What is the role of the studbook in zoo and aquarium research?
Abstract In zoos and aquariums globally, studbooks provide a format by which threatened or important species populations can be carefully managed. These documents can be used to answer complex questions about animal population demographics, animal husbandry, breeding success and mortality. Given the time-intensive nature of studbook collation, only a subset of all animal species held […]
Improving the sustainability of ex situ populations with mate choice
Many breeding programs managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plans® (SSPs) are not meeting goals for population size and genetic diversity due to failure of recommended pairs to breed successfully. According to AZA Population Management Center analyses, as many as 80% of recommended breeding pairs fail to produce young before […]
One year later: evaluation of PMC-recommended births and transfers
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20100.abs To meet their exhibition, conservation, education, and scientific goals, members of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) collaborate to manage their living collections as single species populations. These cooperative population management programs, Species Survival Plans® (SSP) and Population Management Plans (PMP), issue specimen-by-specimen recommendations aimed at perpetuating captive populations by maintaining genetic […]
Unpedigreed populations and worst-case scenarios
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1030.abs A population in which parentage information is not recorded is considered a pedigree “black hole” in terms of genetic management. Integration of animals from such an unpedigreed population into a genetically managed population is often accomplished by assuming a worst-case scenario and recording all animals as highly interrelated (e.g., full siblings). The assumption […]
Differences in winter activity, courtship, and social behavior of two captive family groups of Mexican wolves (Canis lupus baileyi)
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1997)16:53.3.CO;2-W The purpose of this study was to determine differences in activity patterns and social behavior of two groups of endangered Mexican wolves maintained at two quite different facilities and to determine some of the variables that should be considered when making specific behavioral comparisons among wolves in this binational captive breeding program. Quantitative […]
Use of animals with unknown ancestries in scientifically managed breeding programs
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430120203.abs Whether to incorporate animals with unknown ancestries as founders into scientifically managed captive breeding programs, can be a difficult decision. If the animals are offspring of known founders, their inclusion in the breeding program will result in an increased incidence of inbreeding in the captive population. If the animals are additional founders, excluding […]
Management parameters affecting the reproductive potential of captive, female black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430110604.abs With deterioration of the wild population over the last two decades, captive reproduction of black rhinoceros has become a high priority for zoological gardens. Several reproductive parameters of female black rhinoceros were analyzed with data from the international studbook, and compared to data from field studies. These analyses yielded comparisons for ages of […]