scholarly journals Applications of emerging technologies to the study and conservation of threatened and endangered species

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Budhan Pukazhenthi ◽  
Pierre Comizzoli ◽  
Alexander J. Travis ◽  
David E. Wildt
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Threatened And Endangered Species

Sustaining viable populations of all wildlife species requires the maintenance of habitat, as well as an understanding of the behaviour and physiology of individual species. Despite substantial efforts, there are thousands of species threatened by extinction, often because of complex factors related to politics, social and environmental conditions and economic needs. When species become critically endangered, ex situ recovery programmes that include reproductive scientists are the usual first line of defence. Despite the potential of reproductive technologies for rapidly increasing numbers in such small populations, there are few examples of success. This is not the result of a failure on the part of the technologies per se, but rather is due to a lack of knowledge about the fundamental biology of the species in question, information essential for allowing reproductive technologies to be effective in the production of offspring. In addition, modern conservation concepts correctly emphasise the importance of maintaining heterozygosity to sustain genetic vigour, thereby limiting the practical usefulness of some procedures (such as nuclear transfer). However, because of the goal of maintaining all extant gene diversity and because, inevitably, many species are (or will become) ‘critically endangered’, it is necessary to explore every avenue for a potential contributory role. There are many ‘emerging technologies’ emanating from the study of livestock and laboratory animals. We predict that a subset of these may have application to the rescue of valuable genes from individual endangered species and eventually to the genetic management of entire populations or species. The present paper reviews the potential candidate techniques and their potential value (and limitations) to the study and conservation of rare wildlife species.

scholarly journals Foreword: A perspective on the role of emerging technologies for the propagation of companion animals, non-domestic and endangered species

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. iii ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique C. J. Paris ◽  
Gabriela F. Mastromonaco ◽  
Damien B. B. P. Paris ◽  
Rebecca L. Krisher
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Physiology ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Genetic Management ◽  
The Status

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have been used successfully in humans, domestic and laboratory species for many years. In contrast, our limited knowledge of basic reproductive physiology has restricted the application of ART in companion animal, non-domestic and endangered species (CANDES). Although there are numerous benefits, and in some cases a necessity, for applying ART for the reproductive and genetic management of CANDES, the challenges encountered with even the most basic procedures have limited the rate of progress. In this foreword we discuss the status of conventional ART, such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation, as well as their benefits and inherent difficulties when applied to CANDES. It is upon these techniques, and ultimately our knowledge of basic reproductive physiology, that the success of emerging technologies, such as those described in this special issue, are dependent for success.

scholarly journals The conservation value of admixed phenotypes in a critically endangered species complex

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keren R. Sadanandan ◽  
Gabriel W. Low ◽  
Sheeraja Sridharan ◽  
Chyi Yin Gwee ◽  
Elize Y. X. Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Variable Species

Abstract In today’s environmental crisis, conservationists are increasingly confronted with terminally endangered species whose last few surviving populations may be affected by allelic introgression from closely related species. Yet there is a worrying lack of evidence-based recommendations and solutions for this emerging problem. We analyzed genome-wide DNA markers and plumage variability in a critically endangered insular songbird, the Black-winged Myna (BWM, Acridotheres melanopterus). This species is highly threatened by the illegal wildlife trade, with its wild population numbering in the low hundreds, and its continued survival urgently depending on ex-situ breeding. Its three subspecies occur along a geographic gradient of melanism and are variably interpreted as three species. However, our integrative approach revealed that melanism poorly reflects the pattern of limited genomic differentiation across BWM subspecies. We also uncovered allelic introgression into the most melanistic subspecies, tertius, from the all-black congeneric Javan Myna (A. javanicus), which is native to the same islands. Based on our results, we recommend the establishment of three separate breeding programs to maintain subspecific traits that may confer local adaptation, but with the option of occasional cross-breeding between insurance populations in order to boost genetic diversity and increase overall viability prospects of each breeding program. Our results underscore the importance of evidence-based integrative approaches when determining appropriate conservation units. Given the rapid increase of terminally endangered organisms in need of ex-situ conservation, this study provides an important blueprint for similar programs dealing with phenotypically variable species.

scholarly journals The Use of Genomics in Conservation Management of the Endangered Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons)

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rascha J. M. Nuijten ◽  
Mirte Bosse ◽  
Richard P. M. A. Crooijmans ◽  
Ole Madsen ◽  
Willem Schaftenaar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Genetic Research ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Threatened And Endangered Species ◽  
Captive Populations ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Recent Developments

The list of threatened and endangered species is growing rapidly, due to various anthropogenic causes. Many endangered species are present in captivity and actively managed in breeding programs in which often little is known about the founder individuals. Recent developments in genetic research techniques have made it possible to sequence and study whole genomes. In this study we used the critically endangered Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons) as a case study to test the use of genomic information as a tool in conservation management. Two captive populations ofS. cebifronsexist, which originated from two different Philippine islands. We found some evidence for a recent split between the two island populations; however all individuals that were sequenced show a similar demographic history. Evidence for both past and recent inbreeding indicated that the founders were at least to some extent related. Together with this, the low level of nucleotide diversity compared to otherSusspecies potentially poses a threat to the viability of the captive populations. In conclusion, genomic techniques answered some important questions about this critically endangered mammal and can be a valuable toolset to inform future conservation management in other species as well.

Conservation of the critically endangered Achondrostoma occidentale (Pisces: Cyprinidae): integrating habitat data in restocking programs to improve population recovery

Gaia Scientia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
D. Mameri ◽  
C. Sousa Santos ◽  
M. F. Magalhães ◽  
J. I. Robalo
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Fish Abundance ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Population Recovery ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Risk Of Extinction

Cyprinid fauna endemic to the Iberian Peninsula is currently facing several human-caused threats which enhance their risk of extinction. The populations of the critically endangered Achondrostoma occidentale, occurring only in three small and intermittent Portuguese river basins, have been reinforced with fish bred ex-situ in order to minimize their risk of extinction. This study aimed to describe the restocking actions conducted and to identify and characterize the summer refugia that should become targets for restoration and further restocking. The results evidence population increments and a high representativeness of younger age classes in the restocked populations. The importance of annual monitoring of fish abundance to assess how the species is coping with the stochastic and deterministic stressors that may eventually compromise its survival is highlighted.

Where have all the sawfishes gone? Perspectives on declines of these Critically Endangered species in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akshay Tanna ◽  
Daniel Fernando ◽  
Ramajeyam Gobiraj ◽  
Buddhi M. Pathirana ◽  
Sahan Thilakaratna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Critically Endangered Species

scholarly journals The Oral Bacterial Community in Melanophryniscus admirabilis (Admirable Red-Belly Toads): Implications for Conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 220
Author(s):  
Michele Bertoni Mann ◽  
Janira Prichula ◽  
Ícaro Maia Santos de Castro ◽  
Juliana Mello Severo ◽  
Michelle Abadie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Bacterial Community ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Personal Genome ◽  
Oral Microbiota ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
Anthropogenic Environment

Melanophryniscus admirabilis (admirable red-belly toad) is a microendemic and critically endangered species found exclusively along 700 m of the Forqueta River, in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. One of the greatest concerns regarding the conservation of this species is the extensive use of pesticides in areas surrounding their natural habitat. In recent years, the adaptation and persistence of animal species in human-impacted environments have been associated with microbiota. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the oral bacterial community of wild M. admirabilis and to address the question of how this community might contribute to this toad’s adaptation in the anthropogenic environment as well as its general metabolic capabilities. A total of 11 oral samples collected from wild M. admirabilis were characterized and analyzed via high-throughput sequencing. Fragments of the 16S rRNA variable region 4 (V4) were amplified, and sequencing was conducted using an Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM) System with 316 chips. A total of 181,350 sequences were obtained, resulting in 16 phyla, 34 classes, 39 orders, and 77 families. Proteobacteria dominated (53%) the oral microbiota of toads, followed by Firmicutes (18%), Bacteroidetes (17%), and Actinobacteria (5%). No significant differences in microbial community profile from among the samples were reported, which suggests that the low dietary diversity observed in this population may directly influence the bacterial composition. Inferences of microbiome function were performed using PICRUSt2 software. Important pathways (e.g., xenobiotic degradation pathways for pesticides and aromatic phenolic compounds) were detected, which suggests that the bacterial communities may serve important roles in M. admirabilis health and survival in the anthropogenic environment. Overall, our results have important implications for the conservation and management of this microendemic and critically endangered species.

scholarly journals High survival rate of a critically endangered species, the Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula murina, as a contribution to population recovery

2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 627-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Monticelli ◽  
Ricardo Ceia ◽  
Ruben Heleno ◽  
Hugo Laborda ◽  
Sergio Timóteo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
High Survival ◽  
Population Recovery ◽  
High Survival Rate ◽  
Critically Endangered Species
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document