Genetic and Demographic Modeling for Animal Colony and Population Management

Laboratory populations and colonies of animals are established and maintained for a variety of purposes with biomedical, reproductive, behavioral, and genetical research being among the most common uses. Animal populations are also established and maintained for conservation purposes, as is the case with endangered species captive breeding programs in zoological parks and similar institutions. The management of these populations differ in many substantial ways from those maintained primarily for research purposes. First and foremost, captive breeding programs usually focus on threatened and endangered species. For these programs, the conservation of the species is the ultimate objective and the primary concerns are the long-term maintenance of demographic viability and genetic diversity. Unlike most research laboratory colonies, it is these concerns that for the most part dictate which animals are to breed, with whom, and how often. The goal of long-term viability is made even more difficult by the 2nd major difference between laboratory and captive bred populations. Almost by definition, captive breeding populations of threatened and endangered species are small. The vast majority of mammal species held in zoos exist in total population sizes of 50 or fewer individuals. Loss of genetic diversity, problems related to inbreeding, and undesirable adaptation to the captive environment are major threats that emphasize the need for careful and intensive management of these populations.