The Role of Reproductive Technologies in Amphibian Conservation Breeding Programs
RIS ID
133556
Abstract
Anthropogenic environmental change has led to unprecedented rates of species extinction, presenting a major threat to global biodiversity. Among vertebrates, amphibians have been most severely impacted, with an estimated 41% of species now threatened with extinction. In response to this biodiversity crisis, a moral and ethical obligation exists to implement proactive interventionist conservation actions to assist species recovery and decelerate declines. Conservation breeding programs have been successfully established for several threatened amphibian species globally, aiming to prevent species' extinction by maintaining genetically representative assurance colonies ex situ while providing individuals for population augmentation, translocation, and reestablishment in situ. Reproductive technologies have enormous potential to enhance the propagation and genetic management of threatened species. In this review, we discuss the role of reproductive technologies in amphibian conservation breeding programs and summarize technological advancements in amphibian hormone therapies, gamete storage, and artificial fertilization.
Grant Number
ARC/LP140100808
Grant Number
ARC/LP170100351
Publication Details
Silla, A. J. & Byrne, P. G. (2019). The Role of Reproductive Technologies in Amphibian Conservation Breeding Programs. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 7 499-519.