title: Zoos through the lens of the IUCN Red List: a global metapopulation approach to support conservation breeding programs.
abstract: Given current extinction trends, the number of species requiring conservation breeding programs (CBPs) is likely to increase dramatically. To inform CBP policies for threatened terrestrial vertebrates, we evaluated the number and representation of threatened vertebrate species on the IUCN Red List held in the ISIS zoo network and estimated the complexity of their management as metapopulations. Our results show that 695 of the 3,955 (23%) terrestrial vertebrate species in ISIS zoos are threatened. Only two of the 59 taxonomic orders show a higher proportion of threatened species in ISIS zoos than would be expected if species were selected at random. In addition, for most taxa, the management of a zoo metapopulation of more than 250 individuals will require the coordination of a cluster of 11 to 24 ISIS zoos within a radius of 2,000 km. Thus, in the zoo network, the representation of species that may require CBPs is currently low and the spatial distribution of these zoo populations makes management difficult. Although the zoo community may have the will and the logistical potential to contribute to conservation actions, including CBPs, to do so will require greater collaboration between zoos and other institutions, alongside the development of international agreements that facilitate cross-border movement of zoo animals. To maximize the effectiveness of integrated conservation actions that include CBPs, it is fundamental that the non-zoo conservation community acknowledges and integrates the expertise and facilities of zoos where it can be helpful.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark ; Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark ; Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dalia A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Conde
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark ; Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colchero
authors.affiliation: World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Gland, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gusset
authors.affiliation: Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pearce-Kelly
authors.affiliation: IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, Minnesota, United States of America.
authors.forename: Onnie
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.affiliation: International Species Information System, Eagan, Minnesota, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nate
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Flesness
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark ; Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Owen R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001947:Breeding; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D056727:Endangered Species; D005260:Female; D008297:Male