Transcript American Bison Restoration as a Model for the Propagation

American Bison Restoration as
a Model for the Propagation of
African Wildlife Populations
James Derr
College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University
An Overview of Today’s Seminar
A short discussion of our 10 years of genetics
research with American bison.
– Objectives, results and important findings
– Current and future research with American bison
Using these bison studies as a model for the
conservation African wildlife species
– Systematic collection of DNA and health/location/carcass
trait information from hunter killed animals in Africa
– Developing high resolution genetic technologies, using
the bison model and with knowledge from recent genome
sequencing projects, for selected African wildlife species
A Model for Conservation
Genetics - American Bison
The Bison Conservation Genetics Program at Texas A&M University
Collaborators:
Funding Agencies:
Dr. Todd Ward
Dr. Robert Schnabel
Dr. Natalie Halbert
Dr. Chris Seabury
Dr. Joe Templeton
Dr. Don Davis
Dr. Loren Skow
Dr. Bhanu Chowdhary
Dr. Jim Womack
Dr. William Grant
Dr. Ron Heibert
Dr. Peter Gogan
Dr. David Hunter
Danny Sweptson
Claire Kolenda
Federal and private bison
managers, owners and biologist
Texas A&M University
Texas Agriculture Experiment Station
The Nature Conservancy
US Department of the Interior
- National Parks Service
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
Canadian Park Service
National Science Foundation
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Turner Foundation
Private bison owners
Bison as a Conservation Model for
Genetic Survival
For many, conservation biology is often considered a “crisis
discipline” because many of the species that are of interest
are critically threatened in some way.
Clearly, the recovery of North American bison is one of the best
documented success stories in conservation biology.
About 10 years ago we started a NSF funded study of bison
conservation genetics. The objectives were to uncover why
the bison recovery was so successful and to develop models
for the conservation of other large mammals; specifically
large African wildlife species.
Just to quickly review American Bison history
• Bison suffered a well documented population decline that between
1840 to 1905.
• Population numbers were reduced from millions to a few hundred
animals distributed across North America.
• Although most of the blame for this tragedy falls on hunters , a
number of other explanations are available.
• An analysis of the fossil record also suggest that bison may have
gone through a number of historical bottlenecks.
However, modern bison appear to be relatively free of the inbreeding
depression and other fitness related problems usually associated
with severe population bottlenecks. Why?
The Bone(s) of Contention……
The Great Recovery
)
Foundation Plains Bison Herds (1888 - 1905
James McKay / William Alloway Herd - Canada
Walking Coyote (Pablo / Allard Herd) - Montana
Frederick Dupree - South Dakota
Charles (Buffalo) Jones - Kansas
Charles Goodnight - Texas
(Some of these herds were used to produce a few hybrids between bison and beef cattle to
“improve” disease resistance and possible energy conversion in beef cattle.)
(The hybridization experiments worked…. improving beef cattle ideas did not.)
In addition, a few “wild” animals (22 - 25) remained in
Yellowstone National Park.
Bison Populations: 1888
Walking Coyote-Pablo-Allard
(35)
YNP
(30)
McKay-Alloway
(70)
1907
Dupree-Philip
(9)
Historic bison range:
1600s – 1700s
Charles “Buffalo” Jones
(57)
Goodnight
(13)
WMWR
*From Coder 1975, derived from Hornaday
Bronx Zoo
Success of the “The Great Bison Recovery”
Plains bison numbered over 5000 by the middle
1930s and they were considered by the American
Bison Society as “out of danger of extinction”
Current NA bison census: ~500,000 animals
Most bison are in private herds
– In some cases they are artificially selected for size,
growth rate, behavior, less hump, more rump, etc
– Most screened private herd have cattle introgression
<20,000 bison maintained by US & Canadian
governments
– Different goals than private herds
– Most likely an important source of non-hybridized bison
that can be maintained for future generations
Public Bison Populations Sampled for Genetic Studies
State & Private Herds
Federal Herds
Antelope Island State Park,
UT
Henry Mountains, UT
Custer State Park, SD
Finney Game Refuge, KS
Maxwell Game Refuge, KS
Texas State Bison Herd, TX
Santa Catalina Island, CA
Nature Conservancy herds
Wichita Mtns. NWR
Ft. Niobrara NWR
National Bison Range NWR
Neal Smith NWR
Sully’s Hill National Preserve
Badlands NP
Theodore Roosevelt NP
Wind Cave NP
Grand Teton NP
Yellowstone NP
Wood Buffalo NP (Can.)
Elk island NP (Can.)
Mackenzie Sanctuary (Can.)
More than 100 private bison
herds
To date, archived over 15,000 bison DNA samples
Deliverables from these genetic studies with bison
(>20 scientific publications)
Technology from the cattle genome sequencing and gene mapping efforts:
– Compare levels of genetic diversity among populations
• inbreeding depression, hidden population subdivision, disease
resistance genes
– Establish genetic relationships between populations
• Confirm population histories, identify unique lineages
– Use as platform to investigate management strategies
• Effect of culling, skewed sex ratios, small population sizes, herd
reduction
– Determine parentage in small and large populations
• Multiple sire private herds, whole herd pedigree development
– Test for mitochondrial and nuclear bison-domestic cattle
introgression bison herds.
• Most bison herds have evidence of domestic cattle hybridization
Why is this level of technology needed to help
manage bison populations?
Unlike other smaller
wildlife species, we must:
– Cull (selectively remove)
animals from herds
– Manipulate sex ratios
– Deal with disease issues
– In some cases they are
economically important
This sounds a lot like many
African plains game and
big game wildlife species…
Diane Hargraves
Hybrids Happen…
Some bison just look
different?
So, why have bison recovered, with no or few apparent genetic
consequences from this major population crash, when most other
species, faced with this degree of insult, seem to suffer through long-term
problems and/or became extinct?
There are multiple explanations:
Previous (historic) population declines and near extinction events
have purged bison genomes of many deleterious alleles.
Following the bottleneck on the late 1800s, surviving bison were
found in isolated populations that encompassed a high frequency of
the overall (pre-bottleneck) genetic variation.
Bison that survived the bottleneck retained genetic adaptability at
important genes that influence fitness (the luck hypothesis).
Surviving bison population encountered an influx of new genetic
variation at the apex of this bottleneck (hybridization with domestic
cattle).
These studies of American Bison are
the most comprehensive genetics
investigations of any wildlife species
Now is the time to expand the use of
genomics technologies African big
game wildlife species
Opportunities for using genetic technologies to insure
healthy and robust African wildlife populations that thrive
and provide sustain trophy hunting into the future
I am proposing two overall objectives:
– It is absolutely imperative to develop a systematic plan
for collecting information from as many hunter killed
wildlife species as possible. This should include high
quality DNA samples, GPS location, disease / parasite
status, age, sex, body conformation, etc. These effort
should be internationally coordinated.
– Based on the tremendous opportunities through the
genome sequencing projects of economically important
and/or domesticated animals such as: cattle, house cats,
horse and dogs, now is the time to develop novel and
powerful genetic technologies for the conservation of
related wildlife species.
Information and biological material
from hunter killed big game species
Organized “in country” through safari outfitters, professional hunters,
conservation organizations and governmental wildlife agencies
– Information could include:
• Specific details about that animal on a single necropsy / specimen
data sheet
– Biological materials should include:
• For DNA archiving
– Whole blood sample on a Whatman FTA card
– Hair follicle samples
Also, for genetically important animals, sterile tissue samples placed in media as a
secondary source of DNA and possibly future nuclear transplantation
(as discussed yesterday by Dr. Paul Bartels from the National Zoological Gardens
in South Africa)
NECROPSY - SPECIMEN DATA RECORD
Return to:________________________________________________________________________
Please complete all of the fields possible or applicable
Species/common name ____________________ Sex ______ Age ______ Date/time ___________
Country _______________ State/Providence _________________ Nearest city ________________
Name of park/property ___________________________ Specimen field number ______________
GPS position ________________ Collector/Hunter name _________________________________
Collector/hunter email address ____ ___________________________________ Method _________
Pharmaceutical and dose _________________________________________ Digital photo(s) _____
Professional hunter/outfitters name/contact information ___________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Samples Taken:
Blood:
FTA card ______
Other blood sampled ____________
Tissue:
Hair sample _____
Sterile tissue sample in media (skin) ______ (lung) ______ other _______________________
Pregnant female ____ Abort ____Sex ____Collection of/from fetus _____
Remarks _________________________________________________________________________
Measurements:
Total length of body (tip of nose to tip of tail) _______________ Head length _______________
Tail length ____________ Height at shoulder ___________ Teeth wear/condition ____________
Horns/Tusk: length right _________ left _________ Rhino: front __________ back _________
Spread-max ________ At t ip _________ Weight: live weight ________ field dressed ________
Overall impression of body condition ________________________________________________
Kidney fat (none – s mall – large - excessive) Back fat (none – small – large - excessive)
External parasites (Type & Site) ____________________________________________________
Internal parasites (Type & Site) _____________________________________________________
Additional Remarks/Concerns/Information _____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Biological material collection – whole blood on FTA cards
FTA cards are a safe and fast media
for saving DNA samples from
whole blood.
FTA cards for whole blood
Must setup and
allow to dry.
After they are dry they can be kept at room
temperature for decades and will still provide excellent DNA.
Archiving hair follicles for DNA
However there are serious export/import issues with
any biological samples for scientific analyses….
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
US Fish & Wildlife Service
US Public Health Service
US Food and Drug Administration
US Customs Service
Possibly local and state health departments
Potentially international agencies and organizations
Also possible legal considerations with:
–
–
–
–
The Lacey Act
Endangered Species Act
African Elephant Conservation Act
Rhinoceros and [Tiger] Conservation Act
Almost certainly in country agencies/organizations
All of these agencies and regulations can be dealt with but
it is time consuming and in some cases expensive.
In the event that it is absolutely required to import DNA
samples, these permits can and will be obtained.
However, one solution could be to use established collection
facilities in Africa for genetic samples.
Develop molecular
technologies based on
genome sequencing
projects from closely
related domestic species
here in the US (Texas A&M
University) using DNA
samples from African
species that are already here
in private holdings or zoos.
Transfer the application of
this technology to existing
laboratories in Africa such a
such as those at the Faculty
of Veterinary Science
Onderstepoort, SA, the
National Zoological
Gardens or the Hans
Hoheisen laboratories in
Kruger National Park
DNA collection and storage - Research Analysis – Actionable results
Developing these advanced genetic
technologies through research in the US
and then transferring the resulting
knowledge, reagents, capabilities to
outside laboratories could help simplify
many of the legal issues with samples and
in power education and research
infrastructure in Africa.
The Facilities at Kruger National Park: Hans
Hoheisen offices, laboratories and holding pens
The African Wildlife Genome based
research at Texas A&M University
My laboratory is
includes modern
molecular biology and
DNA sequencing and
genotyping core
facility making it
completely equipped
to develop genomic
technologies for any
other wildlife species.
Initial Studies. Concentrating on
two or three important African
species, lions (Panthera leo),
buffaloes (Syncerus caffe), and
possibly white (Ceretotherium
simum) and black rhinos
(Diceros bivornis) we propose to
develop the primary resources
and methodology to allow for
modern molecular genetic
investigation for these and other
related species.
Deliverables from these initial studies
These genomic technologies will allow for much of the same types of
investigations as reported earlier with American bison.
High resolution microsatellite markers, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on
microarray technologies and mitochondrial DNA sequencing and haplotyping.
– Gene mapping studies for genetic traits of interest (body size, disease
resistance, behavior, etc.)
– Population genetic parameters (inbreeding, genetic diversity, geographic
differences, etc).
– Forensics technologies for species identification and DNA fingerprinting for
individual animals.
– Genetic integrity studies and the identification of hybridization between
species or subspecies.
– Identification of important individual animals for future nuclear transfer
efforts in the event it is necessary to recover lost genetic diversity using
cloning technologies.
– Help reestablish wildlife populations in regions where game have been
completely exterminated (Wildlife as an Economic Engine).
Ambitious?
“Dream no little dreams
for they have no magic to
move men’s souls”
Dr. Norman Borlaug
Winner of the 1970 Nobel Prize for Peace
and fellow Texas A&M Professor
Funding for these efforts
Dallas Safari Club has provide initial
funding to help get this effort started
The SCI foundation has asked for a full
proposal in March
Looking to local chapters help inform their
members and for support
Other wildlife conservation associations
US and international funding agencies
Acknowledgements
College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas
A&M University
Dallas Safari Club
– Dr. J. Lane Easter, Mr. Nigel Theisen, Mr. John
Lochow and Mr. Gray Thornton
The Safari Club International and the Safari
Club International Foundation for the
opportunity to give this presentation and for
considering proposals to conduct this work.
Contact information
James Derr, Professor
College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77845
[email protected]
This complete PowerPoint presentation is available at
my faculty website http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/derr/