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.