Reproductive Sciences in Animal Conservation (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Book 1200)

This second edition emphasizes the environmental impact on reproduction, with updated chapters throughout as well as complete new chapters on species such as sharks and rays. This is a wide-ranging book that will be of relevance to anyone involved in species conservation, and provides critical perspectives on the real utility of current and emerging reproductive sciences. Understanding reproductive biology is centrally important to the way many of the world’s conservation problems should be tackled. Currently the extinction problem is huge, with up to 30% of the world’s fauna being expected to disappear in the next 50 years. Nevertheless, it has been estimated that the global population of animals in zoos encompasses 12,000 – 15,000 species, and we anticipate that every effort will be made to preserve these species for as long as possible, minimizing inbreeding effects and providing the best welfare standards available. Even if the reproductive biology community cannot solve the global biodiversity crisis for all wild species, we should do our best to maintain important captive populations. Reproductive biology in this context is much more than the development of techniques for helping with too little or too much breeding. While some of the relevant techniques are useful for individual species that society might target for a variety of reasons, whether nationalistic, cultural or practical, technical developments have to be backed up by thorough biological understanding of the background behind the problems. Front Matter ....Pages i-viii Reproductive Science as an Essential Component of Conservation Biology: New Edition (Pierre Comizzoli, Janine L. Brown, William V. Holt)....Pages 1-10 Front Matter ....Pages 11-11 The Importance of Reproduction for the Conservation of Slow-Growing Animal Populations (Oliver Manlik)....Pages 13-39 Reproductive Impact of Environmental Chemicals on Animals (Rakesh Kanda)....Pages 41-70 Transgenerational Impact of Environmental Change (Hannah L. Morgan, Adam J. Watkins)....Pages 71-89 Stress, Well-Being and Reproductive Success (Katie L. Edwards, Ashley N. Edes, Janine L. Brown)....Pages 91-162 Physiological Thresholds in the Context of Marine Mammal Conservation (Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse)....Pages 163-186 The Role of Reproductive Sciences in the Preservation and Breeding of Commercial and Threatened Teleost Fishes (Ian Mayer)....Pages 187-224 Reproductive Microbiomes in Wild Animal Species: A New Dimension in Conservation Biology (Pierre Comizzoli, M. Power)....Pages 225-240 Front Matter ....Pages 241-241 Update on Comparative Biology of Elephants: Factors Affecting Reproduction, Health and Welfare (Janine L. Brown)....Pages 243-273 Comprehensive Breeding Techniques for the Giant Panda (Meghan S. Martin-Wintle, David C. Kersey, Nathan J. P. Wintle, Copper Aitken-Palmer, Megan A. Owen, Ronald R. Swaisgood)....Pages 275-308 Marsupials: Progress and Prospects (John C. Rodger)....Pages 309-325 Using the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as a Case Study to Illustrate the Development of Artificial Breeding Technology in Marsupials: an Update (Stephen D. Johnston, William V. Holt)....Pages 327-362 Reproductive Science Methods for Wild, Fully-Marine Mammals: Current Approaches and Future Applications (Janet M. Lanyon, Elizabeth A. Burgess)....Pages 363-411 Amphibian Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Moving from Technology to Application (J. Clulow, R. Upton, V. L. Trudeau, S. Clulow)....Pages 413-463 Reproductive Science in Sharks and Rays (Linda M. Penfold, Jennifer T. Wyffels)....Pages 465-488 Cryopreservation as a Tool for Reef Restoration: 2019 (Mary Hagedorn, Rebecca Spindler, Jonathan Daly)....Pages 489-505 Fertility Control in Wildlife: Review of Current Status, Including Novel and Future Technologies (Cheryl Asa, Anneke Moresco)....Pages 507-543 From the Ivory Tower to Reality! Conclusions of the New Edition (Pierre Comizzoli, Janine L. Brown, William V. Holt)....Pages 545-550 Back Matter ....Pages 551-559 Reproductive biology is more than the development of techniques for helping with too little or too much breeding. While some of the relevant techniques are useful for individual species, technical developments have to be backed up by thorough biological understanding of the background behind the problems. This book is therefore threefold; (1) it provides a snapshot of the state of the art in terms of species-specific reproductive technologies, whether for individual animals or whole taxonomic groups; (2) it sets the reproductive problems in context and emphasizes the links between animal-based problems and the wider world, e.g. reproductive fitness and (3) it looks forward and presents realistic assessments of how effective some of the more recently developed techniques in reproductive technology might be at combating extinctions. This is a wide-ranging book that will be relevant to anyone involved in reproductive biology or in species conservation and provides provide them some useful perspectives about the real utility of current and emerging technologies. It has contributions from experts in reproduction and related fields