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The application of reproductive technologies to amphibian conservation breeding programs is gaining momentum and the field is poised to contribute significantly toward amphibian species recovery. We briefly discuss the opportunities for reproductive technologies to enhance conservation breeding outcomes, including their potential to enhance the genetic management, and in turn, the fitness of threatened species. Despite this potential, an important consideration that is not yet well understood is the degree to which specific reproductive technologies might influence (either enhance, or in some instances potentially decrease) individual fitness and lead to shifts in population viability. The development of a standardised approach to monitoring offspring throughout life-stages to detect changes to morphology, behaviour, physiology, survivorship, and developmental trajectories is essential. The primary focus of this review is to provide a ‘best-practise’ framework for quantifying key f ....
In this interview, News-Medical talks to Dr. Klaus Lun and Chris Mason about the past, present and future of automation and digitalization in the life sciences laboratory and especially the impact this could have on next-generation sequencing and genomics. ....
The cryopreservation and storage of gametes (biobanking) can provide a long-term, low-cost option for the preservation of population genetic diversity and is particularly impactful when applied to manage selective breeding within conservation breeding programs (CBPs). This study aimed to develop a sperm cryopreservation protocol for the critically endangered Booroolong frog (Litoria booroolongensis) to capture founder genetics within the recently established (est. 2019) CBP for this species. Hormone-induced sperm release was achieved using established protocols, and spermic urine samples were collected over a 6-h period. Pooled spermic urine samples (n = 3 males) were divided equally between two cryoprotectant (CPA) treatments and diluted by 1:5 (sperm:CPA) with either 15% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide + 1% (w/v) sucrose in simplified amphibian Ringer’s (SAR; CPAA) or 10% (v/v) dimethylformamide + 10% (w/v) trehalose dihydrate in SAR (CPAB). The samples were cryopreserved in 0.25 mL straw ....
Reproductive technologies (RTs) can assist integrated conservation breeding programs to attain propagation targets and manage genetic diversity more effectively. While the application of RTs to enhance the conservation management of threatened amphibians has lagged behind that of other taxonomic groups, a recent surge in research is narrowing the divide. The present study reports on the first application of RTs (hormone-induced spawning, hormone-induced sperm-release, and sperm cryopreservation) to the critically endangered Baw Baw frog, Philoria frosti. To determine the effect of hormone therapy on spawning success, male–female pairs were administered either 0 μg/g gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), 0.5 μg/g GnRHa, or 0.5 μg/g GnRHa + 10 μg/g metoclopramide (MET) (n = 6–7 pairs/treatment), and the number of pairs ovipositing, total eggs, and percent fertilisation success were quantified. To determine the effect of hormone therapy on sperm-release and to establish ....
Multidisciplinary approaches to conserve threatened species are required to curb biodiversity loss. Globally, amphibians are facing the most severe declines of any vertebrate class. In response, conservation breeding programs have been established in a growing number of amphibian species as a safeguard against further extinction. One of the main challenges to the long-term success of conservation breeding programs is the maintenance of genetic diversity, which, if lost, poses threats to the viability and adaptive potential of at-risk populations. Integrating reproductive technologies into conservation breeding programs can greatly assist genetic management and facilitate genetic exchange between captive and wild populations, as well as reinvigorate genetic diversity from expired genotypes. The generation of offspring produced via assisted fertilisation using frozen–thawed sperm has been achieved in a small but growing number of amphibian species and is poised to be a valuable tool fo ....