Conservation Biology and Reproduction in a Time of Developmental Plasticity

Abstract

The objective of this review is to ask whether, and how, principles in conservation biology may need to be revisited in light of new knowledge about the power of epigenetics to alter developmental pathways. Importantly, conservation breeding programmes, used widely by zoological parks and aquariums, may appear in some cases to reduce fitness by decreasing animals’ abilities to cope when confronted with the ‘wild side’ of their natural habitats. Would less comfortable captive conditions lead to the selection of individuals that, despite being adapted to life in a captive environment, be better able to thrive if relocated to a more natural environment? While threatened populations may benefit from advanced reproductive technologies, these may actually induce undesirable epigenetic changes. Thus, there may be inherent risks to the health and welfare of offspring (as is suspected in humans). Advanced breeding technologies, especially those that aim to regenerate the rarest species using stem cell reprogramming and artificial gametes, may also lead to unwanted epigenetic modifications. Current knowledge is still incomplete, and therefore ethical decisions about novel breeding methods remain controversial and difficult to resolve.

Review of the Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on the Behaviour and Physiology of Zoo Animals

“…DNA methylations can be used as biomarkers of past and present environmental stress, as well as biomarkers of physiological conditions [ 131 , 132 , 133 ]. Since an enclosure’s complexity can decrease captive stress [ 32 ], it can reduce the deleterious effects of DNA methylation [ 134 ], increasing the role of the captive population in conservation efforts [ 135 ]. This information shows how the integration of epigenetics (analysis of DNA methylation profiles) and animal husbandry with conservation biology can corroborate data on the physiological, biological, and ecological status of animals [ 131 , 136 ].…”

Information Flow between Parents and Offspring Is Essential for Successful Development

“…Finally, the paper by Holt and Comizzoli [ 16 ] takes a broad view of reproductive biology, focusing on recent progress in epigenetics and asks whether the rapidly changing environment might bring about developmental changes akin to accelerated evolution. The field of developmental epigenetics is still in its infancy, but it could resolve some very subtle but important and transgenerational effects.…”