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Mooney A, Ryder OA, Houck ML, Staerk J, Conde DA, Buckley YM. Maximizing the potential for living cell banks to contribute to global conservation priorities. Zoo Biol 2023; 42:697-708. [PMID: 37283210 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Although cryobanking represents a powerful conservation tool, a lack of standardized information on the species represented in global cryobanks, and inconsistent prioritization of species for future sampling, hinder the conservation potential of cryobanking, resulting in missed conservation opportunities. We analyze the representation of amphibian, bird, mammal, and reptile species within the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Frozen Zoo® living cell collection (as of April 2019) and implement a qualitative framework for the prioritization of species for future sampling. We use global conservation assessment schemes (including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species™, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Alliance for Zero Extinction, the EDGE of Existence, and Climate Change Vulnerability), and opportunities for sample acquisition from the global zoo and aquarium community, to identify priority species for cryobanking. We show that 965 species, including 5% of all IUCN Red List "Threatened" amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles, were represented in the collection and that sampling from within existing zoo and aquarium collections could increase representation to 16.6% (by sampling an additional 707 "Threatened" species). High-priority species for future cryobanking efforts include the whooping crane (Grus americana), crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), and Siberian crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus). Each of these species are listed under every conservation assessment scheme and have ex situ populations available for sampling. We also provide species prioritizations based on subsets of these assessment schemes together with sampling opportunities from the global zoo and aquarium community. We highlight the difficulties in obtaining in situ samples, and encourage the formation of a global cryobanking database together with the establishment of new cryobanks in biodiversity-rich regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Mooney
- Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Natural Sciences, Zoology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Beckman Center for Conservation Research, Escondido, California, USA
| | - Marlys L Houck
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Beckman Center for Conservation Research, Escondido, California, USA
| | - Johanna Staerk
- Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Dalia A Conde
- Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Yvonne M Buckley
- School of Natural Sciences, Zoology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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Smith D, Abeli T, Bruns EB, Dalrymple SE, Foster J, Gilbert TC, Hogg CJ, Lloyd NA, Meyer A, Moehrenschlager A, Murrell O, Rodriguez JP, Smith PP, Terry A, Ewen JG. Extinct in the wild: The precarious state of Earth's most threatened group of species. Science 2023; 379:eadd2889. [PMID: 36821678 DOI: 10.1126/science.add2889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Extinct in the Wild (EW) species are placed at the highest risk of extinction under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, but the extent and variation in this risk have never been evaluated. Harnessing global databases of ex situ animal and plant holdings, we report on the perilous state of EW species. Most EW animal species-already compromised by their small number of founders-are maintained at population sizes far below the thresholds necessary to ensure demographic security. Most EW plant species depend on live propagation by a small number of botanic gardens, with a minority secured at seed bank institutions. Both extinctions and recoveries are possible fates for EW species. We urgently call for international effort to enable the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donal Smith
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Thomas Abeli
- Department of Science, University of Roma Tre, Roma, Italy
- IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group, Calgary, Canada
| | - Emily Beckman Bruns
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International-US, San Marino, CA, USA
- Chicago Botanic Gardens, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sarah E Dalrymple
- IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group, Calgary, Canada
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jeremy Foster
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International-US, San Marino, CA, USA
- Chicago Botanic Gardens, Chicago, IL, USA
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Tania C Gilbert
- IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group, Calgary, Canada
- Marwell Wildlife, Hampshire, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group, Calgary, Canada
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Natasha A Lloyd
- IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group, Calgary, Canada
- Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo, Calgary, Canada
| | - Abby Meyer
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International-US, San Marino, CA, USA
| | - Axel Moehrenschlager
- IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group, Calgary, Canada
- Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Olivia Murrell
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International-US, San Marino, CA, USA
- Chicago Botanic Gardens, Chicago, IL, USA
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Jon Paul Rodriguez
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela
- Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, and Provita, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Paul P Smith
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Surrey, UK
| | | | - John G Ewen
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
- IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group, Calgary, Canada
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Fischer B, Pempek J, George KA, Flint J, Wittum T, Flint M. Using ecosystem health and welfare assessments to determine impacts of wild collection for public aquariums. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285198. [PMID: 37130145 PMCID: PMC10153729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems are currently facing a multitude of stressors from anthropogenic impacts, including climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Public aquariums positively contribute to ecosystems through conservation, education, and scientific advancement; but may also negatively detract from these systems through collection of animals from the wild and sourcing from commercial suppliers. Changes within the industry have occurred, although evidence-based assessments of 1) how aquariums collect and maintain their populations to determine sustainability of the environment they have harvested; and 2) the welfare of these harvested animals once within the aquariums are still needed. The objectives of this study were to assess the ecosystem health of locations aquariums frequently visit to collect fish from the wild, and then evaluate the wellbeing of fishes at aquariums after extended periods in captivity. Assessments included use of chemical, physical, and biological indicators at field sites, and use of a quantitative welfare assessment at aquariums for comparison to species reared through aquaculture. Anthropogenic pressures at field sites were observed, but no evidence of high degradation or compromised health of animals were found. Welfare assessments of aquarium exhibit tanks produced high-positive scores overall (> 70/84), demonstrating that both wild collected (avg. score 78.8) and aquaculture fishes (avg. score 74.5) were coping appropriately within their environments. Although findings indicated that fish can be taken from the wild at low-moderate rates without any deleterious impact on the environment and cope equally well in aquarium settings, alternatives such as aquaculture should be considered as a strategy to reduce pressure on known stressed aquatic environments or where significant numbers of fishes are being taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Fischer
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jessica Pempek
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kelly Ann George
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jaylene Flint
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Thomas Wittum
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Mark Flint
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
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Quek ZBR, Ng JY, Jain SS, Long JXS, Lim SC, Tun K, Huang D. Low genetic diversity and predation threaten a rediscovered marine sponge. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22499. [PMID: 36577798 PMCID: PMC9797562 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26970-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Discovered in 1819 in the tropical waters off Singapore, the magnificent Neptune's cup sponge Cliona patera (Hardwicke, 1820) was harvested for museums and collectors until it was presumed extinct worldwide for over a century since 1907. Recently in 2011, seven living individuals were rediscovered in Singapore with six relocated to a marine protected area in an effort to better monitor and protect the population, as well as to enhance external fertilisation success. To determine genetic diversity within the population, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA of these six individuals and found extremely limited variability in their genes. The low genetic diversity of this rediscovered population is confirmed by comparisons with close relatives of C. patera and could compromise the population's ability to recover from environmental and anthropogenic pressures associated with the highly urbanised coastlines of Singapore. This lack of resilience is compounded by severe predation which has been shrinking sponge sizes by up to 5.6% every month. Recovery of this highly endangered population may require ex situ approaches and crossbreeding with other populations, which are also rare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z. B. Randolph Quek
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Juat Ying Ng
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.467827.80000 0004 0620 8814National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sudhanshi S. Jain
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - J. X. Sean Long
- grid.462738.c0000 0000 9091 4551Republic Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Swee Cheng Lim
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Karenne Tun
- grid.467827.80000 0004 0620 8814National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Danwei Huang
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Centre for Nature-Based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Taskin M, Ajmi N, Bagci K, Yurddas E, Suzer B, Altun S, Duman M. The common guitarfish Rhinobatos rhinobatos: A descriptive anatomical study and proposed dissection techniques. Anat Histol Embryol 2022; 51:818-822. [PMID: 36065565 DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) is an endangered species and included in the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature as "critically endangered, cr." Although guitarfish are displayed and protected in public aquaria, only limited information is available on the external and internal anatomy of this species and dissection methods applicable to it. In this study, common guitarfish kept in a public aquarium were dissected with an appropriate method and the internal and external organs of the fish were identified. The general examination of the external organs showed that the animals had the typical anatomical structure of guitarfish. The internal organs, including the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, gall bladder, epigonal organ, testicles, brain, cerebellum, optic lobes and heart were also observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Taskin
- Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Nihed Ajmi
- Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Kemal Bagci
- Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Ece Yurddas
- Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Bayram Suzer
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Soner Altun
- Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Muhammed Duman
- Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
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Colin L, Abed-Navandi D, Conde DA, Craggs J, da Silva R, Janse M, Källström B, Pearce-Kelly A, Yesson C. What's left in the tank? Identification of non-ascribed aquarium's coral collections with DNA barcodes as part of an integrated diagnostic approach. CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2022; 14:167-182. [PMID: 35035629 PMCID: PMC8750641 DOI: 10.1007/s12686-021-01250-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The unprecedented threats to coral reef ecosystems from global climate change require an urgent response from the aquarium community, which is becoming an increasingly vital coral conservation resource. Unfortunately, many hermatypic corals in aquaria are not identified to species level, which hinders assessment of their conservation significance. Traditional methods of species identification using morphology can be challenging, especially to non-taxonomists. DNA barcoding is an option for species identification of Scleractinian corals, especially when used in concert with morphology-based assessment. This study uses DNA barcodes to try to identify aquarium specimens of the diverse reef-forming genus Acropora from 127 samples. We identified to our best current knowledge, to species name 44% of the analysed samples and provided provisional identification for 80% of them (101/127, in the form of a list of species names with associate confidence values). We highlighted a sampling bias in public nucleotide sequences repertories (e.g. GenBank) towards more charismatic and more studied species, even inside a well-studied genus like Acropora. In addition, we showed a potential "single observer" effect with over a quarter of the reference sequences used for these identifications coming from the same study. We propose the use of barcoding and query matching as an additional tool for taxonomic experts and general aquarists, as an additional tool to increase their chances of making high confidence species-level identifications. We produce a standardised and easily repeatable methodology to increase the capacity of aquariums and other facilities to assess non-ascribed species, emphasising the value of integrating this approach with morphological identification optimising usage of authoritative identification guides and expert opinion. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12686-021-01250-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Colin
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY UK
| | - Daniel Abed-Navandi
- Haus des Meeres—Aqua Terra Zoo, Fritz Gruenbaum Platz 1, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Dalia A. Conde
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics (CPop), Biology Department, University of Southern Denmark, Syddansk Universitet, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
- Conservation Science Alliance, Species360, 7900 International Drive, Suite 1040, Bloomington, MN 55425 USA
| | - Jamie Craggs
- Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ UK
| | - Rita da Silva
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics (CPop), Biology Department, University of Southern Denmark, Syddansk Universitet, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Max Janse
- Royal Burgers’ Zoo, Antoon van Hooffplein 1, 6816 SH Arnhem, the Netherlands
| | - Björn Källström
- Maritime Museum and Aquarium, Karl Johansgatan 1–3, 41459 Göteborg, Sweden
| | | | - Chris Yesson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY UK
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