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The post Announcing the 2nd Annual Species360 Conservation Science Alliance Research Symposium appeared first on Serving Conservation - Species360.

The Species360 Conservation Science Alliance (CSA) is thrilled to host its upcoming Research Symposium, where leading scientists and researchers from around the globe will gather to share their groundbreaking research utilizing data from the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS).

Details

When: 14 August 2024
Time: 4pm CET / 9am CDT (Check the time in your region here)
Registration: https://bit.ly/2024CSAResearchSymposium

Presentation Abstracts

As we anticipate the symposium, we’re excited to share abstracts from the presentations that will be featured:

An adaptive management approach for the Regent Honeyeater Conservation Breeding Program
Dr. Joy Tripovich, Taronga Conservation Society/University of New South Wales

The Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) conservation breed for release program forms an integral component of the species recovery program with over 400 zoo-bred birds released into the wild. Recent Population Viability Analysis identified the need for an increase in the cohort size of future releases of zoo-bred birds, to bolster the wild population, coupled with intensive nest protection in remaining breeding sites, as a strategy to avoid extinction within the next 20 years. Using Species360 ZIMS and post release data, we have conducted reviews examining the husbandry practices and zoo-life history experience of released Regent Honeyeaters from eight releases on the east coast of Australia. The evidence generated from these reviews has informed the adaptive management strategy for the zoo-based breeding program. In addition, we have developed a data platform to capture a birds’ journey from birth to post-release and beyond. The data platform is providing the capacity for the development of such tools as the ‘release candidate optimiser’ tool, which will aid in the identification of fitter individuals for release and, more broadly, the data platform provides greater capacity for future conservation research. This research program highlights scope to enhance to the ZIMS platform that would be beneficial for program management incorporating in-situ and ex-situ data to drive conservation planning. Further, the presentation details the complexity of an evidence-driven, adaptive management approach to conservation breeding, and the primary goal of an integrated ‘One Plan’ approach to species recovery.

Using the past to inform the present and predict the future: utilizing ZIMS data to understand changes in animal collections over time
Dr. Megan Brown, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Over the past 50 years, the zoological profession has demonstrated significant evolution across all aspects of animal care and management ex situ, especially in terms of population management, animal care, exhibit design, and a focus on animal wellbeing. Many long-term professionals in this field suggest that we are collaboratively managing fewer species now compared to species’ diversity of the past, and that these species are being managed in smaller populations. This is counterintuitive to our profession’s goal of maintaining as many species as possible in sustainable populations. We used animal holding data reported though Species360’s Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) from the period of 1970 to 2020 to examine changes in species diversity and population size in facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) across seven orders of mammalian species. We predicted declines in both overall species’ diversity and individual population sizes over time, and expected these effects to be uneven across species. We also developed a list of possible influences on zoo mammal collections and their associated start dates and charted these against species diversity and population size in order to understand which may have influenced changes in zoological collections. We considered the advent of coordinated breeding programs (Species Survival Plans® in AZA), initiation of formalized population and reproductive management, the trend towards more naturalistic exhibits, relevant changes in the regulatory environment, and other factors. In this presentation, we’ll review the trends observed and their possible influences.

Longitudinal analysis of threatened eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) body growth rates using ZIMS to inform conservation programs
Dr. Devin Chen, Toronto Zoo

The eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) is threatened across its range in North America, with the Carolinian subpopulation in Ontario at near extirpation. This has led to the establishment of a conservation breeding and reintroduction program as part of the eastern massasauga Species Survival Plan. Successful breeding and wild releases of animals rely on important demographic information such as growth rates, which can impact reproduction and survival. While growth rates of wild massasauga rattlesnakes have been recorded, analysis of individuals in zoos is lacking. This study aimed to determine zoo-housed eastern massasauga rattlesnake growth rates using longitudinal data from the ZIMS database. A total of 51 males and 61 females born since 2000 across 23 institutions were assessed to evaluate growth rates at different life stages (0-11, 12-35, 36-71, ≥72 months old). Through generalized additive modeling, we found that the 12-35mo period had significantly (p<0.0001) higher growth rates than all other stages, and within this stage, females (9.5±4.3g/month) grew faster (p<0.05) compared to males (8.5±2.7g/month). There was no effect (p>0.05) of individuals being wild versus captive-born on growth rates at any stage. Institutions where snakes were held had a significant (p<0.05) effect on growth rates, specifically at early life stages. These results show similar patterns to growth rates of eastern massasaugas in the wild, where females have faster initial growth compared to males. This information can serve as a reference for zoos to better maintain eastern massasauga rattlesnake health and well-being, especially for growing juveniles in breeding or reintroduction efforts.

Adult sex ratio in captive amniotes: is it related to the sex-determination systems?
Borbála Kocsis, University of Pannonia/Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden

The adult sex ratio (ASR, the proportion of males in the adult population) is one of the most basic demographic characteristics of populations. However, little is known about the causes of its interspecific variations. In wild tetrapods, the genetic sex-determination system (GSD system) has been shown to predict ASR: taxa with female heterogametic sex chromosome system (ZW) have more male-biased ASRs than taxa with male heterogametic sex chromosome system (XY). If sex chromosomes influence ASR, then the GSD effect may persist across different environments, for example, it can influence the ASR of animals in human care. In this study, we test this prediction by using demographic data of captive amniotes from Species360 database, investigating ASR variation in 1480 species that have either female heterogametic (ZW), male heterogametic (XY) or temperature-dependent (TSD) sex chromosome systems. Our results show that captive ASR appears to be affected by the GSD system because we found significant ASR differences between ZW and XY species; female heterogametic species have more male-biased ASR, than female heterogametic species. Our results also show a significant difference between ZW and TSD species, female heterogametic species showing more male-biased ASR than TSD species. These findings support our prediction, that the GSD system influences the variations of ASR not just in the wild, but also in captive amniotes, or that no other factors mask its effects on animals in zoos.

Contemporary genetic adaptation in zoos and conservation breeding programs
Dr. Drew Sauvé, African Lion Safari/Université du Québec à Montréal

Conservation breeding is vital for combating biodiversity loss, but optimizing breeding programs is crucial for success. Genetic adaptation to the conservation breeding environment is often a suspected factor contributing to reintroduction difficulties, yet it remains largely untested. Using an extensive dataset from Species360 ZIMS, we assessed adaptive genetic change in 32 vertebrate populations, marking the broadest estimation of additive genetic variance of fitness across species to date. Our findings indicate widespread adaptive genetic change in zoo and conservation populations, with estimates comparable to those in the wild. While this adaptation may enhance fitness in captivity, concerns arise regarding genetic divergence and reintroduction success. Our results confirm the importance of anthropogenic effects on short-term species evolution and highlight the need for more studies to ensure ex situ populations can fulfill their potential in conservation strategies.

How Species360 substantially contributes to the build-up of the ‘conservation zoo’ – zoos as One Plan Approach conservation centres acting as modern arks
Dr. Thomas Ziegler, Anna Rauhaus, Cologne Zoo

We live in a time of global crises, thus targeted conservation action is a priority. For IUCN‘s One Plan Approach to Conservation, which is the development of management strategies and conservation actions by all responsible parties for all populations of a species, whether inside or outside their natural range, this also implies optimized use of zoo resources / collection planning. According to the idea of a species conservation zoo (as a modern ark), space, expertise, time and money should primarily be allocated to the species that need ex situ support the most. Once a species is extinct, it is too late, but if it is still in zoos, it can be reintroduced later. Using ZIMS you can examine animal groups or regions for taxa already kept and bred and also determine the proportion of endangered versus not threatened species in zoos; and furthermore, which species are represented in too high or too low numbers or in unfavorable gender combinations. This indicates what has already been achieved by zoos through ex situ protection and shows the gaps in ex situ species protection still need to be filled. Non-threatened species can then be replaced by threatened species that can be kept under similar conditions. In order to provide more threatened species with ex situ protection, exchange can take place between institutions, stocks can be genetically examined for previously overlooked taxa, confiscations can be converted into breeding programs or cooperations can be built up with partners in the countries of origin. We have already performed such analyses for certain regions, for animal groups or specific taxa.

Register here: 2024CSAResearchSymposium

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Until now, no study of this type has been conducted on mammalian taxa, according to researchers Dario Fraschetti, Wild Planet Trust, Paignton Zoo, and University of Plymouth, and Spartacus Gippoliti, IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group.

Fraschetti and Gippoliti used data from the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) to assess the balance of threatened and non-threatened species of the Cercopthecinae subfamily within the world’s zoos and conservation institutions.

This, and studies like it conducted on other taxa, are particularly important as the aquarium and zoo community moves toward the One Plan Approach to Conservation a decade ago. Proposed by IUCN’s Conservation Planning Specialist Group, the approach underscores the importance of ex situ populations in helping to sustain populations threatened in the wild.

In the wake of the proposal, new management strategies and conservation actions have been put in place for species assessed by the IUCN as threatened or non-threatened and already managed by captive-breeding programmes in zoos. Step one, for many of those species, has been to evaluate at a global or a regional level the demographics, size, and viability of populations living in zoos and aquariums.

Using ZIMS data, the researchers assessed species, individuals, and breeding at different institutions. ZIMS is comprised of data recorded and shared by zoos, aquariums, refuges and conservation institutions, and is the world’s largest set of data on animals in human care.

The study investigates whether there is a bias towards keeping and breeding threatened or non-threatened species. To investigate the presence of any local differences, analyses were also carried out on a regional level. Furthermore, to assess whether ex situ conservation actions have been effective in zoos at a regional level, data from the past 20 years were analyzed to investigate if increases, decreases, or disappearance of zoo populations have mainly concerned threatened or non-threatened species.

Findings: At a global level, zoos appear to be balanced in keeping and breeding non-threatened and threatened Cercopithecinae. However, at a regional level Europe appears significantly different from the other regions due to its high number of individuals belonging to threatened species in comparison to the non-threatened ones. While there has been a decrease in the populations of several threatened and non-threatened species, Europe is still at the forefront of this taxon’s conservation as the populations of non-threatened species such as the Gabon talopoin and the gelada or threatened ones such as the L’Hoest’s monkey, the drill, and the white-naped mangabey have more than doubled in the last 20 years. Additionally Europe has the highest number of regional captive-breeding programmes.

Read the full Journal for Nature Conservation published study at ScienceDirect.

Learn more about Old World Monkeys at BBC Wildlife.

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By: Dr. Morgane Tidière.

In July, the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance (CSA) released two reports showcasing significant improvements in life expectancy and lifespan equality for Panthera and great apes in zoological institutions from the early 1800s to 2023. In addition to a statistical analysis showing an increase in a population-welfare indicator, these reports highlights various improvements in animal care and welfare made by zoological institutions over the past century, which likely explain the observed trends in the reports.

Survival-related metrics are commonly used as a proxy of population-level welfare as studies have reported that happier and healthier individuals live longer. Here, we studied the change in two key survival summary metrics – the life expectancy and the lifespan equality of a population – proved to be a reliable proxy of population welfare in human and non-human animals (for example, see our previous research on the improvement of population welfare in zoological institutions for four marine mammal species, Tidière et al. 2023).

The reports emphasize advancements in husbandry and management practices made by accredited zoological institutions over the past century for five Panthera species—lion (Panthera leo), jaguar (P. onca), leopard (P. pardus), tiger (P. tigris), and snow leopard (P. uncia)—and four great ape species—lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), and Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). These improvements are evident in the significant increase in life expectancy and lifespan equality of these species. For example, chimpanzees’ average life expectancy has increased from approximately seven years in the early 1900s to around 30 years today—a 4.3-fold improvement in 100 years. This underscores the proactive behaviour of accredited institutions in constantly improving their management practices.

While improvements in life expectancy and lifespan equality reflect positive changes in living conditions and overall welfare, they do not alone guarantee individual welfare. Each animal’s unique experience and personality may affect how well they thrive under improved conditions. Therefore, it remains crucial to focus on individual welfare to ensure all animals benefit from enhanced care standards. Rigorously capturing data on individual welfare, as done in the ZIMS Care & Welfare module, is vital for improving the quality of life for animals in zoological institutions.

Ensuring the survival of threatened species requires a multifaceted approach. Accredited zoological institutions are at the forefront of this effort, bridging the gap between the wild and human society to preserve biodiversity. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on animal welfare and may inform future policy decisions, underscoring the importance of biology-informed husbandry, resource investment, and scientific research.

A collaborative effort within the Conservation Science Alliance

The reports are the result of intensive collaboration within the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, involving over 20 experts for Panthera and 30 experts for great apes from 12 countries and six regional associations, as well as experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These reports resulted from the discussions held during the Species360 Experts Online Workshops on the ‘progressive changes in care and welfare of Panthera and great apes since the early 1800s’ which took place at the end of 2023. The workshops were organized and led by Dr Morgane Tidière and Dr Sandra E. Trautwein, with help from Hannah Jenkins and Rikke Ø. Nielsen, from the Species360 Conservation Department.

For these works, Dr. Morgane Tidière, leading the research and writing the reports, was sponsored by Toronto Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, and Zoo de Granby. The participating experts provided their input pro bono. We are incredibly grateful for the support of these organizations in making these reports possible.

These reports may be cited as:

Panthera species: Conservation Science Alliance (2024) Continuous enhancement in management, care, and welfare in Panthera species in zoological institutions as evidenced by the increase of two survival summary metrics. Species360. 30pp. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12721991

Great apes: Conservation Science Alliance (2024) Continuous enhancement in management, care, and welfare in great apes in zoological institutions as evidenced by survival summary metrics. Species360. 32pp. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12721612

These reports are available upon request to the co-authors or directly to the Conservation Science Alliance (support@species360.org). The full text of these reports will be made publicly available in January 2025.

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The two-hour webinar will provide an opportunity for researchers and professionals from the zoo, aquarium, and conservation community to present and discuss their findings and results derived from the utilization of ZIMS data. This initiative is designed to foster a collaborative and insightful session for knowledge sharing while demonstrating the remarkable capabilities and impact of data-driven research.

Details

When: 14 August 2024

Time: 4pm CET / 9am CDT (Check the time in your region here)

Registration: https://bit.ly/2024CSAResearchSymposium

Speakers:

• Dr. Megan Brown, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, ‘Using the past to inform the present and predict the future: utilizing ZIMS data to understand changes in animal collections over time.’
• Dr. Devin Chen, Toronto Zoo, ‘Longitudinal analysis of threatened eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) body growth rates using ZIMS to inform conservation programs.’
• Borbála Kocsis, Ph.D. student, University of Pannonia/Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden, ‘Adult sex ratio in captive amniotes: is it related to the sex-determination systems?’
• Dr. Drew Sauve, African Lion Safari/Université du Québec à Montréal, ‘Contemporary genetic adaptation in zoos and conservation breeding programs.’
• Dr. Joy Tripovich, Taronga Conservation Society/University of New South Wales, ‘An adaptive management approach for the Regent Honeyeater Conservation Breeding Program.’
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Ziegler, Cologne Zoo, ‘How Species360 substantially contributes to the build-up of the ‘conservation zoo’ – zoos as One Plan Approach conservation centers acting as modern arks.’

To learn more about how to access aggregated ZIMS data for research, please take a look at our Research Request Guidelines, and our Species360 Insights subscription.

About the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance:

The Species360 Conservation Science Alliance (CSA) is an open and collaborative network of professionals that conduct research or projects that benefit the zoo, aquarium, botanical, and conservation community.

The common thread connecting this vast network is the data found in the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) and botanical software Hortis. The CSA aims to leverage the vast wealth of data in ZIMS to further our understanding and knowledge of plant and animal species.

The Alliance provides a platform for community experts to share knowledge, requests and resources, all with the aim of furthering knowledge on species.

The post Register for the first ever Species360 Conservation Science Alliance Research Symposium appeared first on Serving Conservation - Species360.

Species360 is excited to announce our first-ever online Species360 Conservation Science Alliance Research Symposium on 14 August 2024. This online gathering will showcase the latest research utilizing data from the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS). We invite researchers to submit abstracts to be considered for a presentation slot at the event.

The Species360 Conservation Science Alliance Research Symposium will be a two-hour online event and will provide an opportunity for researchers and professionals from the zoo, aquarium and conservation community to present and discuss their findings and results derived from the utilization of ZIMS data. This initiative is designed to foster a collaborative and insightful session for knowledge sharing while demonstrating the remarkable capabilities and impact of data-driven research.

Call for abstracts

Abstract submission instructions: We are seeking research projects that are using ZIMS data as part of the main data resource within the data analysis. This could be, but is not limited to, standardized data obtained from the Species360 Insights programme, institutional data, or processed data acquired through the Species360 Research Request process.

Due to the online format of the symposium, we will only be accepting oral presentations. Each presentation should have a duration of 15 minutes, and provide a focused and engaging overview of the research. The submitted abstracts should have a maximum word count of 250 words.

Abstracts can be submitted through the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/kJfF0N8Jih

Deadline for submission: 3 June 2024

Review process: To ensure a high standard of quality and relevance, all submitted abstracts will undergo an anonymous review process. This process will be carried out by the Species360 Science team, who will select the most compelling and relevant presentations for the webinar.

Stay tuned as we will announce registration details at a later date.

If you have any questions, please reach out at support@species360.org

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The study also found that marine mammal species currently live longer in zoological institutions than in the wild as a result of advances in animal care practices centered on animal welfare. The results have been published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

Study authors used the same statistical methods used to assess improvements in human population welfare to analyze data from the world’s largest database of information on wildlife in human care – the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS).

The study examined 200 years worth of data from ZIMS, dating as far back as the early 1800s up until 2020, to look at whether four marine mammal species – the harbour seal, California sea lion, polar bear, and common bottlenose dolphin – have seen improved conditions of life in human care, and whether that can be observed through a progressive concentration of individuals reaching old age. Applying the same methodology using additional data sources for wild populations, the authors examine whether these four marine mammal species are living longer lives in zoos and aquariums, compared to their counterparts in the wild.

The study authors found that the life expectancy of the four marine mammal species has increased by over three times, and that the rate of deaths in the first year of life has declined by up to 31% over the last century in zoos and aquariums included in the study. Additionally, the life expectancy of these species in zoos and aquariums is currently two to three times longer than their counterparts in the wild.In addition to looking at how long these four species are living, researchers looked at how many of them are living well they are living by examining lifespan equality which can show if a population is consistently living longer lives and avoiding less predictable, earlier causes of death. Researchers found conclusively that the four species have a progressively increasing lifespan equality across time in zoological institutions. They also highlight that current populations of the four species living in zoological institutions included in the study have a higher lifespanequality than their counterparts in the wild.

The researchers found a significant improvement in longevity and lifespan equality for the four species from the 1990s onwards, which is believed to be a result of advancements in zoological practices, such as implementing advanced veterinary, environmental, nutritional and enrichment measures, as well as the voluntary cooperation of animals in routine examinations through positive reinforcement training. 

These improvements in how progressive zoos and aquariums care for animals is a result of the establishment of regional and national zoo associations, accreditation standards, coordinated breeding programs, shared databases and professional networks which foster knowledge sharing – thereby collectively improving animal welfare. 

Lead study author, Dr. Morgane Tidière, Species360, commented on the significance of the study, saying;

“Our findings indicate that significant progress has been made in enhancing the welfare of marine mammals in zoological institutions, as a result of improvements in management practices in progressive zoos and aquariums. Professional zoos and aquariums of today cannot be compared to zoos 30 years ago.” Dr. Tidière continues: “This kind of research is possible as a result of the standardised data collected and shared by Species360 member zoos and aquariums around the world.” 

The study authors note that these results reflect the average welfare of marine mammals in Species360 member facilities, rather than demonstrating a global minimum standard achieved by all zoos and aquariums worldwide. Nonetheless, these findings serve as evidence of positive progress in the management and care of animals within professional  zoological facilities. The researchers hope the findings inspire other institutions, which are not part of professional zoo and aquarium bodies, to invest time and resources into enhancing their animal management practices.

The results of this study contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding the wellbeing of animals in zoos and aquariums and may help inform future policy decisions. It demonstrates the importance of scientific research in understanding and improving the lives of animals in zoological institutions. The preliminary results have already informed legislative decisions in France and Spain, guiding evidence-based choices regarding the care of marine mammals in these settings.

The full study can be read here.

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The science team presented the talk: The Changing Roles of Aquariums and How Animal Records Can Help highlighting the results from the marine mammal project aiming to develop a population level welfare indicator as well as updates on the new IUCN Red List ex situ tab. As well they presented the Survival, Reproduction and Growth reports which will be released later this year for fish and birds.

You can read more about Species360’s critical role in data sharing here.

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During the Species360 update session, all CSA team members presented the current updates from the team.

Dr. Sandy Trautwein, Director of Conservation of Science, Hannah Jenkins, Conservation Analyst and Nanette Driver, Product owner of ZIMS for husbandry presented updates including the exciting news regarding the upcoming IUCN Red List ex situ tab.

Dr. Morgane Tidière and Rikke Øgelund Nielsen presented the updates from the Science Team, including the research project on population level welfare indicators and the impact of ex situ conservation.

You can read more about Species360’s critical role in data sharing here.

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