Controlling inbreeding rate in the European zoo population of Hamadryas baboons Papio hamadryas with a breeding circle
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v9i1.585Keywords:
Hamadryas baboons, rotational mating, breeding circle, group management, population management, inbreeding rateAbstract
Genetic management based on kinships can be difficult to apply for animals living in groups without reliable pedigrees and with limited control over mating. Rotational mating is an alternative for which no pedigrees are needed. This study used computer simulations to estimate the effect of a breeding circle for the European zoo population of Hamadryas baboons Papio hamadryas. The breeding circle consisted of the 14 zoos with the largest populations in Europe. New-born females were transferred using a fixed scheme from Zoo 1 to Zoo 2, Zoo 2 to 3, 3 to 4 etc. and from Zoo 14 to Zoo 1. Frequency and number of transferred females varied. Breeding circles reduced inbreeding levels compared to a situation without exchange between zoos, while genetic diversity levels were almost the same. Without exchange between zoos, inbreeding rate per generation of the whole population was 1.93%. With a breeding circle, it ranged between 0.64% and 1.47%. Increased frequency of transfers and number of transferred females resulted in lower inbreeding rates. Within zoos, high inbreeding rates (up to 12.3%) without exchange disappeared with breeding circles (up to 2.3%). With random exchange between zoos, inbreeding rates were higher than with a breeding circle. Genetic diversity after 100 years was almost the same (98.5%) for no exchange, random exchange and with breeding circles. Breeding circles can thus be, at least sometimes, an effective way to genetically manage zoo populations in a way that is not labour intensive.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).