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Biasetti P, Hildebrandt TB, Göritz F, Hermes R, Holtze S, Stejskal J, Galli C, Pollastri I, Muzzo A, Lekolool I, Ndereeh D, Omondi P, Kariuki L, Mijele D, Mutisya S, Ngulu S, de Mori B. Application of decision tools to ethical analysis in biodiversity conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14029. [PMID: 36317722 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Achieving ethically responsible decisions is crucial for the success of biodiversity conservation projects. We adapted the ethical matrix, decision tree, and Bateson's cube to assist in the ethical analysis of complex conservation scenarios by structuring these tools so that they can implement the different value dimensions (environmental, social, and animal welfare) involved in conservation ethics. We then applied them to a case study relative to the decision-making process regarding whether or not to continue collecting biomaterial on the oldest of the two remaining northern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), a functionally extinct subspecies of the white rhinoceros. We used the ethical matrix to gather ethical pros and cons and as a starting point for a participatory approach to ethical decision-making. We used decision trees to compare the different options at stake on the basis of a set of ethical desiderata. We used Bateson's cube to establish a threshold of ethical acceptability and model the results of a simple survey. The application of these tools proved to be pivotal in structuring the decision-making process and in helping reach a shared, reasoned, and transparent decision on the best option from an ethical point of view among those available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierfrancesco Biasetti
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, Padua University, Padua, Italy
| | - Thomas B Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Göritz
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Hermes
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, Králové nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pollastri
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, Padua University, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Alessia Muzzo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | | | - David Ndereeh
- Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Karagita, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Barbara de Mori
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare, Padua University, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
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Muzzo A, Pollastri I, Biasetti P, Vogt G, Manenti R, de Mori B. Ethical reasoning and participatory approach towards achieving regulatory processes for animal-visitor interactions (AVIs) in South Africa. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282507. [PMID: 36877684 PMCID: PMC9987795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
South Africa's wide range of animal facilities offers many different types of Animal-Visitor Interactions, wild animal encounters where animals and visitors come closer than in normal circumstances. The aim of this study was to provide a map of the ethically relevant aspects involved in AVIs in South Africa as a first step towards regulating these activities. A participative approach based on the ethical matrix, a tool which organizes the ethical standings of the stakeholders by three bearing ethical principles (wellbeing, autonomy, fairness), was applied. The matrix was populated through a top-down approach and refined by engaging stakeholders in a workshop and two online self-administrated surveys. The outcome is a map of the value demands concerning Animal Visitor Interactions. This map shows how the ethical acceptability of AVIs is linked to different relevant issues like animal welfare, education, biodiversity conservation, sustainability, human competency, facility mission, impact on scientific research and socio-economic outcomes. In addition, results highlighted the importance of cooperation among stakeholders and suggested that attention for animal welfare can inform decision making and inspire a multidisciplinary approach in implementing a regulatory frame for South African wildlife facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Muzzo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pollastri
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- * E-mail: (IP); (RM); (BM)
| | - Pierfrancesco Biasetti
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gregory Vogt
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- Conservation Guardians, Shongweni Nature Reserve, Kwa Zulu Natal, Outer West Durban, South Africa
| | - Raoul Manenti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail: (IP); (RM); (BM)
| | - Barbara de Mori
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- * E-mail: (IP); (RM); (BM)
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Biasetti P, Hildebrandt TB, Göritz F, Hermes R, Holtze S, Galli C, Lazzari G, Colleoni S, Pollastri I, Spiriti MM, Stejskal J, Seet S, Zwilling J, Ngulu S, Mutisya S, Kariuki L, Lokolool I, Omondo P, Ndeereh D, de Mori B. Ethical Analysis of the Application of Assisted Reproduction Technologies in Biodiversity Conservation and the Case of White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) Ovum Pick-Up Procedures. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:831675. [PMID: 35591869 PMCID: PMC9113018 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.831675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Originally applied on domestic and lab animals, assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) have also found application in conservation breeding programs, where they can make the genetic management of populations more efficient, and increase the number of individuals per generation. However, their application in wildlife conservation opens up new ethical scenarios that have not yet been fully explored. This study presents a frame for the ethical analysis of the application of ART procedures in conservation based on the Ethical Matrix (EM), and discusses a specific case study—ovum pick-up (OPU) procedures performed in the current conservation efforts for the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni)—providing a template for the assessment of ART procedures in projects involving other endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierfrancesco Biasetti
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- *Correspondence: Pierfrancesco Biasetti
| | - Thomas B. Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany
- Thomas B. Hildebrandt
| | - Frank Göritz
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Hermes
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cesare Galli
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, Italy
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, Italy
| | - Silvia Colleoni
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pollastri
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Maria Michela Spiriti
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Jan Stejskal
- ZOO Dvůr Králové, Dvůr Králové nad Labem, Czechia
| | - Steven Seet
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Zwilling
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Barbara de Mori
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
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Jussila J, Edsman L, Maguire I, Diéguez-Uribeondo J, Theissinger K. Money Kills Native Ecosystems: European Crayfish as an Example. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.648495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Native European crayfish conservation was triggered by invasion of crayfish plague disease agent, Aphanomyces astaci, starting 1860s in Northern Italy. Resulting crayfish plague epidemics quickly spread over Continental Europe, then to Finland, Sweden and finally, after running amok around Europe, A. astaci was discovered also in Iberian Peninsula, Norway, Ireland, and United Kingdom in 1970s and 1980s. By that time significant proportion of native crayfish stocks had been lost, and while crayfish plague epidemics were still recorded, also industrialization and waterways construction were causing damage to remaining native crayfish stocks. While alien crayfish introductions, at least Faxonius limosus, already gave rise to first wave of crayfish plague epidemics in late 19th century, later in 1960s it was decided that introductions of alien Pacifastacus leniusculus should be initiated to replace native European crayfish populations. Decisions were based on presumed advantages for fishery, suitable habitat requirements and supposed immunity against A. astaci. Furthermore, conservation of native European crayfish species was sidelined and focus shifted toward alien crayfish stocking routine and consumption. Alien crayfish species introductions resulted in repeated waves of crayfish plague epidemics among remaining native crayfish stocks. It was soon discovered that alien crayfish of North American origin were, as suspected, permanent reservoirs for A. astaci, that some of those alien species were losing their resistance against selected strains of A. astaci and struggled in European aquatic ecosystems. In this article, we introduce numerous motives behind grand mistake of introducing alien crayfish species to Europe and then promoting their stocks instead of focusing on conservation of native crayfish species. We outline how false economical, biological and ecologic assumptions were used to justify a hasty introduction of alien crayfish, which has further devastated native crayfish and also permanently changed European aquatic ecosystems, both with disastrous consequences. Lesson to be learnt is that science-based warnings about alien species damage to native ecosystems and native crayfish must be taken with utmost caution. Protection of native European crayfish should be core issue, not commercial activities. Finally, we summarize main threats and actions needed to protect remaining native freshwater crayfish fauna in Europe.
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