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

Budhan Pukazhenthi; Pierre Comizzoli; Alexander J. Travis; David E. Wildt

doi:10.1071/RD05117

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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

Budhan Pukazhenthi ^A ^C ^D , Pierre Comizzoli ^A , Alexander J. Travis ^B and David E. Wildt ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, Conservation and Research Center, Washington, DC 20008, and Front Royal, VA 22630, USA.

^B Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

^C Present address: Department of Reproductive Sciences, Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA.

^D Corresponding author. Email: pukazhenthib@si.edu

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 18(2) 77-90 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD05117
Submitted: 21 September 2005 Accepted: 21 September 2005 Published: 14 December 2005

Abstract

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.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported, in part, by grants from the Friends of the National Zoo (to BP, PC and DEW) and the Morris Animal Foundation and Cornell Feline Health Center (to AJT). PC was supported by a Special Emphasis Career Development award from the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health.

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