious problem facing farmers, though only 28 % of farmers said they controlled vertebrate pests using pesticides. The insecticide carbofuran was often misused to kill vertebrate pests. Common control measures were either to ‘do nothing’ or to chase pests from farms. Farmers knew of Mackinder's eagle owls living adjacent to their farms, but 68 % said they didn't adhere to the culturally negative beliefs about owls. Knowledge of owl diet amongst farmers was high (75 %). Farmers who benefited from owl tourism were more likely to know more about owl diet and habits. Where farmers gained financial benefits from tourism or knew more about owls, they were more likely to categorize owls as ‘good’, but farmers who knew about owl diet were more likely to use pesticides or kill owl prey on their farms. Though knowledge of owls did not have a positive effect on farmers' behaviour toward owls, this was probably the result of a lack of ecological literacy rather than any deliberate antagonism toward owls. Financial rewards are very important to poor farmers, but may not result in actions that enhance species conservation unless farmers have a basic understanding of ecological processes.

Generality of Models that Predict the Distribution of Species: Conservation Activity and Reduction of Model Transferability for a Threatened Bustard

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
THOMAS N. E. GRAY ◽  
RO BOREY ◽  
SENG KIM HOUT ◽  
HONG CHAMNAN ◽  
NIGEL, J. COLLAR ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Conservation ◽  
Model Transferability ◽  
Conservation Activity

scholarly journals Ex situ protection of the European mudminnow (Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792): Spawning substrate preference for larvae rearing under controlled conditions

2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balázs Kucska ◽  
Péter Kabai ◽  
Juraj Hajdú ◽  
Levente Várkonyi ◽  
Dániel Varga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Substrate Preference ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Endangered Fish ◽  
Spawning Substrate ◽  
Controlled Conditions ◽  
Artificial Surface ◽  
Dry Food ◽  
Umbra Krameri

Captive breeding programs of endangered fish species, such as the European mudminnow Umbra krameri, are essential for population restoration. To improve captive spawning and larvae rearing under controlled conditions, two experiments were carried out. In the first, the spawning substrate preference was tested in triplicate, where five different types of artificial surface were provided for mudminnow pairs:(i)sand, (ii)artificial plants, (iii)gravel, (iv)sand + artificial plants and(v)gravel + artificial plants. All fish preferred the gravel + artificial plant combination, which indicates that this type of surface could be the most appropriate for spawning in captivity. In the second trial, three feeding protocols were tested in triplicate under controlled conditions. In the first treatment fish were fed exclusively with Artemia nauplii; in the second treatment fish were fed with Artemiafor the first ten days then Artemia was gradually replaced with dry feed; for the third group the transition period started after 5 days of Artemia feeding. Although the survival rate of larvae could be maintained at a high level in some of the feeding protocols, a strong decrease in the growth rate was obvious in all diets containing dry food, which means that live food is essential for the first three weeks of mudminnow larvae rearing.

scholarly journals Puberty and oestral cycle length in captive female jaguars Panthera onca

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Viau ◽  
Débora Cattaruzzi Rodini ◽  
Gisela Sobral ◽  
Gabriela Siqueira Martins ◽  
Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cycle Length ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
The Body ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Viability Assessment ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Wild Felids

Abstract Habitat loss and fragmentation have been leading jaguars to constant conflicts with humans, and as a result, jaguar populations have been declining over the last decades. Captive breeding is often a tool for species conservation, and it is not different for jaguars. However, success is far from optimal due to the lack of basic knowledge about species’ reproductive biology. In the present study, we assessed gonadal hormonal profiles of natural oestral cycles and puberty and compared our data to those of other wild felids. We collected faecal samples from two to seven times per week for 18 months from two adults and three pre-pubertal females. We defined baseline levels for progestins and oestrogens in order to estimate oestrous cycle length and age at puberty. We compared our data with 16 other species through generalized linear model, using weight and genus as two explanatory variables. Cycle length was 38.28 ± 2.52 days, ranging from 25 to 44 days, while sexual maturity was attained within 22 months. Due to our analysis of both hormonal and behavioural data, there is a variation between this research from other studies that employed only behavioural observations. Such difference may be caused by the absence of behavioural oestrous at the peri-pubertal period. When compared to wild felids of similar size, puberty and oestral cycle durations of the jaguar females fell within the same range. Our modelling showed that age at maturity was influenced mostly by size and only Leopardus partially explained the observed variation. Conversely, oestral cycle length did not differ among genera or size categories. Our study adds to the body literature in the reproductive endocrinology of wild felids, and because female gametes are more challenging to collect and preserve, a strong understanding on the female reproductive physiology is essential to assisted reproduction and wild population viability assessment.

scholarly journals A multistep approach to improving connectivity and co-use of spatial ecological networks in cities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Beaujean ◽  
Amal Najihah Muhamad Nor ◽  
Tim Brewer ◽  
Juan Gallego Zamorano ◽  
Alex Cristina Dumitriu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ecological Networks ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Anthropogenic Landscapes ◽  
Movement Parameters ◽  
The City ◽  
Human Recreation

Abstract Context Ecological networks are systems of interconnected components that support biodiversity, ecological processes and ecosystem services. Such structures play a crucial role for nature conservation and people well-being in anthropogenic landscapes. Assessing connectivity by using efficient models and metrics is a sine qua non condition to preserve and improve appropriately these ecological networks. Objectives This study aims to present a novel methodological approach to assess and model connectivity for species conservation (Bufo calamita; the natterjack toad) and human recreation in the city. Methods The study used a combination least cost and circuit models to identify priority corridors in the City of Liège, Belgium. Green areas, habitats and relevant movement parameters were derived based on existing studies around (i) the occurrence, ecology and biology of the natterjack toad and (ii) human behavioural studies on urban pedestrians. Combining the two models allowed the assessment of connectivity for both species via two different metrics visualised using priority corridors on maps. Results The connectivity assessments identified lack of connectivity as the potential route to extinction of natterjack toads at one of the source sites. Conclusions This study provides examples of how combining least cost and circuit models can contribute to the improvement of urban ecological networks and demonstrates the usefulness of such models for nature conservation and urban planning.

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