Use of molecular data in zoo and aquarium collection management: Benefits, challenges, and best practices.

摘要: The global zoo and aquarium community widely recognizes that its animal collections cooperative breeding programs are facing a sustainability crisis. It has become commonly accepted numerous priority species cannot be maintained unless new management strategies adopted. While molecular data have the potential to greatly improve across range of scenarios, they been generally underutilized by community. This failure effectively apply collection due, in part, paucity resources within on which base informed decisions about when use such is appropriate what steps necessary successfully integrate into management. Here, we identify three broad areas inquiry where can inform management: 1) taxonomic identification; 2) incomplete or unknown pedigrees; 3) hereditary disease. Across these topics, offer discussion advantages, limitations, considerations for applying ex situ populations style accessible professionals. Ultimately, intend this compiled information serve as resource help ensure projects directly benefit long-term persistence populations.