Nesting Ecology of Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus): Implications from In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation Programs in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Gharials Gavialis gangeticus have been reared in ex situ facilities in the Gharial Conservation and Breeding Center (GCBC) in Chitwan National Park of Nepal since the 1980s. There remains a paucity of detailed information concerning their growth rates, particularly with respect to season. We randomly selected 20 gharials (45 months old) in the GCBC, tagged them, and recorded total length (TL) and weight over three warm (April–September) and two cold (October–March) seasons between 01 April 2013 and 30 September 2015. We also recorded amounts of fish consumed by these gharials every month over the 30-month period. On average per season, the gharials grew by 9.48±3.63 cm (1.58cm/month) in length and gained 2.61±1.14 kg (0.43kg/month). Growth rates were significantly higher during warm seasons. The highest increase in both length (mean= 21.2±8.61 cm) and weight (mean =5.59±2.12 kg) occurred during the first warm season (April 2013–September 2013) of the study, and annual growth rate was also highest during the first year. Our data indicated strong correlation between mean length and body weight. A total of 2,103.9kg fish was consumed by 20 gharials over 30 months, for a mean consumption of 3.5kg fish per individual per month. Mean fish consumption was also significantly higher during warm (96.99±37.35 kg) versus cold (29.83±17.09 kg) seasons. Survival rate was 100%. Our findings establish baseline data for growth and feeding rates of captive gharials that will be useful in making management decisions in captive breeding and rearing facilities.

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SEED FEATURES OF IMPORTANT TIMBER SPECIES FROM THE FLOODPLAIN VÁRZEA FOREST: IMPLICATIONS FOR EX SITU CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN THE AMAZON

Scientific Magazine UAKARI ◽

10.31420/uakari.v9i2.148 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 7-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Auristela Dos Santos Conserva ◽

Denise Garcia de Santana ◽

Maria Teresa Fernandez Piedade

Keyword(s):

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Timber Species ◽

Conservation Programs

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Status of the Ex Situ and In Situ Conservation of Brazilian Crop Wild Relatives of Rice, Potato, Sweet Potato, and Finger Millet: Filling the Gaps of Germplasm Collections

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11040638 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 638

Author(s):

Marcelo B. Medeiros ◽

José F. M. Valls ◽

Aluana G. Abreu ◽

Gustavo Heiden ◽

Suelma Ribeiro-Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Finger Millet ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Gap Analysis ◽

In Situ Conservation ◽

Germplasm Collection ◽

Crop Wild Relatives ◽

Wild Relatives ◽

Ex Situ ◽

The Status

This study presents the status of ex situ and in situ conservation for the crop wild relatives of rice, potato, sweet potato, and finger millet in Brazil, and the subsequent germplasm collection expeditions. This research is part of a global initiative entitled “Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: Collecting, Protecting, and Preparing Crop Wild Relatives” supported by the Global Crop Diversity Trust. Species of the primary, secondary, and tertiary gene pools with occurrences reported in Brazil were included: Oryza alta Swallen, O. grandiglumis (Döll) Prod., O. latifolia Desv., O. glumaepatula Steud., Eleusine tristachya (Lam.) Lam., E. indica (L.) Gaertn., Solanum commersonii Dunal, S. chacoense Bitter, Ipomoea grandifolia (Dammer) O’Donell, I. ramosissima (Poir.) Choisy, I. tiliacea (Willd.) Choisy, I. triloba L., and I. cynanchifolia Meisn. The status of the ex situ and in situ conservation of each taxon was assessed using the gap analysis methodology, and the results were used to plan 16 germplasm collection expeditions. Seeds of the collected material were evaluated for viability, and the protocols for seed germination and cryopreservation were tested. The final conservation score, resulting from the gap analysis and including the average of the ex situ and in situ scores, resulted in a classification of medium priority of conservation for all the species, with the exception of I. grandifolia (high priority). The total accessions collected (174) almost doubled the total accessions of these crop wild relatives incorporated in Embrapa’s ex situ conservation system prior to 2015. In addition, accessions for practically absent species were collected for the ex situ conservation system, such as Ipomoea species, Eleusine indica, and Solanum chacoense. The methods used for dormancy breaking and low temperature conservation for the Oryza, Eleusine, and Ipomoea species were promising for the incorporation of accessions in the respective gene banks. The results show the importance of efforts to collect and conserve ex situ crop wild relatives in Brazil based on previous gap analysis. The complementarity with the in situ strategy also appears to be very promising in the country.

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Conservation and Change: A Comparison of In situ and Ex situ Conservation of Jala Maize Germplasm

Crop Science ◽

10.2135/cropsci2005.06-0116 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 428-436 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Elizabeth B. Rice ◽

Margaret E. Smith ◽

Sharon E. Mitchell ◽

Stephen Kresovich

Keyword(s):

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Maize Germplasm

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In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation of Coconut Genetic Resources

Coconut Biotechnology: Towards the Sustainability of the ‘Tree of Life’ ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-44988-9_4 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 51-75

Author(s):

Roland Bourdeix ◽

Steve Adkins ◽

Vincent Johnson ◽

Lalith Perera ◽

Sisunandar

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Ex Situ

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Occurrence of Citropsis articulata in Tropical Forests in Uganda: Implication for Ex Situ Conservation

International Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1155/2021/5582461 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Rapheal Wangalwa ◽

Eunice Apio Olet ◽

Grace Kagoro-Rugunda ◽

Casim Umba Tolo ◽

Patrick E. Ogwang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

National Park ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Kibale National Park ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Forest Reserves ◽

Ecological Requirements ◽

Shade Tolerant Species ◽

Alternative Sources

Citropsis articulata is a medicinal plant that is increasingly threatened by unsustainable methods of harvesting and habitat degradation. Owing to the fact that this plant species is highly utilized for herbal medicine and is currently restricted to a few forest reserves in Uganda, this has significant implications for ex situ conservation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess how physiographical factors influence the occurrence and distribution of C. articulata in the three forest reserves in Uganda, namely, Budongo, Mabira, and Kibale National Park. The study was carried out in 15 compartmental sites in each of the three forests. In each compartmental site, 4 plots of 60 m × 60 m were systematically established, and within each plot, 4 subplots each of size 20 m × 20 m were randomly setup. A total of 240 subplots were assessed for occurrence of Citropsis articulata in each forest. The results indicated a significant ( p < 0.05 ) variation in the density of C. articulata with the highest recorded in Kibale National Park. Citropsis articulata generally occurred at moderate altitudinal landscapes (overall elevation = 1200.0 ± 20.73 m) with soils that are moderately acidic (overall pH = 5.7 ± 0.10), low in salinity (overall salinity = 84.0 ± 3.84 mg/l), and moderate levels of macro- and micronutrients. Citropsis articulata was generally associated with plant communities dominated by canopy tree species of genera such as Chryosphyllum, Celtis, Markhamia, Cynometra, Lasiodiscus, Trilepisium, Funtumia, and Diospyros, thus suggesting that C. articulata is a shade-tolerant species. Establishing the ecological requirements of this plant species among other things informs the potential for ex situ production of this plant. This will not only provide alternative sources of plant harvest but also go a long way in relieving the current harvest pressures exerted on the conserved wild populations of this plant species.

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Ex situ conservation of genetic resources of field elm (Ulmus minor Mill) and European white elm (Ulmus laevis Pall)

Genetika ◽

10.2298/gensr0403221a ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 221-227

Author(s):

Jelena Aleksic ◽

Sasa Orlovic

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Ex Situ ◽

In Vitro Production ◽

Ulmus Minor ◽

Conservation Of Genetic Resources ◽

Ulmus Laevis ◽

Vitro Production

Principles of the conservation of genetic resources of elms (Ulmus spp) do not differ fundamentally from the general principles accepted for the conservation of genetic resources of other common Noble Hardwoods. Efficient conservation can best be achieved through appropriate combination of in situ and ex situ methods, which have distinct advantages. Besides that, ex situ conservation is employed when emergency measures are needed for rare endangered populations and when populations are too small to be managed in situ (e.g. risks of genetic drift and inbreeding). The aim of our research is ex situ conservation of genetic resources of field elm {Ulmus minor Mill) and European white elm (Ulmus laevis Pall) through establishment of field genebanks. Sampling was conducted in one population of field elm and one population of white elm. Plant material (buds) from 8 trees of field elm and 10 trees of white elm was used for in vitro production of clones. Obtained clones will be used for establishment of field genebanks on the experimental estate of the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment.

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