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PubMed1986

[A special comparative pathology].

In twenty-nine years, teaching of the subject 'Nosology of Exotic Animals' has acquired a specific content and taken on a structural form. A sort of 'clinical pathology' developed, which yielded many fruits. The Department of Nosology of Exotic Animals stood up for the conservation of animals in danger of becoming extinct by stimulating breeding of these animals. Various methods are used in comparative nosology. Not only clinical processes but also species of animals and pathological reaction patterns are compared. As regards education, an approach from the point of view of pathology is essential for the time being in transmitting the understanding of processes of disease, based on morbid-anatomical and patho-biological findings. Future scientific developments are mainly anticipated in teaching on the subject of small companion animals, knowledge of the nosology of laboratory animals, animals in zoological gardens and those living in the wild. Studies will be partly on research level; they will, however, take the form of setting up special projects wherever possible.

Animal Population Groups↗
PubMed2005

Environmental stochasticity in dispersal areas can explain the "mysterious" disappearance of breeding populations.

We present the results of an individual-based simulation model, showing that increasing the mortality of non-breeding dispersers within settlement areas can lead to the extinction of species and (meta)populations in a subtle way. This is because the areas where dispersers settle are generally unknown or difficult to detect. Consequently, fewer efforts are devoted to the conservation of these sites than to the conservation of breeding territories. Additionally, high mortality rates affecting the floater sector of a population become evident in the breeding sector only after several of years, when it is too difficult or too late to halt the decline. As a result, because most conservation projects on endangered species and populations mainly focus on breeding areas, many current efforts may be wasted in locations other than those in which conservation would be really necessary and effective.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Characterization and conservation of genetic diversity in subdivided populations.

We review the available tools for analysing genetic diversity in conservation programmes of subdivided populations. Ways for establishing conservation priorities have been developed in the context of livestock populations, both from the classical population genetic analysis and from the more recent Weitzman's approach. We discuss different reasons to emphasize either within or between-population variation in conservation decisions and the methodology to establish some compromise. The comparison between neutral and quantitative variation is reviewed from both theoretical and empirical points of view, and the different procedures for the dynamic management of conserved subdivided populations are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2025

Genomic diversity and selection signatures in Asian Zebu Cattle: insights into adaptation and genetic erosion.

Indigenous cattle breeds in Asia are highly adapted to their local environments providing essential commodities such as meat, milk and draught power while also playing a key role in traditional ceremonies, and sports. Despite ongoing efforts to characterize and conserve these breeds, the increasing trend of indiscriminate crossbreeding of Zebu cattle with high-yielding taurine breeds, threatens their genetic diversity. This study investigates the population structure, inbreeding levels, effective population size, gene flow and identification of selection footprints of Asian Zebu (Bos indicus) cattle. Using an Axiom 60 K SNP chip, we analyzed genotypes from 1303 cattle across 36 populations in nine countries, including seven taurine outgroups and 29 Zebu populations from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Zebu populations demonstrated moderate genetic diversity, with heterozygosity levels averaging 0.356, inbreeding coefficients ranging from 0.026 to 0.074 and genetic differentiation (FST) varied between 0.01 and 0.11. Breed clusters aligned closely with their geographic locations except for Achai (Pakistan) and Baru Harak (Sri Lanka) breeds that appeared in both Zebu and taurine clusters indicating evidence of taurine admixture. Genomic analyses identified regions under selection using extended haplotype homozygosity (EHH) and fixation index (FST) methods. Candidate genes associated with key biological functions related to environmental responsiveness, including heat tolerance (HSP90AA1), immunity (RIPK3), metabolism and fertility (REC8, CLIC4, TSSK4), were identified, reflecting adaptive traits critical for Zebu survival and utility across diverse environments. These findings provide valuable insights for conservation and management strategies aimed at preserving the unique genetic diversity of Asian Bos indicus breeds.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessing the contribution of breeds to genetic diversity in conservation schemes.

The quantitative assessment of genetic diversity within and between populations is important for decision making in genetic conservation plans. In this paper we define the genetic diversity of a set of populations, S, as the maximum genetic variance that can be obtained in a random mating population that is bred from the set of populations S. First we calculated the relative contribution of populations to a core set of populations in which the overlap of genetic diversity was minimised. This implies that the mean kinship in the core set should be minimal. The above definition of diversity differs from Weitzman diversity in that it attempts to conserve the founder population (and thus minimises the loss of alleles), whereas Weitzman diversity favours the conservation of many inbred lines. The former is preferred in species where inbred lines suffer from inbreeding depression. The application of the method is illustrated by an example involving 45 Dutch poultry breeds. The calculations used were easy to implement and not computer intensive. The method gave a ranking of breeds according to their contributions to genetic diversity. Losses in genetic diversity ranged from 2.1% to 4.5% for different subsets relative to the entire set of breeds, while the loss of founder genome equivalents ranged from 22.9% to 39.3%.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Evolving conservation: The role of unconventional approaches to restore contemporary vertebrate populations and genomic biodiversity.

Conservation biology and restoration ecology are two essential yet distinct disciplines that address the growing challenge of biodiversity loss. Traditionally, these fields have relied on ecological principles and management practices aimed at protecting or reestablishing natural systems. The crisis is no longer just ecological; it is evolutionary and genomic. The accelerating pace of environmental change has outstripped the capacity of conventional approaches, creating a pressing need for innovative solutions. Biotechnology offers potentially transformative tools that can enhance the effectiveness and precision of both conservation and restoration efforts, especially for species where conventional conservation approaches have proved insufficient. Techniques such as genetic rescue, synthetic biology, and gene editing are increasingly being explored to address critical challenges, such as invasive species control, genetic diversity loss, and habitat fragmentation, to both invigorate endangered species and restore historical biodiversity. Despite its promise, the integration of biotechnology into conservation and restoration has raised ethical, ecological, and regulatory concerns. These include ecological unpredictability and public resistance to genetic interventions in wild populations. This perspective examines the current landscape of biotechnological applications in conservation and restoration, highlighting successful case studies, ongoing controversies, and optimism for additional progress. We argue that thoughtful, transparent integration of biotechnology that is grounded in ecological knowledge and stakeholder engagement can reconcile the goals of conservation and restoration. As ecosystems face mounting pressures, biotech-enabled strategies may prove essential for fostering resilience and ensuring long-term ecological sustainability.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed1991

Battelle Primate Facility.

The Battelle Primate Facility houses one of the largest collections of neotropical primates in the United States. The facility is a research resource for undergraduate and graduate students. Battelle staff, as well as staff and faculty from U.S. and international institutions. Researchers have access to the animals for a variety of studies encompassing several disciplines, a large collection of preserved tissues, and an extensive biomedical database. The facility is a World Health Organization Collaborative Center for Clinical Pathology of Neotropical Primates and is involved with the Peruvian Primatological Project in Iquitos, Peru, which provides opportunities for research in primatology and conservation.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed2001

Linkage of reproductive sciences: from 'quick fix' to 'integrated' conservation.

Our laboratory has experienced four phases in understanding how the reproductive sciences contribute to genuine conservation of biodiversity. The first is the 'quick fix phase' in which the erroneous assumption is made that extant knowledge and techniques are readily adaptable to an unstudied wild animal to produce offspring rapidly. The second is the 'species-specificity phase' in which it is recognized that every species has evolved unique reproductive mechanisms that must be mastered before propagation can be enhanced. The third is the 'applicability phase' in which one grasps that all the new knowledge and technology are of minimal relevance without the cooperation of wildlife managers. The final phase is 'integration', the realization that reproduction is only one component in an abundantly complex conservation puzzle that requires interweaving many scientific disciplines with elaborate biopolitical, economic and habitat variables. These phases are illustrated using 20 years of experience with wildlife species, including the cheetah, black-footed ferret and giant panda. We conclude that the foremost value of the reproductive sciences for conserving endangered species is the discipline's powerful laboratory tools for understanding species-specific reproductive mechanisms. Such scholarly information, when applied holistically, can be used to improve management by natural or, occasionally, assisted breeding. Genuine conservation is achieved only when the reproductive knowledge and technologies are integrated into multidisciplinary programmes that preserve species integrity ex situ and preferably in situ.

Acinonyx↗
PubMed2002

Spatial modeling of wetland condition in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region.

We propose a spatial modeling framework for wetland data produced from a remote-sensing-based waterfowl habitat survey conducted in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). The data produced from this survey consist of the area containing water on many thousands of wetland basins (i.e., prairie potholes). We propose a two-state model containing wet and dry states. This model provides a concise description of wet probability, i.e., the probability that a basin contains water, and the amount of water contained in wet basins. The two model components are spatially linked through a common latent effect, which is assumed to be spatially correlated. Model fitting and prediction is carried out using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. The model primarily facilitates mapping of habitat conditions, which is useful in varied monitoring and assessment capacities. More importantly, the predictive capability of the model provides a rigorous statistical framework for directing management and conservation activities by enabling characterization of habitat structure at any point on the landscape.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Mining of important genetic loci and evaluation of genetic effects for growth traits in Baicheng You Chicken.

The Baicheng You Chicken is a precious indigenous breed in Xinjiang, China, prized for its strong disease and stress resistance and superior meat quality. However, the lack of scientific breeding and conservation has led to poor production performance, particularly in growth traits. In this study, we collected phenotypic and whole-genome resequencing data from 1,535 18-week-old Baicheng You Chickens (180 males and 1,355 females). After stringent quality control (SNP call rate > 95%, minor allele frequency > 1%), we constructed the breed's first comprehensive SNP-based genome-wide variation map, which comprised 2,020,743 high-quality SNPs across the genome. The filtered SNPs had high mapping quality (99.73% mapped to the bGalGal1.mat.broiler.GRCg7b reference genome, Q30 = 93.26%) and a reasonable Ti/Tv ratio (2.596), guaranteeing the reliability of subsequent analyses. We estimated genetic effects (SNP-based heritability and phenotypic variance explained (PVE) by individual loci) via the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method, and performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a mixed linear model (MLM) - with sex as a fixed effect and principal components to correct for population stratification - to identify significant loci and their effect sizes (Beta). All eight growth traits showed moderate to high heritability: body weight (BW) had the highest heritability (0.86±0.11), while chest width (CW, 0.41±0.08) and body slanting length (BSL, 0.43±0.09) were the lowest; keel length (KL), chest girth (CG), pelvic width (PW), chest depth (CD) and shank length (SL) had heritabilities of 0.50±0.09, 0.46±0.09, 0.54±0.09, 0.67±0.10 and 0.74±0.10, respectively. GWAS identified 145 significant SNPs, with a maximum Beta value of 0.39 and PVE ranging from 1.25% to 6.25%. We annotated 22 candidate genes, with TAPT1, IGF2BP1, ADGRB3, LDB2, NCAPG and LCORL as key candidates. These quantifiable genetic markers and effect estimates provide direct targets for marker-assisted selection (MAS) and valuable resources for future genomic selection (GS) programs, offering a practical approach to improve the breed's slow growth while preserving its unique meat quality.

Baicheng You Chicken↗
PubMed2003

Assessment and conservation of the giant gomeran lizard (Gallotia bravoana).

In June 1999, a species of lizard previously considered extinct was rediscovered on the island of La Gomera, Spain. The giant gomeran lizard, Gallotia bravoana, is highly endangered and at risk of extinction by the feral cat population. A conservation effort to save the species was initiatived by the regional and central Spanish government and six lizards were captured and brought into captivity. This paper describes the results of the initial assessment of the health of the animals, by a physical examination and by haematological, biochemical, radiographical and coprological investigations. The methods used to maintain the animals in captivity are described and the first captive breeding success is reported.

Animal Diseases↗
PubMed2005

Introgression of chukar genes into a reintroduced red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) population in central Italy.

Insight regarding the genetic origin and composition of the studied population of the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is likely to provide general and critical information for the appropriate management and possible conservation of the species. The reintroduced population of red-legged partridges living in Pianosa Island (National Park Tuscany Archipelago) has proven to be sustainable: captive-bred individuals, morphologically assigned to the taxon A. rufa, were released to the island approximately 20 years ago, establishing an apparently well-adapted population. We have investigated this population by means of 10 microsatellite loci in order to shed light on its genetic structure. Considering that A. rufa is known to crossbreed with A. chukar, the Pianosa Island population was compared at the molecular level with a red-legged partridge breeding stock (Aulla, MS) as well as with a population of pure A. chukar. Our results indicate that the red-legged partridge population from Pianosa, morphologically identified as A. rufa, is actually partly introgressed with A. chukar, questioning its genetic purity and the possible use of this population as a starting stock for future reintroductions elsewhere.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Gene co-ops and the biotrade: translating genetic resource rights into sustainable development.

The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity marks a basic change in the international status of genetic resources. Prior to the Convention, these resources were considered to be the "heritage of mankind.' Although the intent of this open access regime was to ensure the widespread availability of genetic resources for agriculture and industry, commercial use of the resources provided no additional economic incentive for conservation by source countries. The Biodiversity Convention corrects this policy failure by establishing that states have sovereign rights over their genetic resources, thereby enabling market incentives to complement various multilateral mechanisms that might directly fund biodiversity conservation. A number of obstacles face countries that are translating this broad right to regulate access into specific policies, laws, and regulations designed to meet conservation and development objectives. A review of these obstacles and of trends in technological development suggest that nations and developing country institutions should take a set of actions to develop access legislation and Material Transfer Agreements, establish biodiversity "cooperatives' and intermediary institutions to facilitate information exchange, develop minimum standards for access legislation, and require that prior informed consent of local communities be obtained by all biodiversity collectors.

Animal Population Groups↗
PubMed2005

Genetic diversity within and among four South European native horse breeds based on microsatellite DNA analysis: implications for conservation.

In the present study, genetic analyses of diversity and differentiation were performed on four Basque-Navarrese semiferal native horse breeds. In total, 417 animals were genotyped for 12 microsatellite markers. Mean heterozygosity was higher than in other horse breeds, surely as a consequence of management. Although the population size of some of these breeds has declined appreciably in the past century, no genetic bottleneck was detected in any of the breeds, possibly because it was not narrow enough to be detectable. In the phylogenetic tree, the Jaca Navarra breed was very similar to the Pottoka, but appeared to stand in an intermediate position between this and the meat breeds. Assuming that Pottoka is the breed less affected by admixture, the others gradually distanced themselves from it through varying influences from outside breeds, among other factors. In a comparative study with other breeds, the French breeds Ardanais, Comtois, and Breton were the closest to the four native breeds. Three different approaches for evaluating the distribution of genetic diversity were applied. The high intrabreed variability of Euskal Herriko Mendiko Zaldia (EHMZ) was pointed out in these analyses. In our opinion, cultural, economic, and scientific factors should also be considered in the management of these horse breeds.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Interrelations between effective population size and other pedigree tools for the management of conserved populations.

Genetic parameters widely used to monitor genetic variation in conservation programmes, such as effective number of founders, founder genome equivalents and effective population size, are interrelated in terms of coancestries and variances of contributions from ancestors to descendants. A new parameter, the effective number of non-founders, is introduced to describe the relation between effective number of founders and founder genome equivalents. Practical recommendations for the maintenance of genetic variation in small captive populations are discussed. To maintain genetic diversity, minimum coancestry among individuals should be sought. This minimizes the variances of contributions from ancestors to descendants in all previous generations. The method of choice of parents and the system of mating should be independent of each other because a clear-cut recommendation cannot be given on the latter.

Breeding↗
PubMed2002

Comparative analysis of genetic diversity in the mangrove species Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. (Avicenniaceae) detected by AFLPs and SSRs.

Avicennia marina is an important mangrove species with a wide geographical and climatic distribution which suggests that large amounts of genetic diversity are available for conservation and breeding programs. In this study we compare the informativeness of AFLPs and SSRs for assessing genetic diversity within and among individuals, populations and subspecies of A. marina in Australia. Our comparison utilized three SSR loci and three AFLP primer sets that were known to be polymorphic, and could be run in a single analysis on a capillary electrophoresis system, using different- colored fluorescent dyes. A total of 120 individuals representing six populations and three subspecies were sampled. At the locus level, SSRs were considerably more variable than AFLPs, with a total of 52 alleles and an average heterozygosity of 0.78. Average heterozygosity for AFLPs was 0.193, but all of the 918 bands scored were polymorphic. Thus, AFLPs were considerably more efficient at revealing polymorphic loci than SSRs despite lower average heterozygosities. SSRs detected more genetic differentiation between populations (19 vs 9%) and subspecies (35 vs 11%) than AFLPs. Principal co-ordinate analysis revealed congruent patterns of genetic relationships at the individual, population and subspecific levels for both data sets. Mantel testing confirmed congruence between AFLP and SSR genetic distances among, but not within, population comparisons, indicating that the markers were segregating independently but that evolutionary groups (populations and subspecies) were similar. Three genetic criteria of importance for defining priorities for ex situ collections or in situ conservation programs (number of alleles, number of locally common alleles and number of private alleles) were correlated between the AFLP and SSR data sets. The congruence between AFLP and SSR data sets suggest that either method, or a combination, is applicable to expanded genetic studies of mangroves. The codominant nature of SSRs makes them ideal for further population-based investigations, such as mating-system analyses, for which the dominant AFLP markers are less well suited. AFLPs may be particularly useful for monitoring propagation programs and identifying duplicates within collections, since a single PCR assay can reveal many loci at once.

Journal Article↗