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The phenotypic costs of captivity
Author(s) -
Crates Ross,
Stojanovic Dejan,
Heinsohn Robert
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
biological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.993
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1469-185X
pISSN - 1464-7931
DOI - 10.1111/brv.12913
Subject(s) - captivity , threatened species , biology , captive breeding , selection (genetic algorithm) , extinction (optical mineralogy) , biodiversity , population , anthropocene , zoology , ecology , evolutionary biology , endangered species , habitat , demography , paleontology , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science
The breeding of threatened species in captivity for release is a central tool in conservation biology. Given gloomy predictions for biodiversity trends in the Anthropocene, captive breeding will play an increasingly important role in preventing future extinctions. Relative to the wild, captive environments drastically alter selection pressures on animals. Phenotypic change in captive animals in response to these altered selection pressures can incur fitness costs post‐release, jeopardising their potential contribution to population recovery. We explore the ways in which captive environments can hinder the expression of wild phenotypes. We also stress that the phenotypes of captive‐bred animals differ from their wild counterparts in multiple ways that remain poorly understood. We propose five new research questions relating to the impact of captive phenotypes on reintroduction biology. With better use of monitoring and experimental reintroductions, a more robust evidence base should help inform adaptive management and minimise the phenotypic costs of captivity, improving the success of animal reintroductions.