Reproductive Technologies and Biobanking for the Conservation of Amphibians

249 Pages·2022·6.455 MB·English

by  Aimee Silla, Andy Kouba, Harold Heatwole

REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
AND BIOBANKING FOR THE
CONSERVATION OF AMPHIBIANS
EDITORS: AIMEE J. SILLA, ANDY J. KOUBA AND HAROLD HEATWOLE
REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
AND BIOBANKING FOR THE
CONSERVATION OF AMPHIBIANS
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Front cover: (top) Litoria booroolongensis (photo by Aimee Silla); (bottom left to right) Pseudophryne pengilleyi (photo by Aimee Silla),
Gyrinophilus porphyriticus (photo by Dustin Smith), Pseudophryne corroboree (photo by Aimee Silla); (bottom background) Anaxyrus fowleri
testis (photo by Allison Julien)
Back cover: (left to right) Pseudophryne corroboree (photo by Shannon Kelleher and Aimee Silla), Ambystoma mexicanum (photo by Michael
Bushnell), Peltophryne lemur (photo by Diane Barber)
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Jun22_01
REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
AND BIOBANKING FOR THE
CONSERVATION OF AMPHIBIANS
EDITORS: AIMEE J. SILLA, ANDY J. KOUBA AND HAROLD HEATWOLE
Dedication
collected works, helped lay the foundation for many of
the researchers’ advancements in amphibian conserva-
tion that are described within the following chapters. It is
for this reason that we celebrate his foundational accom-
plishments and dedicate this book to his achievements.
As a research scientist, Paul focused on physiology,
environmental adaptation, and endocrinology. Paul pio-
neered studies that developed assays to measure hor-
mones that circulated at very low levels and his major
contributions were his studies of the role of pituitary
hormones in growth and reproduction and environmen-
tal regulation of reproductive hormones and seasonal
cycles. Paul’s interest did not end with amphibians (anu-
rans and urodeles) – he has also published on fish, reptiles
(turtles, snakes, and lizards), birds (turkey and ostrich)
and mammals (rats, bats, moles, ground squirrels, ham-
sters, hyenas, baboons, and humans). Paul has published
over 300 peer-reviewed papers and, in addition to
This volume is dedicated to Paul Licht, PhD. Paul grew up amphibian reproductive physiology, the topics of his
in St Louis, Missouri and obtained his Bachelor of Arts papers ranged quite broadly and included purification,
degree in Zoology from Washington University in identification, and characterisation of the role of pituitary
St Louis, Missouri in 1959. After obtaining his Master’s hormones in growth and reproduction in amphibians,
degree (1961) and PhD at the University of Michigan, reptiles, and mammals; effects of temperature on cardiac
Ann Arbor (1964) under the mentorship of Professor function and physiology; effects of temperature and pho-
William Dawson, Paul immediately accepted a position toperiod on hormones and reproduction; thermoregula-
as Assistant Professor at the University of California, tion in amphibians, reptiles, and mammals; discovery of
Berkeley. There he would spend his entire career as a Pro- a novel thyroid hormone binding protein in turtles; physi-
fessor in Zoology, Professor in Integrative Biology and ological responses to temperature in bats; sex differentia-
Endocrinology, Dean of Biological Sciences (1994–2002), tion, reproduction, and siblicide in hyenas; placental
Chair of Deans (1998–2002), and finally as Director of the steroidogenesis in mammals; salinity tolerance and
University of California Berkeley Botanical Garden osmoregulation in reptiles; reproduction in endangered
(2003–16). sea turtles; retention and loss of water in scale-less snakes;
Paul is a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, reproduction and seasonality in amphibians; develop-
has given numerous distinguished lectures and has ment and function of cutaneous glands in amphibians;
received many honours and awards, including the 1st and the role of steroid hormones in metamorphosis and
Grace Pickford Medal, International Society of Compara- sexual differentiation in amphibians.
tive Endocrinology (1981); the Berkeley Citation, Univer- As a researcher, Paul was active in both the labora-
sity of California (2002); the Distinguished Alumni of the tory and the field. Most impressive, Paul continued to
Year Award, University of California, Berkeley (2006); work at the laboratory bench throughout his career. In
and induction into the Berkeley Fellows Centennial Hon- addition to advising students’ projects in the laboratory,
orary Society (2012). he found time to work on his own projects, purchased
The concepts and knowledge on amphibian reproduc- new equipment to modernise the laboratory, and devel-
tive biology and endocrinology, described by Paul in his oped new physiological techniques. As a student,
Dedication v
securing time at the bench meant waking up before understand heat transfer in a counter-current model, to
dawn to make sure that you were in the laboratory know why a reindeer’s feet melt the snow when they
before Paul was already set up and running experiments stand in it, to understand partial pressures of gases when
(including weekends). thinking about diving marine mammals, and how to
Above scientific curiosity, Paul simply loved animals. scale up an LSD dose for an elephant’s metabolism.
He visited the university’s vivarium daily and spent an Paul is also a deep-thinker with regard to social
inordinate amount of time watching and feeding his tur- issues and someone who sought to improve diversity,
tles … until the Office of Laboratory Animal Care finally equity, and inclusion in academia. Even when he was
asked him to stop (he often fed them even after the staff not clear whether or not transgressions or misunder-
had already cleaned the tanks). In addition, Paul’s enthu- standing occurred in the laboratory, you were sure to
siasm for life does not end with animals; he maintains have a conversation the next day to clarify points and
quite an impressive personal garden at his home. reach fairness and understanding. In my recent discus-
Paul was as rigorous as a teacher in the classroom as he sions with Paul on current issues about the Black Lives
was a researcher in the laboratory. He is known for asking Matter movement, Paul expressed concern, hoping that
the key questions at conferences and lectures. Students he had never done anything to discourage diversity,
and senior scientists alike had nightmares about watch- equity and inclusion. ‘I hope I treated you all equally
ing Paul’s hand go up after a talk or lecture. I once wit- harsh,’ he said. I assured him that he had and I also
nessed him ask such piercing questions of a speaker a few assured him that all of his students and colleagues are
minutes into his talk that the remainder of the speaker’s the better for it.
lecture time turned into discussion and he had to return Above all else, I have learned in my 32 years of know-
the following week (after doing more experiments) for a ing Paul … whether for birthdays or academic celebra-
second seminar just to answer Paul’s questions. tions … Paul doesn’t like surprises. So he is well aware
Paul demanded critical thinking of his students, even that this dedication is coming. It is my honour to have
when he taught elective courses for non-science majors authored this dedication to a great mentor, advisor, and
to fulfil their requirements for breadth. Non-biology friend. The field would not be the same without him.
majors expecting a fluff course quickly found out that
Paul was not the instructor to go to for an easy pass. Even Tyrone B. Hayes
for students who had no plans of pursuing a career in University of California
science, Paul felt it was of utmost importance for them to 3 January 2021
Contents
Dedication iv
List of contributors viii
Preface ix
Volumes in the series Amphibian Biology x
1 Integrating reproductive technologies into the conservation toolbox for the recovery
of amphibian species 1
Aimee J. Silla and Andy J. Kouba
2 Status of global amphibian declines and the prioritisation of species for
captive breeding 10
Kevin Johnson and Joseph R. Mendelson III
3 Methods of identifying the sex of amphibians and of conditioning captive
brood stock for assisted reproduction 23
Luke J. Linhoff, Jennifer M. Germano, and Frank C. Molinia
Colour plates 39
4 Hormonal control of amphibian reproduction 49
Vance L. Trudeau, Brianna H. Raven, Harsh K. Pahuja, and Edward J. Narayan
5 Non-invasive monitoring of stress physiology during management and
breeding of amphibians in captivity 69
Edward J. Narayan
6 Ultrasonography to assess female reproductive status and inform
hormonally induced ovulation 84
Katherine M. Graham and Carrie K. Kouba
7 Protocols for hormonally induced spermiation, and the cold storage, activation,
and assessment of amphibian sperm 106
Aimee J. Silla and Cecilia J. Langhorne
8 Genetic management of threatened amphibians: using artificial fertilisation
technologies to facilitate genetic rescue and assisted gene flow 124
Phillip G. Byrne and Aimee J. Silla
9 Cryopreservation of amphibian genomes: targeting the Holy Grail,
cryopreservation of maternal-haploid and embryonic-diploid genomes 147
John Clulow, Rose Upton, and Simon Clulow
Contents vii
10 Culturing and biobanking of amphibian cell lines for conservation applications 166
Julie Strand, Barbara Fraser, Marlys L. Houck, and Simon Clulow
11 Linking in situ and ex situ populations of threatened amphibian species using
genome resource banks 188
Carrie K. Kouba and Allison R. Julien
12 Genome resource banks as a tool for amphibian conservation 204
Andy J. Kouba
Appendix 221
Index 222
List of contributors
CO-EDITORS (ALSO AUTHORS) JOHNSON, Kevin, Amphibian Ark, Apple Valley, Min-
SILLA, Aimee J., School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life nesota, MN 55124, USA. [email protected]
Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW JULIEN, Allison R., Department of Ectotherms, Fort
2522, Australia. [email protected] Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, TX 76110, USA. Ajulien@fort-
KOUBA, Andy J., Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and worthzoo.org
Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Mississippi KOUBA, Carrie K., Biochemistry, Molecular Biology,
State, MS 39762, USA. [email protected] Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State Uni-
HEATWOLE, Harold, Department of Zoology, Univer- versity, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. ckv7@msstate.
sity of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia, edu
and Department of Biology, North Carolina State Univer- LANGHORNE, Cecilia J., Conservation Science Net-
sity, Raleigh, NC 27695-7617, USA. harold_heatwole@ work, Glasgow, G12 0HW, UK. cecilia.langhorne@gmail.
ncsu.edu com
LINHOFF, Luke J., Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Con-
servation Biology Institute, Washington DC 20008, USA.
AUTHORS [email protected]
BYRNE, Phillip G., School of Earth, Atmospheric and MENDELSON III, Joseph R., Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Geor-
Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, gia 30315-1440, USA and School of Biological Sciences,
NSW 2522, Australia. [email protected] Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
CLULOW, John, Conservation Biology Research Group, [email protected]
School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of MOLINIA, Frank C., Manaaki Whenua – Landcare
Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. john.clu- Research, Auckland 1072, New Zealand. MoliniaF@land-
[email protected] careresearch.co.nz
CLULOW, Simon, Centre for Conservation Ecology and NARAYAN, Edward J., School of Agriculture and Food Sci-
Genomics, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of ences, University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia.
Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia. simon.clulow@ [email protected]
canberra.edu.au PAHUJA, Harsh K., School of Agriculture and Food Sci-
FRASER, Barbara, Priority Research Centre for Repro- ences, University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia.
ductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, [email protected]
NSW 2308, and Australia and Pregnancy and Reproduc- RAVEN, Brianna H., Department of Biology, University
tion Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada. brave030@
Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia. barbara.fraser@ uottawa.ca
newcastle.edu.au STRAND, Julie, Aalborg University, Department of
GERMANO, Jennifer M., Department of Conservation, Chemistry and Bioscience, Fredrik Bajers V ej 7K, 9220
Nelson 7045, New Zealand. [email protected] Aalborg Øst, Denmark and Randers Regnskov, Tørve-
GRAHAM, Katherine M., Anderson Cabot Center for bryggen 11, 8900 Randers C, Denmark. js@biosfaeren.
Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA 02110, dk
USA. [email protected] TRUDEAU, Vance L., Department of Biology, University
HAYES, Tyrone B., Department of Integrative Biology, of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada. trudeauv@
University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-5800, USA. uottawa.ca
[email protected] UPTON, Rose, Conservation Biology Research Group,
HOUCK, Marlys L., San Diego Zoo Institute for Conser- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of
vation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escon- Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. rose.upton@
dido, CA 92027, USA. [email protected] uon.edu.au
Preface
This book is Volume 12 in the series Amphibian Biology, research on this topic has accelerated as the need for it has
which covers all aspects of the biology of this fascinating become more urgent, and it became imperative to review
group of vertebrates. Volumes 8 and 10 dealt with conser- this new information for the benefit of scientists entering
vation of amphibians on a topical basis, and Volumes 9 this field, for public officials involved in conservation,
(Western Hemisphere) and 11 (Eastern Hemisphere) and for the public in general. Captive breeding programs
examined the threats to amphibians and the status of were discussed in some of the chapters in the country-by-
their decline and conservation on a country-by-country country assessments, but biobanking and the establish-
basis. Different subregions were treated in separate issues ment of repositories for germplasm have not been covered.
(Parts) of Volumes 9 and 11. At present the coverage for As an ever-increasing emerging approach, it is timely to
South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe is complete and publish a review of this important topic.
has been published; an issue for the Caribbean islands is The 9th World Congress of Herpetology was convened
in press; two issues, one covering the Near East and the at the University of Otago in New Zealand in January
other covering Central America and Mexico are in prepa- 2020, by the late Phil Bishop as the last of his many out-
ration, leaving only the United States and Canada to be standing contributions to herpetology. It provided the
launched in a combined Part of Volume 9. opportunity for the fruition of the above approaches. The
Amphibians, with their permeable skins, cutaneous senior two editors of this volume, Aimee Silla and Andrew
respiration and dependence on water are especially sensi- Kouba, organised a symposium for the Congress entitled
tive to pollution, desiccation, and the fragmentation and ‘Reproductive Biotechnologies and Biobanking for
loss of habitat, and the series has highlighted the threats Amphibian Conservation’. Many of the innovators and
they face in a world in which climatic instability, emerg- practitioners of new methods for propagating amphibians
ing new diseases, and a burgeoning human population, in captivity, and successfully returning them to viability
with its attendant assault on the natural world, threaten in nature, participated in that symposium, and exposed
the very existence of the global biota. Amphibians argua- pitfalls to avoid and created guidelines to use for achiev-
bly have suffered the greatest of any vertebrate taxon, and ing the desired results. The papers that were presented,
the one most in need of research dedicated to their con- and the heuristic discussions that followed, constituted
servation and the prevention of massive extinction. The the seed that germinated and flowered into the present
above library has covered most aspects of this topic and book. It is hoped that this modest beginning will stimu-
has reviewed the progress of legislation protecting late further, and more effective, research by increasing the
amphibians; the setting aside of refuges; the spread of number of institutions involved in this endeavour to those
emergent diseases; the employment of captive breeding; already with active programs (see the Appendix at the end
assessment of the threats and classifying the degrees of of this book) and stimulate collaboration of traditional
threat to a wide variety of species; as well as the relevant and emerging technologies, for a better and more endur-
aspects of the taxonomy, natural history, and distribution ing conservation of earth’s precious amphibian biota.
of amphibians. Several herpetologists, however, have
stressed to me the need to provide a guide to the practical Harold Heatwole
methodology for snatching endangered species of Editor, Amphibian Biology
amphibians from the brink of extinction. In recent years, 23 December 2021