Chapter 14 Ex situ conservation strategies

main concern for plants

adjusting light, temperature, humidity levels, soil type and soil moisture to suit species

Advantages of ex situ

-Fall back populations - "insurance" -Research on biology of rare & difficult to observe species -Education - "ambassadors" -Funds for conservation

stud books

-Keep track of parentage of every individual in every zoo -International species inventory system (ISIS) - over 10,000 species -Species Survival Plan® - for >500 species, breeding and transfer plans Use to determine relatedness & future matings Reduce inbreeding, maximize genetic diversity (H')

Baghdad zoo

-Largest zoo in the Middle East -Animals abandoned, eaten, and looted -Of 650 animals, only 35 survived -Rebuilt, now back to >1,000 animals

Georgia Aquarium conservation highlight ( 2 factors)

-field research and monitoring on diet, movement, and numbers, & facilitated Mexican Whale Shark Biosphere Reserve in the Yucatan. -In-house research too - chemistry of their blood using cutting-edge analytical techniques at Georgia Tech and an exciting program to study the genomics of whale sharks based on tissue samples collected from animals at the Aquarium

artificial insemination

individual loses interest in mating or zoo only one or few individuals in pop.

Ex situ complements in situ efforts

individuals from ex situ populations can be periodically released into the wild to establish new pop and to augment existing wild pop.

Research on captive population provide what

insight into the basic biology, physiology, and genetics of the species through research studies that would be possible on wild animals.

ex situ helps what kind of species

last remaining pop of those "extinct in the wild" ex. Przewalski's horse, reintroductions in Mongolia.

Aquaria

most fish from wild, not captive born

what percent of world's flora are in garden

30%

Washington Dc zoo has how many species

400 1:5 are threaten and endangered

percent of wild born, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians

5%, 9%, 15%, 5%

how many vertebrate species worldwide

7500

Captive breeding methods

Animal contraceptives Artificial insemination - ship sperm, not animals; reduce stress, injury ( to keep genetic diversity ^) Embryo transfer - surrogate mothers carry fertilized embryo of other species to term Artificial incubation - Head starting; turtle, birds Cross fostering - have 2nd mom raise eggs/kids (e.g. double clutching of birds) In development: Cloning Cross-species hybridization Germplasm banks e.g. Frozen Ark

ethical issues; Cetaceans in captivity

Cetaceans are intelligent, self-aware, and sentient Stress in captivity - ulcers, pacing, self-mutilation Higher mortality in captivity The benefits of research on captive animals are enormous - communication, cognition

ex situ Limitations compared to in situ

Cost - more expensive, except for very difficult in situ cases Continuity - long term funding & policy Population size - generally very small Genetic variation - usually limited,( how many individuals can you hold at zoo?) treat them as single pop and breed across zoos. Adaptation - selects for docile, unreactive individuals Learning - lack survival skills Concentration - catastrophic losses - putting species in small space. Surplus animals - ethical dilemma ( humane treatments)

Evolution of zoos

Entertainment value, ~circus Public display & education Today, guarding for future reintroductions Future, specialized zoos BUT some zoo pops are NOT self-maintaining Result: need to collect from wild, 5 to 10% of animals

Cross Fostering exam

Foster parents from common species can be used to raise the offspring of a rare species sandhill crane and whopping crane. usually among common or similar species, whopping cranes raised by sandhill crane

whale sharks

Georgia Aquarium: lost 2 individuals & imported 2 more.

examples of specialized zoos

International Crane Foundation facility in Baraboo, WI ( 15 spp of cranes in one location) - National Chimpanzee Observatory ( research, natural setting, professor's idea in LA )

riches garden in the world and houses what percent of world's plant species

Royal botanical Garden, 10% 30,000 species

preserving plant biodiversity

Seed banks - collections of seeds Source of new genetic variants (esp. agricultural spp.) Doesn't work on many tropical species - immediate germination, no dormancy Herbaria - preserved material Research resource, trends in time

embryo transfer successful in what species

bango calf. superovulation, or reproduction of multiple egg, induced using fertility drugs. extra eggs are surgically collected & fertilized with sperm and implanted in surrogate.

artificial insemination process

biochemical tracking of hormonal level in urine or feces , determines the timing of sexual receptivity in females. sperms are collected from suitable males, stored at low temps or frozen till needed.

how is artificial insemination beneficial for ex situ

can maintain the ideal sex ratios needed to promote breeding and captive management.

Ex situ programs can be used to develop ? and how does in situ help

develop new products that can potentially generate funds from profits or licensing fees to protect species in wild. In situ preservations of species in turn is vital to survival of species that are difficult to maintain in captivity, as well as to the continued ability of zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens that do not have self sustaining ex situ pop.

double clutching

doubles the number of offspring one female of a rare species can produce example: birds

describe the difference between adaption and learning

ex situ pop may undergo genetic adaptations to their artificial environments. and learning - individuals in ex situ pop may be ignorant of their natural environment and unable to survive in the wild. .. ex social mammals & birds who juveniles learn survival skills and locations of critical resources from adult members of the pop.

fish breeding technique come from

fisheries biologist and commercial species

ex situ

off-site.

where do crop species show high genetic diversity

often where species was first domesticated and or where species is still grown in traditional agriculture settings

what species is easier to maintain in controlled conditions

plants

purpose of aquariums

preserve genetic stocks in world of large scale aquaculture

tropical forest have what kind of seeds

recalcitrant seeds storing embryo from inside the seed or the young seedling

surplus animals and ethical dilemma. example & implications

recall the giraffe that was euthanized in Danish zoo in 2014

sampling strategy of seed banks to ensure the they represent most of the genetic variability

seeds of each species should be collected from at least five pop, 10-50 individuals should be sampled within each pop.

Arboretum

specialize botanical garden focusing on trees and other woody plants

vegetative propagation

species, parts of leaf can be grown in tissue culture and then used to propagate whole plants

radio collars

tech. enhance the study and preservation of the species in the wild.

most botanical gardens are located where

temperate zone, even though most of the world's plant are found in tropics. seed banks & herbaria not good for tropical species

Fishes and invertebrates that have escaped from aquaculture present major threats

to diversity of indigenous species because these exotic species can become invasive, spread disease and hybridize with local species

examples of ex situ facilities

zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, game farms, and private breeders, while plants are maintained in botanical gardens, arboretums and seed banks.