The role of reproductive biotechnologies in animal conservation

Abstract

The role of reproductive biotechnologies in animal conservation. Habitat destruction and fragmentation is leading to an increase in inbreeding which threatens the viability of both natural populations and captive breeding programmes. Inbreeding increases individual
mortality rates and decreases reproductive rates. Among males inbreeding decreases seminal quality affecting traits crucial for fertilization success. To avoid the deleterious effects of inbreeding it is necessary to promote gene exchange between populations. Reproductive biotechnologies  offer new solutions to facilitate the genetic management of endangered species, such as the development of genetic resource banks, which allow the preservation of semen, ova, and embryos, as well as other tissues. The main advantage of these banks is that they preserve the genetic variability of a given species indefinitely. The use of reproductive biotechnologies such as semen cryopreservation and artificial insemination facilitate the exchange of genes between populations and allow matings which are desirable from the point of view of genetic management.