Development of assisted reproductive technologies for the conservation of Atelopus sp. (spumarius complex)

Naranjo, Renato E.; Naydenova, E.; Proaño-Bolaños, Carolina; Vizuete, Karla; Debut, Alexis; Arias, Marbel Torres; Coloma, Luis A.

doi:10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.12.005

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…In recent years, the successful cryopreservation of sperm obtained non-invasively as spermic urine or milt has been achieved in a growing number of threatened species, including the Chinese giant salamander ( Andrias davidianus ) [ 146 ], the Wyoming toad ( A. baxteri ) [ 147 ], the Houston toad ( Anaxyrus houstonensis ) [ 148 ], a Harlequin frog ( Atelopus sp.) [ 149 ], the Panamanian golden frog ( Atelopus zeteki ) [ 150 ], the Hellbender ( C. alleganiensis ) [ 37 ], the Chiricahua leopard frog ( Lithobates chiricahensis ) [ 148 ], the dusky gopher frog ( L. sevosa ) [ 35 , 147 ], the green and golden bell frog ( L. aurea )(R. Upton, unpublished data), the Booroolong frog ( L. booroolongensis ) (R. J. Hobbs et al, unpublished data), the yellow-spotted bell frog ( Litoria castanea ) (R. J. Hobbs and J. K. O’Brien, unpublished data), Littlejohn’s tree frog ( Litoria littlejohni ) (R. Upton, unpublished data), the black-spotted newt ( Notophthalmus meridionalis ) [ 151 ], the Puerto Rican crested toad ( P. lemur ) [ 148 , 152 ], Baw Baw frog ( Philoria frosti ) (A. J. Silla and R. J. Hobbs et al, unpublished data), the Southern corroboree frog ( P. corroboree ), the Northern corroboree frog ( Pseudophryne pengilleyi ) (R. J. Hobbs and J. K. O’Brien, unpublished data), and the Kweichow newt ( Tylototriton kweichowensis ) [ 151 ]. The cryopreservation of spermic urine does present some challenges.…”

Section: Protocols For the Cryopreservation Of Amphibian Spermmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Increasing Role of Short-Term Sperm Storage and Cryopreservation in Conserving Threatened Amphibian Species

Anastas

Byrne

O’Brien

et al. 2023

Animals

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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 for the genetic management of many more threatened species globally. This review discusses the role of sperm storage in amphibian conservation, presents the state of current technologies for the short-term cold storage and cryopreservation of amphibian sperm, and discusses the generation of cryo-derived offspring.

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Section: Protocols For the Cryopreservation Of Amphibian Spermmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Increasing Role of Short-Term Sperm Storage and Cryopreservation in Conserving Threatened Amphibian Species

Anastas

Byrne

O’Brien

et al. 2023

Animals

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“…Though species differences may exist, as studies of R. temporania suggest, the optimal cooling rate is similar for testicular and spermic urine [24,25], and spermic urine from Atelopus sp. fares better with slow cooling and thawing [55].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryopreservation Cooling Rate Impacts Post-Thaw Sperm Motility and Survival in Litoria booroolongensis

Hobbs,

Upton,

Calatayud

et al. 2023

Animals

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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 straws using either a programmable freezer (FrA) or an adapted dry shipper method (FrB). The thawed samples were activated via dilution in water and assessed for viability and motility using both manual assessment and computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA; 0 h, 0.5 h post-thaw). Upon activation, the survival and recovery of motility (total motility, forward progression and velocity) of cryopreserved sperm suspensions were higher for sperm preserved using FrB than FrA, regardless of CPA composition. This work supports our long-term goal to pioneer the integration of biobanked cryopreserved sperm with population genetic management to maximize restoration program outcomes for Australian amphibian species.

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“…Furthermore, the emerging focus on biobanking may reflect new opportunities to integrate captive populations into conservation efforts, as has been done in the last decade by zoos and aquariums that maintain ex situ amphibian populations (Murphy & Gratwicke, 2017a). For example, biobanking efforts are being integrated in conservation actions worldwide (Naranjo et al, 2022) and are becoming an essential component of conservation (Silla et al, 2023). Importantly, local journals have limited impact on the field at large as they are likely not read widely by the global research community.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene

Grant

Amburgey

Gratwicke

et al. 2023

Conservat Sci and Prac

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The problem of global amphibian declines has prompted extensive research over the last three decades. Initially, the focus was on identifying and characterizing the extent of the problem, but more recently efforts have shifted to evidence‐based research designed to identify best solutions and to improve conservation outcomes. Despite extensive accumulation of knowledge on amphibian declines, there remain knowledge gaps and disconnects between science and action that hamper our ability to advance conservation efforts. Using input from participants at the ninth World Congress of Herpetology, a U.S. Geological Survey Powell Center symposium, amphibian on‐line forums for discussion, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Gamete Biobanking group, and respondents to a survey, we developed a list of 25 priority research questions for amphibian conservation at this stage of the Anthropocene. We identified amphibian conservation research priorities while accounting for expected tradeoffs in geographic scope, costs, and the taxonomic breadth of research needs. We aimed to solicit views from individuals rather than organizations while acknowledging inequities in participation. Emerging research priorities (i.e., those under‐represented in recently published amphibian conservation literature) were identified, and included the effects of climate change, community‐level (rather than single species‐level) drivers of declines, methodological improvements for research and monitoring, genomics, and effects of land‐use change. Improved inclusion of under‐represented members of the amphibian conservation community was also identified as a priority. These research needs represent critical knowledge gaps for amphibian conservation although filling these gaps may not be necessary for many conservation actions.

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Development of assisted reproductive technologies for the conservation of Atelopus sp. (spumarius complex)

Cited by 13 publications

References 53 publications

The Increasing Role of Short-Term Sperm Storage and Cryopreservation in Conserving Threatened Amphibian Species

The Increasing Role of Short-Term Sperm Storage and Cryopreservation in Conserving Threatened Amphibian Species

Cryopreservation Cooling Rate Impacts Post-Thaw Sperm Motility and Survival in Litoria booroolongensis

Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene

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