Friday June 25 SMALL POPULATION MANAGEMENT

7:00 am: Breakfast

8:00 – 10:30 am: Ex-situ Conservation: Endangered Species Reproduction

Presenters: Linda Penfold (White Oak Conservation Center) and Bill Swanson (Cincinnati Zoo's Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife)

Penfold and Swanson presented principles, techniques and strategies used to enhance the reproductive health of threatened and endangered species in captivity, as well as ways in which this research is coupled with conservation of these species in the wild, including the challenges inherent in linking captive breeding to in situ conservation. Penfold also illustrated real-life problem-solving in the areas of assisted reproduction, animal translocation, and biological sample handling.

10:45 am – 12:30 pm: Conservation Genetics

Presenter: Steve O’Brien, National Institutes of Health

O’Brien introduced students to the principles of conservation genetics, and to the issues surrounding genetic management of small populations in a conservation setting. We were introduced to the research and investigative tools used to study the genetics of small populations. He had a great sense of humor and gave a very entertaining presentation.

12:30 pm: Lunch

1:30 – 6:00 pm: Laboratories

Leads: Linda Penfold, Bill Swanson, and Cyd Teare (White Oak Conservation Center)

We rotated through concurrent laboratories on: 1) assisted reproduction techniques; and 2) biological sample handling. I got to practice making blood smears, looking for sperm under the microscope, and cutting up testicles and ovaries. We also did some necropsy work on the uterus of a pregnant dog before learning about some practical field equipment.

6:00 pm: Dinner

Evening: Special Presentation: Biodiversity and Climate Change.

Presenter: Tom Lovejoy, H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment

Climate change is one of the defining environmental issues of our generation. Lovejoy presented on the importance and value of biodiversity, and on the current and future impacts of global climate change on fundamental biological processes and ecosystems. All in all, this was depressing as it feels like no one cares enough about the issue to fix it and it will soon be too late...