Cryobanking of viable biomaterials: implementation of new strategies for conservation purposes

Cryobanking, the freezing of biological specimens to maintain their integrity for a variety of anticipated and unanticipated uses, offers unique opportunities to advance the basic knowledge of biological systems and their evolution. Notably, cryobanking provides a crucial opportunity to support conservation efforts for endangered species. Historically, cryobanking has been developed mostly in response to human economic and medical needs — these needs must now be extended to biodiversity conservation. Reproduction technologies utilizing cryobanked gametes, embryos and somatic cells are already vital components of endangered species recovery efforts. Advances in modern biological research (e.g. stem cell research, genomics and proteomics) are already drawing heavily on cryobanked specimens, and future needs are anticipated to be immense. The challenges of developing and applying cryobanking for a broader diversity of species were addressed at an international conference held at Trier University (Germany) in June 2008. However, the magnitude of the potential benefits of cryobanking stood in stark contrast to the lack of substantial resources available for this area of strategic interest for biological science — and society at large. The meeting at Trier established a foundation for a strong global incentive to cryobank threatened species. The establishment of an Amphibian Ark cryobanking programme offers the first opportunity for global cooperation to achieve the cryobanking of the threatened species from an entire vertebrate class.     

Cryopreservation of Phytodiversity: A Critical Appraisal of Theory & Practice

Cryopreservation is the storage of viable cells, tissues, organs and organisms at ultra-low temperatures, usually in liquid nitrogen to a minimum temperature of ?196°C. The term, phytodiversity describes an assemblage of plants, algae and cyanobacteria; it is used to encourage a more holistic approach to cryopreserving the photosynthetic primary producers. In anticipation that encouraging exchange of knowledge across the different phytodiversity sectors sharing many common goals will facilitate their overall cryobanking activities. The main objective of the review is to explore the boundary between cryobiology theory and cryobanking practice. Natural adaptations will be considered with respect to cryopreservation protocol development and this theme includes a brief examination of ‘cold’ omics research. In addressing the problem of cryostorage recalcitrance, the review compares and contrasts phytodiversity from the perspective of environmental adaptation. A substantial part of the content is dedicated to appraising risk and safety issues and the microbial and pathological aspects of cryobanking. The importance of best practices for safeguarding the security of phytodiversity held in cryobanks is also considered. The review concludes by prospecting the use of the medical translational research paradigm in cryobanking.     

Cryoconservation of South African plant genetic diversity

South Africa has a rich flora which exhibits among the highest species density in the world, distributed across nine biomes that support an impressive diversity of animal life. However, a variety of human actions, invasion by alien species, natural disturbances and climate change collectively impact negatively on the great diversity of both plant and animal species. In situ conservation has long been practised, primarily in nature reserves, complemented by ex situ conservation in national botanic gardens, but in vitro plant conservation is not common. In the context of animal biodiversity conservation, the Wildlife Biological Resource Centre of the National Zoological Gardens utilises cryobanking as one of its major focuses and is now poised to expand as the repository for the cryoconservation of plant germplasm, particularly for indigenous recalcitrant-seeded and poor-seeding species. However, there are particular problems associated with successful germplasm cryostorage of such tropical and subtropical plants. As we see the science and application of cryobiology and cryoconservation as cross-cutting and transdisciplinary, we have entrained formal networking among scientists offering a range of specialisations aimed at a deeper understanding of common problems and practical outcomes to facilitate both plant and animal biobanking. The endeavours are aimed at elucidating the basis of both successes and failures in our efforts to attain optimal outcomes. With focus on best practices, standard operating procedures, validation and risk management for cryopreserved and cold-stored plant and animal material, our ultimate aim is to facilitate restoration by the safe reintroduction of indigenous species.     

Cryobanking of fish somatic cells: optimizations of fin explant culture and fin cell cryopreservation

When gametes or embryos are not available, somatic cells should be considered for fish genome cryobanking of valuable or endangered fish. The objective of this work was to develop a method for fin explant culture with an assessed reliability, and to assess fin cells ability to cryopreservation. Anal fins from goldfish (Carassius auratus) were minced and gently loosened with collagenase before explants were plated at 20 degrees C in L-15 medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum and pH buffering additives. Quantification of cell-donor explants per fin rated the culture success. Cells were successfully obtained from every cultured anal fin (mean = 65% cell-donor explant per fin). All other fin types were suitable except the dorsal fin. Explant plating could be deferred 3 days from fin collecting. Fins from seven other fish species were successfully cultured with the method. After 2-3 weeks, sub-confluent fin cells from goldfish were cryopreserved. Cryopreservation with dimethyl sulfoxide and sucrose at a slow freezing rate allowed the recovery of half the goldfish fin cells. Cells displayed the same viability as fresh ones. 1,2-propanediol was unsuitable when a fast freezing rate was used. The procedure could now be considered for cryobanking with only minimal adaptation to each new species.     

九寨沟自然保护区的两栖爬行动物调查

采用编目法调查了九寨沟自然保护区的两栖爬行动物多样性概况,共有10种,隶3目8科,区系组成以横断山区特有种为主(60％)。根据两栖爬行动物的分布格局,确定九寨沟的两栖爬行动物重点保护区域和生境为：①低海拔的树正沟,主要保护动物为中华蟾蜍、华西蟾蜍、高原林蛙等两栖动物,重点保护生境为树正群海和翡翠河道;②高海拔的则查洼沟,主要保护动物为北方山溪鲵和西藏齿突蟾,重点保护生境为长海;③扎如沟,主要保护各种爬行动物,重点保护生境为河道两侧的灌丛。     

The conservation of declining butterfly populations in Britain and Europe: priorities, problems and successes

The status, ecology and conservation of butterflies in Europe and Britain are reviewed, as a background to the National Trust's past and future contribution to British conservation. Britain has a poor butterfly fauna by European standards, the main areas of endemism and species richness being in the Alps and southern Europe. To date, the main declines among European butterfly populations have occurred across central-northern Europe, with slightly higher extinction rates in mainland countries than in Britain. The main causes of decline are biotope destruction, the loss of certain species' habitats within surviving semi-natural biotopes due to changed land management, and a failure by several species to track the patches of their habitat that are still being generated in modern fragmented landscapes. Until recently, most conservation programmes failed to take account of the latter two factors, resulting in many local extinctions of rare butterfly species even in conservation areas. Recent measures have been much more successful; many were first tested on National Trust properties.     

Conservation Action Based on Threatened Species Capture Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Richness in Breeding and Wintering Populations of Central Asian Birds

Although phylogenetic diversity has been suggested to be relevant from a conservation point of view, its role is still limited in applied nature conservation. Recently, the practice of investing conservation resources based on threatened species was identified as a reason for the slow integration of phylogenetic diversity in nature conservation planning. One of the main arguments is based on the observation that threatened species are not evenly distributed over the phylogenetic tree. However this argument seems to dismiss the fact that conservation action is a spatially explicit process, and even if threatened species are not evenly distributed over the phylogenetic tree, the occurrence of threatened species could still indicate areas with above average phylogenetic diversity and consequently could protect phylogenetic diversity. Here we aim to study the selection of important bird areas in Central Asia, which were nominated largely based on the presence of threatened bird species. We show that although threatened species occurring in Central Asia do not capture phylogenetically more distinct species than expected by chance, the current spatially explicit conservation approach of selecting important bird areas covers above average taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of breeding and wintering birds. We conclude that the spatially explicit processes of conservation actions need to be considered in the current discussion of whether new prioritization methods are needed to complement conservation action based on threatened species.     

Angola’s central scarp forests: patterns of bird diversity and conservation threats

Despite Angola’s central scarp forests being recognised as a critical global priority for bird conservation, fine-scale information on threatened bird distributions and patterns of bird diversity are lacking. These data are essential to identify sites within the Western Angola Endemic Bird Area that should be targeted for conservation. First endemic and near-endemic species and subspecies, and species with isolated populations along the Angolan scarp were identified to highlight taxa of greatest priority for conservation and for use in studying the evolutionary origins of the region. Thereafter survey data collected during 2005 from 13 forest sites along the central scarp was analysed. These data show that there are three distinct bird communities across the width of the escarpment, each associated with a distinctive forest type. Of note is the finding that threatened and Near Threatened endemic species occur almost exclusively in the dry forests adjacent to the main escarpment, rather than in the moistest forests found on the main escarpment, which instead are richer in Congo Basin forest birds. Based on these data, summaries of ranges, populations and conservation threats are given for the seven most threatened bird species. Attention is drawn to threats to the habitats of greatest importance to these species. A conservation area network should be established that encompasses the full spectrum of bird diversity described, to ensure survival of current unique taxa and the future evolutionary potential of the area.     

保护生物学一新分支学科——保护遗传学

研究人类对生物多样性的影响以及防止物种灭绝是保护生物学的两个主要目的。随着环境日益恶化、分子遗传学的迅速发展以及保护生物学和分子遗传学的不为民相互渗透,和产生了一全新的分支学科－－保护遗传学。保护遗传学是保护生物学研究中的一个核心部分,主要研究濒危物种的遗传多样性和保护物种的进化潜力。目前保护遗传学已成为国际上的一个研究热点,但在我国才刚刚起步,为此,本文就保护,遗传学的产生和发展及其研究内容和意义作一简要介绍,以推动我国在该方面的研究。     

中国鸡形目鸟类的现状与保护对策

鸡形目是一个与人类关系非常密切的鸟类类群 ,其保护工作受到国际自然保护组织的广泛关注。作为世界上鸡形目鸟类资源最为丰富的国家之一 ,我国加强该类群鸟类的保护工作不仅是野生动物资源保护的一个重要组成部分 ,而且对全球生物多样性的保护具有特别重要的意义。本文结合国家林业局“十五”期间将要实施的《全国野生动植物及自然保护区建设工程总体规划》 ,对我国鸡形目鸟类的多样性、特有性和分布特点进行了阐述 ,对该类群的濒危状况和致危因素进行了分析 ,从就地保护、易地保护以及科学研究三个方面介绍了我国在该类群研究与保护方面所取得的成就 ,探讨了目前保护管理工作中所存在的问题并提出了相应的保护对策     

Plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) in China: A seed and spore biology perspective

Approximately one fifth of the world's plants are at risk of extinction. Of these, a significant number exist as populations of few individuals, with limited distribution ranges and under enormous pressure due to habitat destruction. In China, these most-at-risk species are described as ‘plant species with extremely small populations’ (PSESP). Implementing conservation action for such listed species is urgent. Storing seeds is one of the main means of ex situ conservation for flowering plants. Spore storage could provide a simple and economical method for fern ex situ conservation. Seed and spore germination in nature is a critical step in species regeneration and thus in situ conservation. But what is known about the seed and spore biology (storage and germination) of at-risk species? We have used China's PSESP (the first group listing) as a case study to understand the gaps in knowledge on propagule biology of threatened plant species. We found that whilst germination information is available for 28 species (23% of PSESP), storage characteristics are only known for 8% of PSESP (10 species). Moreover, we estimate that 60% of the listed species may require cryopreservation for long-term storage. We conclude that comparative biology studies are urgently needed on the world's most threatened taxa so that conservation action can progress beyond species listing.     

基于灰色关联分析方法评价13种野生兜兰的迁地保护适应性

由于过度收集和对原生境地的破坏,我国野生兜兰已濒临灭绝,对其进行迁地保护十分必要。通过对引种的13种40份野生兜兰资源进行迁地栽培,并观测兜兰种质在迁移地的各种生长性状指标等,本研究利用灰色关联分析方法评价13种兜兰的迁地适应性,分析影响其迁地保护的关键因素。结果表明:(1)带叶兜兰、同色兜兰、长瓣兜兰、文山兜兰适应性较强,与理想种的关联度均在0.8以上;巨瓣兜兰、白花兜兰、小叶兜兰、紫纹兜兰、紫毛兜兰、硬叶兜兰适应性一般,与理想种的关联度在0.7~0.8之间;麻栗坡兜兰、杏黄兜兰、红旗兜兰适应性较差,与理想种的关联度均在0.6以下;(2)不同兜兰种类、同一种类不同产地兜兰种质的迁地生长适应性不同,来源地和栽培温度可能是影响其迁地保护的关键因子。     

濒危兰科植物再引入技术及其应用

稀有、濒危植物的再引入,是在条件成熟时,把经过迁地保护的人工繁殖体重新放回到它们原来自然和半自然的生态系统或适合它们生存的野外环境中去,重建较为完善的生态系统。再引入技术的目标在于提高生态系统生物多样性及群落稳定性,建立可自我维持种群,它是继就地保护和迁地保护等保护策略之外的一种新兴的珍稀濒危植物保育方式。国际上再引入技术的研究刚起步,高度成功的还不多,目前可借鉴的成熟经验较少。通过分析国内外已经开展的若干珍稀濒危植物再引入技术案例,重点介绍国内外濒危兰科植物再引入的研究现状、技术体系和评价标准,讨论了再引入技术的类型和方法,并总结了可能影响再引入成败的制约性因素,分析了适用于兰科植物的再引入技术要素。由此提出濒危兰科植物再引入的重要现实意义,为今后的规模化人工栽培提供科学依据,同时有利于指导其他濒危植物再引入技术规程的制定。     

中国农业野生植物原生境保护实践与未来研究方向

农业野生植物原生境保护已成为国内外生物多样性保护热点。截止2011年底,我国利用物理隔离和主流化两种保护方法已建成各类农业野生植物原生境保护点226个,保护物种52个,分布于27个省(自治区、直辖市),其中物理隔离保护点154个,保护物种39个,分布于27个省(自治区、直辖市),主流化保护点72个,保护物种31个,分布于15个省(自治区、直辖市)。本文通过对我国已建成的农业野生植物原生境保护点的调查和分析,比较了物理隔离和主流化两种保护方法的优缺点,总结了两种保护方法建设农业野生植物原生境保护点的经验和存在的主要问题,提出了解决这些问题的思路与对策。在此基础上,结合国际上生物多样性保护的发展趋势,探讨了我国未来农业野生植物原生境保护的发展方向和关键措施。     

Documenting Biogeographical Patterns of African Timber Species Using Herbarium Records: A Conservation Perspective Based on Native Trees from Angola

In many tropical regions the development of informed conservation strategies is hindered by a dearth of biodiversity information. Biological collections can help to overcome this problem, by providing baseline information to guide research and conservation efforts. This study focuses on the timber trees of Angola, combining herbarium (2670 records) and bibliographic data to identify the main timber species, document biogeographic patterns and identify conservation priorities. The study recognized 18 key species, most of which are threatened or near-threatened globally, or lack formal conservation assessments. Biogeographical analysis reveals three groups of species associated with the enclave of Cabinda and northwest Angola, which occur primarily in Guineo-Congolian rainforests, and evergreen forests and woodlands. The fourth group is widespread across the country, and is mostly associated with dry forests. There is little correspondence between the spatial pattern of species groups and the ecoregions adopted by WWF, suggesting that these may not provide an adequate basis for conservation planning for Angolan timber trees. Eight of the species evaluated should be given high conservation priority since they are of global conservation concern, they have very restricted distributions in Angola, their historical collection localities are largely outside protected areas and they may be under increasing logging pressure. High conservation priority was also attributed to another three species that have a large proportion of their global range concentrated in Angola and that occur in dry forests where deforestation rates are high. Our results suggest that timber tree species in Angola may be under increasing risk, thus calling for efforts to promote their conservation and sustainable exploitation. The study also highlights the importance of studying historic herbarium collections in poorly explored regions of the tropics, though new field surveys remain a priority to update historical information.     

Global trends of habitat destruction and consequences for parrot conservation

Human advance on natural habitats is a major cause of biodiversity loss. This transformation process represents a profound change in wooded environments, disrupting original communities of flora and fauna. Many species are highly dependent on forests, especially parrots (Psittaciformes) with almost a third of their species threatened by extinction. Most parrot species occur in tropical and subtropical forests, and given the forest dependence of most species, this is the main reason why habitat loss has been highlighted as the main threat for the group. Such habitat loss acts in synergy with other important threats (e.g., logging and poaching), which become especially problematic in certain developing countries along tropical latitudes. In this study, we used available information on parrot distributions, species traits, IUCN assessment, habitat loss and timber extraction for different periods, and distribution of protected areas, to determine conservation hotspots for the group, and analyze potential changes in the conservation status of these species. We detected four conservation hotspots for parrots: two in the Neotropics and two in Oceania, all of them facing different degrees of threat in regard of current habitat loss and agricultural trends. Our results suggest that the future of the group is subject to policymaking in specific regions, especially in the northeastern Andes and the Atlantic Forest. In addition, we predicted that agricultural expansion will have a further negative effect on the conservation status of parrots, pushing many parrot species to the edge of extinction in the near future. Our results have conservation implications by recommending protected areas in specific parrot conservation hotspots. Our recommendations to mitigate conservation risks to this group of umbrella species would also benefit many other coexisting species as well.     

“Primeval forest relict beetles” of Central Europe: a set of 168 umbrella species for the protection of primeval forest remnants

Identification of forest stands with priority for the conservation of biodiversity is of particular importance in landscapes with a long cultural and agricultural history, such as Central Europe. A group of species with a high indicator value for the naturalness of forest ecosystems are saproxylic insects. Some of these species, especially within the order Coleoptera, have been described as primeval forests relicts. Here, we compiled a list of 168 “primeval forest relict species” of saproxylic beetles based on expert knowledge. These species can serve as focal and umbrella species for forest conservation in Central Europe. They were selected because of their dependence on the continuous presence of primeval forest habitat features, such as over-mature trees, high amounts of dead wood, and dead wood diversity, as well as their absence in managed Central European forests. These primeval forest relict species showed a moderately strong clumping pattern within the phylogeny of beetles, as indicated by phylogenetic signal testing using the D-statistic. When we controlled for phylogenetic relatedness, an ordinal linear model revealed that large body size and preference for dead wood and trees of large diameter are the main characteristics of these species. This list of species can be used to identify forest stands of conservation value throughout Central Europe, to prioritize conservation and to raise public awareness for conservation issues related to primeval forests.     

Conservation of orthopteran biological diversity relative to landscape change in temperate Eurasia

This paper discusses orthopteran conservation in temperate and subtropical Eurasia. Distribution patterns of the orthopteran centres of diversity and endemism are described. Eleven main areas of diversity and endemism are identified. The majority of rare taxa are associated with these areas. The distribution of protected areas is discussed in relation to orthopteran conservation. Some proposals for inclusion or exclusion of certain orthopteran species on the IUCN and national Red Lists are debated. Emphasis is given to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem mosaics for orthopteran biodiversity conservation.     

Gaps in mammal conservation in China: An analysis with a framework based on minimum area requirements

Climate change, habitat loss, and human disturbance are major threats to biodiversity. Protecting habitats plays a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation, and there is a global imperative to establish an effective system of protected areas (PAs) to implement habitat conservation and halt biodiversity decline. However, the protected patch size of habitat for a species is just as important for biodiversity conservation as the expansion of areas already under protection. In China, conservation management is often carried out based on administrative divisions. Therefore, here, an analytical conservation management framework was developed based on administrative divisions to assess whether the current network of PAs can effectively meet species' conservation needs using the minimum area requirements (MARs) of species as criteria for medium and large-sized mammals in China. This study found that the MAR of medium and large-sized mammals was larger in the northwest and smaller in the southeast, while taking the Hu line as the dividing line. Precipitation seasonality, elevation, annual mean temperature, and annual precipitation are the main environmental factors driving the distribution of a species MAR. Compared with MAR for each species, the maximum protected patch size of habitat is severely undersized in most provinces where those species primarily distribute, and this is particularly true for large carnivores and threatened species. The densely populated provinces of eastern China are particularly affected by this. The present study's framework can identify the provinces needing to expand PAs or implement other effective area-based conservation measures and habitat restoration. This analytical framework is also relevant for biodiversity conservation in different taxa and regions around the globe.     

Recent changes in colony sizes of two seabird species in Scotland are not strongly influenced by Birds Directive status of the colony

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated under the EU Birds Directive have improved the conservation status of many terrestrial bird species in Europe, but protecting breeding sites may be less effective for highly mobile birds such as seabirds. Colony census data for Great Skuas Stercorarius skua and Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus in Scotland show that breeding numbers have fared no better in sites where these species are SPA breeding features and, counter-intuitively, the evidence indicates better performance in non-SPA colonies, most likely because non-SPA colonies are generally smaller so are less subject to density-dependent competition. The main drivers of population change are widespread rather than colony-based in these two species with recent reductions in carrying capacity. Many other seabird species are vulnerable to similar widespread pressures so seabird conservation strategy needs to focus on mitigating these pressures, as designation of seabird breeding sites as SPAs is not enough to ensure effective seabird conservation.