Marsupials: Progress and Prospects

Rodger, John C.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-23633-5_11

Cited by 7 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Establishing banks of frozen and viable semen from such species using conventional freezing methods is therefore not possible at present. However, it has been proposed that, on balance, spermatozoa is still worth freezing in the hope that techniques that can take advantage of the genetic material contained in currently non-viable cryopreserved gametes will become available sometime in the future ( Rodger et al 2019 ). Being able to quickly develop an optimal spermatozoa cryopreservation protocol for the variety of species selected as suitable candidates for cryobanking, and standardisation of these protocols, is the main challenge for researchers, especially when faced with extremely limited biological material to effectively develop a working protocol when an opportunity for spermatozoa collection arises.…”

Section: Gamete and Reproductive Tissue Cryopreservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resurrecting biodiversity: advanced assisted reproductive technologies and biobanking

Bolton¹,

Mooney²,

Pettit

et al. 2022

Reproduction and Fertility

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Biodiversity: the variety of all living organisms on Earth is essential for human survival. However, anthropogenic activities are causing the sixth mass extinction, threatening even our own species. For many animals, dwindling numbers are becoming fragmented populations with low genetic diversity, threatening long-term species viability. With extinction rates 1,000-10,000 times greater than is natural, ex situ and in situ conservation programmes need additional support to save species. The indefinite storage of cryopreserved (-196oC) viable cells and tissues (cryobanking), followed by assisted or advanced assisted reproductive technology (ART: utilisation of oocytes and spermatozoa to generate offspring; aART: utilisation of somatic cell genetic material to generate offspring), may be the only hope for species long-term survival. As such, cryobanking should be considered a necessity for all future conservation strategies. Following cryopreservation, ART/aART can be used to reinstate lost genetics back into a population, resurrecting biodiversity. However, for this to be successful, species-specific protocol optimisation and increased knowledge of basic biology for many taxa is required. Current ART/aART is primarily focused on mammalian taxa, however, this needs to be extended to all, including to some of the most endangered: amphibians. Gamete, reproductive tissue and somatic cell cryobanking can fill the gap between losing genetic diversity today, and future technological developments. This review explores species prioritisation for cryobanking and the successes and challenges of cryopreservation and multiple ARTs/aARTs. We discuss the value of cryobanking before more species are lost and the potential of advanced reproductive technologies not only to halt, but reverse biodiversity loss.

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Section: Gamete and Reproductive Tissue Cryopreservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resurrecting biodiversity: advanced assisted reproductive technologies and biobanking

Bolton¹,

Mooney²,

Pettit

et al. 2022

Reproduction and Fertility

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“…Other suggested alternatives to killing non-native mammals include the use of technological interventions that are still being researched, such as gene drives to induce sterility (Morris, 2021). While gene drives perhaps offer the ultimate solution for Aotearoa-New Zealand's non-native mammal issue, these technologies will require a change in government policy to be implemented (Wright, 2017) and are unlikely to be developed for many years, if at all (Rodger, 2019). To suspend lethal control of non-native mammals in the meantime, in the hope of a future technological solution, would place sensitive species and ecosystems at too much risk.…”

Section: To Value 'Ecological Sustainability'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation education in Aotearoa-New Zealand: a values perspective

Birdsall

Kelly

2022

Aust. J. environ. educ.

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Throughout the world, Aotearoa-New Zealand is recognised for its extraordinary biodiversity. However, many species that make up this distinctive biodiversity are under threat of extinction due to human impacts, such as the ill-considered introduction of particular animals. Many New Zealanders participate in the protection and restoration of their environment, which involves the lethal control of these introduced animals. Primary school children (5–13 years old) engage in conservation education as part of their learning, which aims to develop their abilities to take informed action to protect and restore our environment, sometimes including lethal control of introduced animals. Recently, concerns have been raised that children learning about the lethal control of introduced animals does not align with the values that should be explored and encouraged according to Aotearoa-New Zealand’s national curriculum. We argue that conservation education, including learning about the lethal control of introduced animals, encourages children to explore and encourage these values, namely valuing the diversity in their heritages, ecological sustainability, participation for the common good, equity, innovation, and respect for others.

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“…There are few examples of in situ outcomes of biobanking in threatened species recovery due to a lack of research to deliver the species‐specific reproductive knowledge required for ART and biobanking development (Howell, Frankham, et al., 2021; Howell, Mawson, et al., 2021; Howell et al., 2022; Rodger, 2019; Temple‐Smith, 2003). Lessons can be learned from the gold‐standard case of the ex situ recovery of the black‐footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The complex reproductive systems and diversity in marsupial reproduction seen across species make them a challenging taxonomic group for the development of biobanking and ARTs (Rodger, 2019, 2020; Witt & Rodger, 2018). Marsupials are highly unique and share a reproductive strategy in which young are born in an embryo‐like state and development to independence is supported by lactation, usually in a pouch or marsupium (Tyndale‐Biscoe, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Marsupials are highly unique and share a reproductive strategy in which young are born in an embryo‐like state and development to independence is supported by lactation, usually in a pouch or marsupium (Tyndale‐Biscoe, 2005). Despite decades of research, practical advances in marsupial research have been isolated and major knowledge gaps remain (Rodger, 1991, 2019; Rodger et al., 2009; Witt & Rodger, 2018). Artificial insemination with frozen and thawed sperm has been attempted but without success; only the koala has had live births (Johnston & Holt, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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