Valuation of Species Preservation

Against a backdrop of increasing species imperilment, there is considerable empirical evidence that preserving threatened, endangered, and rare (TER) species provides significant economic benefits to society. But efforts to measure these benefits has generated both strong methodological and philosophical criticisms. Since the 1960s, economists have developed a battery of nonmarket valuation approaches for estimating economic values associated with changes in the quantity or quality of environmental goods and services. This battery includes both revealed preference and stated preference (SP) approaches (including the contingent valuation [CV] method), with only the latter capable of providing willingness to pay (WTP) estimates for nonuse values. The total economic value of TER species preservation can include nonconsumptive use values (e.g., wildlife watching), and may be especially composed of nonuse values (e.g., based on existence value motivations). By the early 1980s, applied CV studies focusing on TER species preservation had begun to accumulate. Early research centered in the United States. By the mid-1990s the first statistical meta-analysis of TER species NMV studies was completed, and was then updated a dozen years later. These metaregression functions facilitated potential benefit transfers, where the systematic structure of prior original studies could be used to estimate WTP values for a TER species in another setting (absent an original study). Since roughly 2010, the use of choice experiments as an alternative SP approach expanded rapidly. Likewise, the accumulation of additional SP studies generated new summary reviews and meta-analyses, including applications from both developed and developing countries, and expanded benefit transfer opportunities. Going forward, new studies will lead to updated meta-analyses, with additional statistical and theoretical sophistication. Critiques targeted to SP approaches (e.g., with respect to hypothetical bias and nonuse value motivations) will likely remain, and further validity testing and methods development are called for. However, from a pragmatic perspective, persistent efforts at quantification continue to help make the benefits of TER species preservation visible in the face of rapidly increasing species imperilment.

Insights into Species Preservation: Cryobanking of Rabbit Somatic and Pluripotent Stem Cells

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are obtained by genetically reprogramming adult somatic cells via the overexpression of specific pluripotent genes. The resulting cells possess the same differentiation properties as blastocyst-stage embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and can be used to produce new individuals by embryonic complementation, nuclear transfer cloning, or in vitro fertilization after differentiation into male or female gametes. Therefore, iPSCs are highly valuable for preserving biodiversity and, together with somatic cells, can enlarge the pool of reproductive samples for cryobanking. In this study, we subjected rabbit iPSCs (rbiPSCs) and rabbit ear tissues to several cryopreservation conditions with the aim of defining safe and non-toxic slow-freezing protocols. We compared a commercial synthetic medium (STEM ALPHA.CRYO3) with a biological medium based on fetal bovine serum (FBS) together with low (0–5%) and high (10%) concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Our data demonstrated the efficacy of a CRYO3-based medium containing 4% DMSO for the cryopreservation of skin tissues and rbiPSCs. Specifically, this medium provided similar or even better biological results than the commonly used freezing medium composed of FBS and 10% DMSO. The results of this study therefore represent an encouraging first step towards the use of iPSCs for species preservation.

Differences and Similarities: The Richness of Comparative Sperm Physiology

Species preservation depends on the success of fertilization. Sperm are uniquely equipped to fulfill this task, and, although several mechanisms are conserved among species, striking functional differences have evolved to contend with particular sperm-egg environmental characteristics. This review highlights similarities and differences in sperm strategies, with examples within internal and external fertilizers, pointing out unresolved issues.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF TULIPA SUAVEOLENS ROTH POPULATIONS IN VOLGOGRAD PROVINCE

Background. The current natural habitat of Tulipa suaveolens Roth rapidly decreases. In order to work out the strategy of the species’ preservation, evaluation of its intraand interpopulation polymorphism is required.Materials and methods. Molecular-genetic ISSR markers were used to analyze 125 samples from 10 populations of T. suaveolens occurring in Volgograd Province and 4 populations from Saratov Province.Results. ISSR analysis revealed high intrapopulation polymorphism (73–89%) in T. suaveolens populations form Volgograd Province. AMOVA attributed the largest proportion of variability (74.3%) to intrapopulation polymorphism. Interpopulation differences account for 25.7%. Total subdivision of populations (FST) was 0.257; total gene flow (Nm) between populations was 0.723. According to Bayesian analysis and clustering with both UPGMA and Neighbor Joining methods, all the studied T. suaveolens samples from Volgograd Province make up a large genetic group: within that group none of the potential subgroups may be associated with a particular place of collecting. The NewHybrids software was applied, and the results pointed to the hybrid nature of most samples. Samples of three populations from Saratov Province made up a separate genetic group; those samples fell under the category of parent forms.Conclusion. Considering that genetic subdivision of T. suaveolens populations within the administrative borders of Volgograd Province is insignificant, while all the province’s natural parks and a number of protected natural areas undertake measures to preserve the species, the existing conservation strategy may be recognized as effective and sufficient.

KESESUAIAN DAERAH PENANGKAPAN RAJUNGAN (Portunus pelagicus) MENGGUNAKAN ANALISIS SPASIAL PARAMETER LINGKUNGAN DAN HASIL TANGKAPAN DI PULAU LANCANG

The blue swimming crab in the waters of Lancang Island is indicated as being overfished. Hence, the major challenge is managing its utilization in a proper manner. The purpose of this study is to explore the water's characteristics which is suitable for blue swimming crab fishing. Accordingly, the potential fishing ground around Lancang Island waters can be mapped spatially as an initial effort for species preservation. Geospatial analysis was applied to assess the physical parameters of the existing habitat. The results show that parameters such as MPT, TDS, brightness, phosphate, nitrate, depth and substrate types were remarkably suitable to support the growth of blue swimming crabs. Meanwhile, parameters such as salinity, DO, and temperature show lower quality which implied that the habitat is less suitable. However, the result of weighting and reclassification conclude that Lancang island waters is a decent habitat for blue swimming crab. Catch data show that 40% blue swimming crabs have small carapace size (7-11.83 cm) which is undersized and prohibited by law. Furthermore, about 68% of catch are quite light (30-147 gr) and the sex ratio of males to females was 1:2. It was also revealed that approximately 35% of female species were carrying eggs (BEF/barried female). Keywords: geospatial, fishing ground, suitability, Lancang Island, blue swimming crab.

From Catastrophe to Recovery: Stories of Fishery Management Success

<i>Abstract</i>.—The Owens Pupfish <i>Cyprinodon radiosus</i> is a small fish (<6 cm [2.5 in]) in the killifish family once thought extinct but rediscovered in the early 1960s in Fish Slough in the Death Valley drainage area of eastern California, USA. At the time of discovery, the species was comprised of a single population of approximately 200 individuals. The species was listed as endangered on March 11, 1967 under the U.S. Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966. During the summer of 1969, a spring that was feeding water to Fish Slough was discovered to have much reduced flow due to unusual precipitation patterns the previous 6 months and possibly water removals, and thus threatened complete extinction of the species. Quick actions by fish biologists prevented extinction by transporting the entire species in two buckets to nearby refuge waters similar to Fish Slough. The transplantation was successful, and six populations now exist 50 years later that each number from the hundreds to perhaps more than 10,000 fish. The species remains listed as endangered—but it did not go extinct!

Range extension to Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province and revised distribution of Platyrrhinus chocoensis (Phyllostomidae: Chiroptera) in western Ecuador

We report the first record of the Choco broad-nosed bat (Plathyrrhinus chocoensis Alberico & Velazco, 1991) in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province in northwestern Ecuador. This voucher specimen represents the southernmost record of the species and expands its distribution ca. 120 km south. The animal was caught at a farm, specifically in a live fence consisting of several tree species. Preservation of bat species occurring in agricultural landscapes requires local policies and environmental education.