Evolution in conservation breeding programs: is it common and how does it impact breeding program success?

As the earth is facing widespread human-driven biodiversity loss, one increasingly important tool for conservation will be zoos and aquariums. However, because the environments animals experience in captivity are different from their wild habitats, the size, shape, health, behaviour, and breeding habits of species can change because of evolution and altered environments (e.g. altered nutrition). Using data from large family trees maintained by captive breeding managers and genetic data, we will measure evolution rates in many different zoo populations to determine if evolution in captivity is a widespread problem. Further, we will use these family trees to examine whether we can use artificial selection to promote the evolution of disease resistance in these species suffering from disease in captivity (e.g. herpes virus in elephants). Finally, using the information gathered in our proposal, we plan to make suggestions to improve the breeding success of the studied species and create tools that can be applied to any conservation breeding program to monitor evolution. Our research will benefit breeding management at African Lion Safari and will help improve conservation program success for several cherished Canadian and non-Canadian species.

Faculty Supervisor:

Denis Réale

Student:

Partner:

African Lion Safari

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture; Arts, entertainment and recreation

University:

Université du Québec à Montréal

Program: