scholarly journals Reproductive Anatomy of Chondrichthyans: Notes on Specimen Handling and Sperm Extraction. I. Rays and Skates

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1888
Author(s):  
Pablo García-Salinas ◽  
Victor Gallego ◽  
Juan F. Asturiano
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Specimen Handling ◽  
Abdominal Massage ◽  
Reproductive Anatomy ◽  
Captive Breeding Programs

The superorder Batoidea (rays, skates, and relatives), constitutes one of the most threatened group of vertebrates. Strengthening ex situ conservation programs developed in research centers and public aquaria could be a way of addressing this situation. However, captive breeding programs must be improved to prevent the capture of wild animals and to develop proper in situ reintroduction strategies. Sperm extraction and artificial insemination are two techniques commonly used in other threatened species, which could also be used in rays and the like. However, the different reproductive morphologies present within this group of animals may hamper both processes. Here, we present a comparison of the reproductive anatomies of 11 distinct batoid species, emphasizing the important differences between the species when performing sperm extraction or artificial insemination. Both male and female animals, belonging to the Rajidae, Dasyatidae, Torpedinidae and Myliobatidae families, from the Mediterranean Sea were studied. In addition, we describe the procedure to extract sperm using both cannulation and abdominal massage, either from live or dead batoids Finally, the obtention of motile sperm recovered from the oviducal gland of females is described. These techniques generate a new range of possibilities for the conservation of these threatened species.

scholarly journals Reproductive Anatomy of Chondrichthyans: Notes on Specimen Handling and Sperm Extraction. II. Sharks and Chimaeras

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2191
Author(s):  
Pablo García-Salinas ◽  
Victor Gallego ◽  
Juan F. Asturiano
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Specimen Handling ◽  
Viable Sperm ◽  
Abdominal Massage ◽  
Reproductive Anatomy ◽  
Conservation Projects ◽  
Breeding Techniques

The chondrichthyan fishes, which comprise sharks, rays, and chimaeras, are one of the most threatened groups of vertebrates on the planet. Given this situation, an additional strategy for the protection of these species could be the ex situ conservation projects developed in public aquaria and research centers. Nevertheless, to increase sustainability and to develop properly in situ reintroduction strategies, captive breeding techniques, such as sperm extraction and artificial insemination, should be developed. These techniques are commonly used in other threatened species and could be also used in chondrichthyans. However, the different reproductive morphologies found in this group can complicate both processes. Therefore, a comparison of the reproductive anatomy of eight distinct chondrichthyans, with an emphasis on those important differences when performing sperm extraction or artificial insemination, is carried out herein. Sharks and chimaeras belonging to the Scyliorhinidae, Carcharhinidae, Centrophoridae, Etmopteridae, Hexanchidae, and Chimaeridae families were obtained from commercial fisheries, public aquaria, and stranding events. In addition, the process of obtaining viable sperm samples through cannulation, abdominal massage, and oviducal gland extraction is described in detail for both living and dead animals.

scholarly journals Emergency Response to Australia’s Black Summer 2019–2020: The Role of a Zoo-Based Conservation Organisation in Wildlife Triage, Rescue, and Resilience for the Future

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1515
Author(s):  
Marissa L. Parrott ◽  
Leanne V. Wicker ◽  
Amanda Lamont ◽  
Chris Banks ◽  
Michelle Lang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Response ◽  
State Government ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Catastrophic Events ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Face ◽  
Captive Breeding Programs

Modern zoos are increasingly taking a leading role in emergency management and wildlife recovery. In the face of climate change and the predicted increase in frequency and magnitude of catastrophic events, zoos provide specialised expertise to assist wildlife welfare and endangered species recovery. In the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season, now called Australia’s Black Summer, a state government-directed response was developed, assembling specialised individuals and organisations from government, non-government organisations, research institutions, and others. Here, we detail the role of Zoos Victoria staff in wildlife triage and welfare, threatened species evacuation and recovery, media and communications, and fundraising during and after the fires. We share strategies for future resilience, readiness, and the ability to mobilise quickly in catastrophic events. The development of triage protocols, emergency response kits, emergency enclosures, and expanded and new captive breeding programs is underway, as are programs for care of staff mental health and nature-based community healing for people directly affected by the fires. We hope this account of our response to one of the greatest recent threats to Australia’s biodiversity, and steps to prepare for the future will assist other zoos and wildlife organisations around the world in preparations to help wildlife before, during, and after catastrophic events.

scholarly journals A global register of competences for threatened species recovery practitioners: a comprehensive list of skills, knowledge and personal attributes required by practitioners working within threatened species recovery

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barney Long ◽  
Richard P. Young
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Capacity Development ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Personal Attributes ◽  
Species Recovery ◽  
Comprehensive List ◽  
The World

Competence frameworks are widely used in many professional sectors, helping to develop capacity by defining and recognising the required skills, knowledge and personal attributes. Registers of competences have been developed within the conservation sector. A global register of competences for threatened species recovery practitioners is a register of competences in the form of a directory of the possible skills, knowledge and personal attributes required by practitioners working in threatened species recovery programmes around the world, in both in-situ and ex-situ contexts. This register has the potential to transform approaches to capacity development within threatened species recovery and help improve the effectiveness of this branch of conservation. Its structure largely follows that of A global register of competences for protected area practitioners (Appleton, 2016).

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.

scholarly journals Propagation of Threatened Nepenthes khasiana: Methods and Precautions

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-315
Author(s):  
Jibankumar S. KHURAIJAM ◽  
Rup K. ROY
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Ex Situ Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Propagation Technique ◽  
Subsequent Propagation ◽  
Nepenthes Khasiana

Ex-situ conservation is an important key in the management of rare, endangered and threatened (RET) plant species and its effectiveness depends on several factors. Maintenance of viable germplasm and its subsequent propagation plays an important role in long term conservation of many RET species. Nepenthes khasiana is a rare and gravely threatened species in the wild due to over-collection and other threats. The species needs urgent in-situ and ex-situ conservation. Development of easy to propagate techniques would pave faster multiplication for its use of educational, medicinal and horticultural purpose. In the present paper, successful propagation technique of Nepenthes khasiana through seeds is demonstrated along with detailed information on precautions to be taken during the adoption of the techniques.

scholarly journals Morphological diversity and identification key for landraces of the Amerindian yam in central Amazon

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Beyerlein ◽  
Henrique dos Santos Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Morphological Descriptors ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Central Amazon ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Optimal Set

Abstract: The objective of this work was to select an optimal set of morphological descriptors, in order to characterize the phenotipical diversity of Amerindian yam (Dioscorea trifida) landraces cultivated in the municipality of Caapiranga, in the central Amazon region of Brazil, and to develop a botanical identification key for them. A collection of 140 accessions and an experimental plot with a representative sample of 20 landraces were used to test 64 morphological descriptors for the aerial and subterranean plant parts. Forty-eight descriptors were selected, of which 13 were for tubers, 12 for stems, 14 for leaves, and 9 for inflorescences and seed. A cluster analysis based on the morphological data showed the formation of two landrace groups with greater similarity: white and purple pulp tubers. The results provide tools for in situ and ex situ conservation and for plant breeding programs, considering the importance of maintaining and recognizing the value of Ameridian yam as an important native genetic resource for food security in the region.

Changes in food availability mediate the effects of temperature on growth, metamorphosis and survival in endangered yellow spotted mountain newt: implications for captive breeding programs

Biologia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Somaye Vaissi ◽  
Mozafar Sharifi
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Size Growth ◽  
Effects Of Temperature ◽  
Captive Breeding Programs

AbstractThe effects of temperature and food levels on body size, growth rate, time to metamorphosis and survival were studied in larval and post-metamorphic juvenile endangered yellow spotted mountain newts

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