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Poquérusse J, Brown CL, Gaillard C, Doughty C, Dalén L, Gallagher AJ, Wooller M, Zimov N, Church GM, Lamm B, Hysolli E. Assessing contemporary Arctic habitat availability for a woolly mammoth proxy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9804. [PMID: 38684726 PMCID: PMC11058768 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60442-7] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Interest continues to grow in Arctic megafaunal ecological engineering, but, since the mass extinction of megafauna ~ 12-15 ka, key physiographic variables and available forage continue to change. Here we sought to assess the extent to which contemporary Arctic ecosystems are conducive to the rewilding of megaherbivores, using a woolly mammoth (M. primigenius) proxy as a model species. We first perform a literature review on woolly mammoth dietary habits. We then leverage Oak Ridge National Laboratories Distributive Active Archive Center Global Aboveground and Belowground Biomass Carbon Density Maps to generate aboveground biomass carbon density estimates in plant functional types consumed by the woolly mammoth at 300 m resolution on Alaska's North Slope. We supplement these analyses with a NASA Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment dataset to downgrade overall biomass estimates to digestible levels. We further downgrade available forage by using a conversion factor representing the relationship between total biomass and net primary productivity (NPP) for arctic vegetation types. Integrating these estimates with the forage needs of woolly mammoths, we conservatively estimate Alaska's North Slope could support densities of 0.0-0.38 woolly mammoth km-2 (mean 0.13) across a variety of habitats. These results may inform innovative rewilding strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Camille Gaillard
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - Chris Doughty
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - Love Dalén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Svante Arrhenius Väg 20C, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Matthew Wooller
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - Nikita Zimov
- North-East Science Station, Pacific Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chersky, Russia
| | - George M Church
- Colossal Biosciences Inc, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ben Lamm
- Colossal Biosciences Inc, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.
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2
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Owe A, Baum SD, Coeckelbergh M. Nonhuman Value: A Survey of the Intrinsic Valuation of Natural and Artificial Nonhuman Entities. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2022; 28:38. [PMID: 36040561 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-022-00388-z] [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: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To be intrinsically valuable means to be valuable for its own sake. Moral philosophy is often ethically anthropocentric, meaning that it locates intrinsic value within humans. This paper rejects ethical anthropocentrism and asks, in what ways might nonhumans be intrinsically valuable? The paper answers this question with a wide-ranging survey of theories of nonhuman intrinsic value. The survey includes both moral subjects and moral objects, and both natural and artificial nonhumans. Literatures from environmental ethics, philosophy of technology, philosophy of art, moral psychology, and related fields are reviewed, and gaps in these literatures are identified. Although the gaps are significant and much work remains to be done, the survey nonetheless demonstrates that those who reject ethical anthropocentrism have considerable resources available to develop their moral views. Given the many very high-stakes issues involving both natural and artificial nonhumans, and the sensitivity of these issues to how nonhumans are intrinsically valued, this is a vital project to pursue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Owe
- Global Catastrophic Risk Institute, New York, USA.
| | - Seth D Baum
- Global Catastrophic Risk Institute, New York, USA
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3
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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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4
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Creating proxies of extinct species: the bioethics of de-extinction. Emerg Top Life Sci 2020; 3:731-735. [PMID: 32915217 DOI: 10.1042/etls20190109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In April 2013 the National Geographic magazine carried the cover title 'Reviving extinct species, we can, but should we?' suggesting that the technical challenges had been met, but some ethical concerns remained unresolved. Seven years later it is clear that this is not the case. Here we consider the technical scope, the uncertainties, and some of the bioethical issues raised by the future prospect of de-extinction. Biodiversity and welfare will not always align, and when a clash is unavoidable, a trade-off will be necessary, seeking the greatest overall value. De-extinction challenges our current conservation mind-set that seeks to preserve the species and population diversity that currently exists. But if we want to sustain and enhance a biodiverse natural world we might have to be forward looking and embrace the notion of bio-novelty by focussing more on ecosystem stability and resilience, rather than backward looking and seeking to try and recreate lost worlds.
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Abeli T, Dalrymple S, Godefroid S, Mondoni A, Müller JV, Rossi G, Orsenigo S. Ex situ collections and their potential for the restoration of extinct plants. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:303-313. [PMID: 31329316 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The alarming current and predicted species extinction rates have galvanized conservationists in their efforts to avoid future biodiversity losses, but for species extinct in the wild, few options exist. We posed the questions, can these species be restored, and, if so, what role can ex situ plant collections (i.e., botanic gardens, germplasm banks, herbaria) play in the recovery of plant genetic diversity? We reviewed the relevant literature to assess the feasibility of recovering lost plant genetic diversity with using ex situ material and the probability of survival of subsequent translocations. Thirteen attempts to recover species extinct in the wild were found, most of which used material preserved in botanic gardens (12) and seed banks (2). One case of a locally extirpated population was recovered from herbarium material. Eight (60%) of these cases were successful or partially successful translocations of the focal species or population; the other 5 failed or it was too early to determine the outcome. Limiting factors of the use of ex situ source material for the restoration of plant genetic diversity in the wild include the scarcity of source material, low viability and reduced longevity of the material, low genetic variation, lack of evolution (especially for material stored in germplasm banks and herbaria), and socioeconomic factors. However, modern collecting practices present opportunities for plant conservation, such as improved collecting protocols and improved cultivation and storage conditions. Our findings suggest that all types of ex situ collections may contribute effectively to plant species conservation if their use is informed by a thorough understanding of the aforementioned problems. We conclude that the recovery of plant species currently classified as extinct in the wild is not 100% successful, and the possibility of successful reintroduction should not be used to justify insufficient in situ conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Abeli
- Department of Science, University of Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, Roma, 00146, Italy
| | - Sarah Dalrymple
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, U.K
| | - Sandrine Godefroid
- Research Department, Botanic Garden Meise, Nieuwelaan 38, Meise, 1860, Belgium
- Service général de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche scientifique, Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, rue A. Lavallée 1, Brussels, 1080, Belgium
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Biogeochemistry, Université libre de Bruxelles, CP 244, Boulevard du Triomphe, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - Andrea Mondoni
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Jonas V Müller
- Millennium Seed Bank, Conservation Science, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, RH17 6TN, West Sussex, U.K
| | - Graziano Rossi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Simone Orsenigo
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100, Pavia, Italy
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Abstract
De-extinction projects for species such as the woolly mammoth and passenger pigeon have greatly stimulated public and scientific interest, producing a large body of literature and much debate. To date, there has been little consistency in descriptions of de-extinction technologies and purposes. In 2016, a special committee of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published a set of guidelines for de-extinction practice, establishing the first detailed description of de-extinction; yet incoherencies in published literature persist. There are even several problems with the IUCN definition. Here I present a comprehensive definition of de-extinction practice and rationale that expounds and reconciles the biological and ecological inconsistencies in the IUCN definition. This new definition brings together the practices of reintroduction and ecological replacement with de-extinction efforts that employ breeding strategies to recover unique extinct phenotypes into a single “de-extinction” discipline. An accurate understanding of de-extinction and biotechnology segregates the restoration of certain species into a new classification of endangerment, removing them from the purview of de-extinction and into the arena of species’ recovery. I term these species as “evolutionarily torpid species”; a term to apply to species falsely considered extinct, which in fact persist in the form of cryopreserved tissues and cultured cells. For the first time in published literature, all currently active de-extinction breeding programs are reviewed and their progress presented. Lastly, I review and scrutinize various topics pertaining to de-extinction in light of the growing body of peer-reviewed literature published since de-extinction breeding programs gained public attention in 2013.
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Dubey S, Dufresnes C. An extinct vertebrate preserved by its living hybridogenetic descendant. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12768. [PMID: 28986535 PMCID: PMC5630569 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12942-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybridogenesis is a special mode of hybrid reproduction where one parental genome is eliminated and the other is transmitted clonally. We propose that this mechanism can perpetuate the genome of extinct species, based on new genetic data from Pelophylax water frogs. We characterized the genetic makeup of Italian hybridogenetic hybrids (P. kl. hispanicus and esculentus) and identified a new endemic lineage of Eastern-Mediterranean origin as one parental ancestor of P. kl. hispanicus. This taxon is nowadays extinct in the wild but its germline subsists through its hybridogenetic descendant, which can thus be considered as a "semi living fossil". Such rare situation calls for realistic efforts of de-extinction through selective breeding without genetic engineering, and fuels the topical controversy of reviving long extinct species. "Ghost" species hidden by taxa of hybrid origin may be more frequent than suspected in vertebrate groups that experienced a strong history of hybridization and semi-sexual reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Dubey
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Hintermann & Weber SA, Rue de l'Eglise-Catholique 9b, 1820, Montreux, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Dufresnes
- Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom.
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8
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Robert A, Fontaine C, Veron S, Monnet AC, Legrand M, Clavel J, Chantepie S, Couvet D, Ducarme F, Fontaine B, Jiguet F, le Viol I, Rolland J, Sarrazin F, Teplitsky C, Mouchet M. Fixism and conservation science. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2017; 31:781-788. [PMID: 27943401 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The field of biodiversity conservation has recently been criticized as relying on a fixist view of the living world in which existing species constitute at the same time targets of conservation efforts and static states of reference, which is in apparent disagreement with evolutionary dynamics. We reviewed the prominent role of species as conservation units and the common benchmark approach to conservation that aims to use past biodiversity as a reference to conserve current biodiversity. We found that the species approach is justified by the discrepancy between the time scales of macroevolution and human influence and that biodiversity benchmarks are based on reference processes rather than fixed reference states. Overall, we argue that the ethical and theoretical frameworks underlying conservation research are based on macroevolutionary processes, such as extinction dynamics. Current species, phylogenetic, community, and functional conservation approaches constitute short-term responses to short-term human effects on these reference processes, and these approaches are consistent with evolutionary principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Robert
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Colin Fontaine
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Simon Veron
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Christine Monnet
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Marine Legrand
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Joanne Clavel
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Chantepie
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Denis Couvet
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Ducarme
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Benoît Fontaine
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Jiguet
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle le Viol
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Jonathan Rolland
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - François Sarrazin
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Céline Teplitsky
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175, Campus CNRS, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier, cedex 5, France
| | - Maud Mouchet
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
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Abstract
One interesting feature of de-extinction-particularly with respect to long-extinct species such as the passenger pigeon, thylacine, and mammoth-is that it does not fit neatly into the primary rationales for adopting novel ecosystem-management and species-conservation technologies and strategies: efficiency and necessity. The efficiency rationale is that the new technology or strategy enables conservation biologists to do what they already do more effectively. Why should researchers embrace novel information technologies? Because they allow scientists to better track, monitor, map, aggregate, and analyze species behaviors, biological systems, and human-environment interactions. This enables better decision-making about how to protect species, which areas to conserve, and how to reduce anthropogenic impacts on ecological systems. Many projects in conservation genomics are justified in this way. But de-extinction is not a more efficient or necessary means to some conservation aim that is already recognized as acceptable or important. In fact, because it is focused on reconstituting approximations of nonexistent species, rather than maintaining extant ones, the social and ethical assessment of de-extinction is not limited to asking whether it is a good means. We can ask as well whether de-extinction is a worthwhile "conservation" goal in the first place.
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10
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Desalle R, Amato G. Conservation Genetics, Precision Conservation, and De-extinction. Hastings Cent Rep 2017; 47 Suppl 2:S18-S23. [DOI: 10.1002/hast.747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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11
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Time to Spread Your Wings: A Review of the Avian Ancient DNA Field. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8070184. [PMID: 28718817 PMCID: PMC5541317 DOI: 10.3390/genes8070184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Ancient DNA (aDNA) has the ability to inform the evolutionary history of both extant and extinct taxa; however, the use of aDNA in the study of avian evolution is lacking in comparison to other vertebrates, despite birds being one of the most species-rich vertebrate classes. Here, we review the field of “avian ancient DNA” by summarising the past three decades of literature on this topic. Most studies over this time have used avian aDNA to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and clarify taxonomy based on the sequencing of a few mitochondrial loci, but recent studies are moving toward using a comparative genomics approach to address developmental and functional questions. Applying aDNA analysis with more practical outcomes in mind (such as managing conservation) is another increasingly popular trend among studies that utilise avian aDNA, but the majority of these have yet to influence management policy. We find that while there have been advances in extracting aDNA from a variety of avian substrates including eggshell, feathers, and coprolites, there is a bias in the temporal focus; the majority of the ca. 150 studies reviewed here obtained aDNA from late Holocene (100–1000 yBP) material, with few studies investigating Pleistocene-aged material. In addition, we identify and discuss several other issues within the field that require future attention. With more than one quarter of Holocene bird extinctions occurring in the last several hundred years, it is more important than ever to understand the mechanisms driving the evolution and extinction of bird species through the use of aDNA.
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12
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Burgio KR, Carlson CJ, Tingley MW. Lazarus ecology: Recovering the distribution and migratory patterns of the extinct Carolina parakeet. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:5467-5475. [PMID: 28770082 PMCID: PMC5528215 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of the ecology and natural history of species has traditionally ceased when a species goes extinct, despite the benefit to current and future generations of potential findings. We used the extinct Carolina parakeet as a case study to develop a framework investigating the distributional limits, subspecific variation, and migratory habits of this species as a means to recover important information about recently extinct species. We united historical accounts with museum collections to develop an exhaustive, comprehensive database of every known occurrence of this once iconic species. With these data, we combined species distribution models and ordinal niche comparisons to confront multiple conjectured hypotheses about the parakeet's ecology with empirical data on where and when this species occurred. Our results demonstrate that the Carolina parakeet's range was likely much smaller than previously believed, that the eastern and western subspecies occupied different climatic niches with broad geographical separation, and that the western subspecies was likely a seasonal migrant while the eastern subspecies was not. This study highlights the novelty and importance of collecting occurrence data from published observations on extinct species, providing a starting point for future investigations of the factors that drove the Carolina parakeet to extinction. Moreover, the recovery of lost autecological knowledge could benefit the conservation of other parrot species currently in decline and would be crucial to the success of potential de‐extinction efforts for the Carolina parakeet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R Burgio
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
| | - Colin J Carlson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California Berkeley CA USA
| | - Morgan W Tingley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
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13
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Seddon
- Department of Zoology University of Otago PO Box 56 Dunedin9015 New Zealand
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14
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15
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16
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Wood JR, Perry GLW, Wilmshurst JM. Using palaeoecology to determine baseline ecological requirements and interaction networks for de‐extinction candidate species. Funct Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie R. Wood
- Long‐term Ecology Lab Landcare Research PO Box 69040 Lincoln7640 New Zealand
| | - George L. W. Perry
- School of Environment The University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland1142 New Zealand
| | - Janet M. Wilmshurst
- Long‐term Ecology Lab Landcare Research PO Box 69040 Lincoln7640 New Zealand
- School of Environment The University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland1142 New Zealand
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17
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18
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J. Richmond
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics Natural History Museum of Denmark University of Copenhagen Øster Voldgade 5–7 1350 Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Mikkel‐Holger S. Sinding
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics Natural History Museum of Denmark University of Copenhagen Øster Voldgade 5–7 1350 Copenhagen Denmark
- Natural History Museum University of Oslo P.O. Box 1172 Blindern NO‐0318 Oslo Norway
| | - M. Thomas P. Gilbert
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics Natural History Museum of Denmark University of Copenhagen Øster Voldgade 5–7 1350 Copenhagen Denmark
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory Department of Environment and Agriculture Curtin University Perth WA 6102 Australia
- NTNU University Museum NO‐7491 Trondheim Norway
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19
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Robert
- UMR 7204 MNHN‐CNRS‐UPMC Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 43, Rue Buffon 75005 Paris France
| | - Charles Thévenin
- UMR 7204 MNHN‐CNRS‐UPMC Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 43, Rue Buffon 75005 Paris France
| | - Karine Princé
- UMR 7204 MNHN‐CNRS‐UPMC Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 43, Rue Buffon 75005 Paris France
| | - François Sarrazin
- UPMC Univ Paris 06 Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle CNRS CESCO UMR 7204 Sorbonne Universités 75005 Paris France
| | - Joanne Clavel
- UMR 7204 MNHN‐CNRS‐UPMC Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 43, Rue Buffon 75005 Paris France
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Pauli JN, Moss WE, Manlick PJ, Fountain ED, Kirby R, Sultaire SM, Perrig PL, Mendoza JE, Pokallus JW, Heaton TH. Examining the uncertain origin and management role of martens on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2015; 29:1257-1267. [PMID: 25855043 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Conservation biologists are generally united in efforts to curtail the spread of non-native species globally. However, the colonization history of a species is not always certain, and whether a species is considered non-native or native depends on the conservation benchmark. Such ambiguities have led to inconsistent management. Within the Tongass National Forest of Alaska, the status of American marten (Martes americana) on the largest, most biologically diverse and deforested island, Prince of Wales (POW), is unclear. Ten martens were released to POW in the early 1930s, and it was generally believed to be the founding event, although this has been questioned. The uncertainty surrounding when and how martens colonized POW complicates management, especially because martens were selected as a design species for the Tongass. To explore the history of martens of POW we reviewed other plausible routes of colonization; genetically and isotopically analyzed putative marten fossils deposited in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene to verify marten occupancy of POW; and used contemporary genetic data from martens on POW and the mainland in coalescent simulations to identify the probable source of the present-day marten population on POW. We found evidence for multiple routes of colonization by forest-associated mammals beginning in the Holocene, which were likely used by American martens to naturally colonize POW. Although we cannot rule out human-assisted movement of martens by Alaskan Natives or fur trappers, we suggest that martens be managed for persistence on POW. More generally, our findings illustrate the difficulty of labeling species as non-native or native, even when genetic and paleo-ecological data are available, and support the notion that community resilience or species invasiveness should be prioritized when making management decisions rather than more subjective and less certain conservation benchmarks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan N Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - Wynne E Moss
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - Philip J Manlick
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - Emily D Fountain
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - Rebecca Kirby
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - Sean M Sultaire
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - Paula L Perrig
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - Jorge E Mendoza
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - John W Pokallus
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, U.S.A
| | - Timothy H Heaton
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 57069, U.S.A
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Wilder BT, Betancourt JL, Epps CW, Crowhurst RS, Mead JI, Ezcurra E. Local extinction and unintentional rewilding of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) on a desert island. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91358. [PMID: 24646515 PMCID: PMC3960132 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were not known to live on Tiburón Island, the largest island in the Gulf of California and Mexico, prior to the surprisingly successful introduction of 20 individuals as a conservation measure in 1975. Today, a stable island population of ∼500 sheep supports limited big game hunting and restocking of depleted areas on the Mexican mainland. We discovered fossil dung morphologically similar to that of bighorn sheep in a dung mat deposit from Mojet Cave, in the mountains of Tiburón Island. To determine the origin of this cave deposit we compared pellet shape to fecal pellets of other large mammals, and extracted DNA to sequence mitochondrial DNA fragments at the 12S ribosomal RNA and control regions. The fossil dung was 14C-dated to 1476-1632 calendar years before present and was confirmed as bighorn sheep by morphological and ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis. 12S sequences closely or exactly matched known bighorn sheep sequences; control region sequences exactly matched a haplotype described in desert bighorn sheep populations in southwest Arizona and southern California and showed subtle differentiation from the extant Tiburón population. Native desert bighorn sheep previously colonized this land-bridge island, most likely during the Pleistocene, when lower sea levels connected Tiburón to the mainland. They were extirpated sometime in the last ∼1500 years, probably due to inherent dynamics of isolated populations, prolonged drought, and (or) human overkill. The reintroduced population is vulnerable to similar extinction risks. The discovery presented here refutes conventional wisdom that bighorn sheep are not native to Tiburón Island, and establishes its recent introduction as an example of unintentional rewilding, defined here as the introduction of a species without knowledge that it was once native and has since gone locally extinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T. Wilder
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Julio L. Betancourt
- National Research Program, Water Mission Area, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Clinton W. Epps
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Rachel S. Crowhurst
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Jim I. Mead
- Department of Geosciences, and Sundquist Center of Excellence in Paleontology, East Tennessee University, Johnson City, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Exequiel Ezcurra
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
- University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC MEXUS), Riverside, California, United States of America
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