New Challenges and Perspectives in Conservation Breeding Programs

Conservation Breeding Programs (CBPs) remain essential tools to preserve animal biodiversity and save threatened species from extinction. Despite the advances made during the last decades, CBPs have been carried out only on a small number of species, mostly mammals and birds. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop and complement in-situ and ex-situ strategies to also preserve other vertebrates like fish, amphibians, and reptiles, in which the biodiversity loss because of climate change or other anthropogenic activities is even more dramatic. One of the main factors that limits CBPs' success is the lack of knowledge of the animal reproductive biology and behavior, which is precisely known, for instance, in less than 4% of mammals, the majority of which are terrestrial species. Such knowledge is beneficial not only to enhance but also to control animal fertility that is especially warranted for the management of overabundant or invasive species, which represent a further major threat for biodiversity

The goal of this Research Topic is to bring together studies that deal with different aspects of animal reproduction both in captive and wild populations. This includes both ex-situ and in-situ approaches such as the management of animal reproduction in captive populations and their reintroduction/release into the wild. Other approaches such as assisted reproductive technologies and biobanking greatly contribute to the success of conservation breeding. This Research Topic also welcomes studies exploring the effects of biotic (e.g., inbreeding, diseases, stress) and abiotic (e.g., anthropogenic activities, housing, and veterinary care) factors on reproductive biology of all vertebrates' classes, with a special interest to fish, amphibians, and reptiles. As a comprehensive knowledge of animal reproduction and behavior plays a key role for the development and success of breeding programs, descriptive studies on reproductive anatomy and physiology of wild or captive species, either endangered or overabundant, are welcomed. The Research Topic also accepts manuscripts that deal with ethical aspects of animal welfare in CBPs and population management of invasive or overabundant species.

The Research Topic welcomes not only original research and review papers, but also Brief Research Reports, Community Case Studies, Policy Briefs, Hypotheses and Theories, and Opinions. Potential themes include, but are not limited to:
-Reproductive anatomy and physiology of endangered species
-Impact of biotic and abiotic factors on animal reproduction in captive and wild populations
-Non-invasive monitoring of the reproductive cycle in wild and zoo animals
-Development and optimization of methods for gametes and embryo collection and storage
-Development and optimization of methods for in vitro and in vivo fertilization techniques
-Development of minimally invasive protocols for the population management of wild and captive species
-Animal cloning and biobanking
-Ethical aspects of animal welfare in CBPs and population management of invasive or overabundant species
-Results of pilot or multi-year in-situ and ex-situ CBPs

Keywords: Assisted reproductive techniques, Endangered species, Gamete and embryo collection and storage, Wildlife, Animal Welfare, Conservation Breeding Programs, Invasive Species, Minimally-invasive Methods, Reproductive Cycle, Zoo Animals

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.