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Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens

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A special issue of Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens (ISSN 2673-5636).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 36842

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ursula Bechert

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Guest Editor

School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Interests: reproductive physiology of free-roaming and captive wildlife, especially fertility control; nutritional and pharmacokinetic studies

Dr. Debra C. Colodner

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Guest Editor

Conservation Education and Science Department, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ 85743, USA
Interests: informal science education; environmental education

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Over the past century, zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens have evolved from serving as places of entertainment to becoming centers for species conservation—primarily through education and research. Numerous factors can contribute to the decline of a species, and may include habitat loss, resource limitations tied to climate change, competition with introduced or invasive species, and disease. Solutions are often complex and require collaborative efforts across different types of organizations that have different expertise and resources.

Many zoos partner with overseas organizations to help fund research and in situ conservation based on the exotic species that they exhibit. However, the greatest conservation success stories are those that were conducted close to home and in collaboration with local government agencies and other organizations (e.g., black-footed ferret, California condor). Multiple stakeholders are usually involved in habitat preservation initiatives to balance economic and environmental goals. New policies may be needed to protect key species and landscapes. Educational initiatives can motivate individuals to get involved. All of these activities are more effective when focused on indigenous species at a local level, yet there is very little in the literature about how organizations have successfully exhibited native species and worked collaboratively across multiple organizations on conservation efforts.

This Special Issue will highlight how zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens have partnered with organizations and agencies to address local and regional conservation issues through research and education projects, rehabilitation programs, policymaking efforts, and other types of activities. Understanding how such partnerships are developed and maintained, the challenges encountered, and success stories (as well as unsuccessful ones) are of interest.

Papers can be formatted as research articles or reviews, may include case study examples, and can cover any combination of collaborative activity focused on local or regional species conservation.

All manuscripts submitted to this Special Issue will have publication fees fully waived. Please contact the Editorial Office ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

Prof. Dr. Ursula Bechert
Dr. Debra C. Colodner
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

zoos
aquariums
botanical gardens
local native species
conservation

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 193 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Regional Conservation, Research, and Education: Ways Forward

by Ursula S. Bechert

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2023, 4(1), 288-291; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg4010024 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1554

Abstract

There are currently over 8 billion people on Earth, a figure which grows by approximately 67 million annually; https://www [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

17 pages, 2615 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Local Plant and Insect Conservation Evaluated with Organizational Identity Theory

by Lily Maynard, Bailey Cadena, T’Noya Thompson, Valerie Pence, Megan Philpott, Mollie O’Neil, Mandy Pritchard, Julia Glenn, Bridget Reilly, Jordan Hubrich and David Jenike

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2023, 4(1), 214-230; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg4010019 - 3 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2944

Abstract

With a range of programs focused on local plant and insect conservation, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden works with partners and our communities to restore landscapes and thriving ecosystems for wildlife and people. We used organizational identity theory (OIT) to evaluate the current strategies and practices of five programs and determine opportunities for adaptation to better achieve our organizational conservation goals. Case studies ranged from habitat restoration of wetlands and gardens to community engagement to encourage individual gardeners and the reintroduction of endangered plants and insects. We present program characteristics and how collaborative partnerships facilitate opportunities for zoos to lead the conservation of local flora and fauna. The OIT framework reveals components critical to strategy implementation and best practices relevant to other zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens when evaluating their collaborative conservation initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

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25 pages, 3172 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Collaborative Conservation by Botanical Gardens: Unique Opportunities for Local to Global Impacts

by Aireona B. Raschke, Kimberly V. Pegram, Natalie A. Melkonoff, Jeny Davis and Steven A. Blackwell

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3(3), 463-487; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3030035 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3635

Abstract

Conservation organizations with common missions can find strength and synergy in collaboration. Collaboration can also be challenging, especially finding the right partnerships or organizations to lead. Within the “ecosystem” of conservation organizations, botanical gardens have a unique array of resources and expertise which make them ideal candidates for leadership or partnership in collaborative conservation efforts. We will explore this idea by examining four conservation initiatives at Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix, AZ, USA) that approach collaborative conservation on regional, state, and international scales. On a regional scale, Metro Phoenix EcoFlora and the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance lead landscape-level conservation by providing a structure for more than 60 official conservation partners, by generating data, and through public engagement needed in a rapidly developing region. On the state scale, Great Milkweed Grow Out is an initiative for pollinator conservation that provides expertise, materials, and opportunities for a wide range of partners across Arizona. Desert Botanical Garden’s endangered plant species conservation efforts provide expertise and resources through horticulture and seed preservation for threatened and endangered plants across the US and internationally. We will share the structure of each program where applicable, how they came to fruition, and their successes. Through each case study, we will highlight the ways positioning within a botanical garden has benefitted the program and success in collaboration. We will also highlight unique challenges. Botanical gardens provide unique opportunities, and they should not be overlooked when seeking a conservation partner or leader. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

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Review

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18 pages, 3861 KiB

Open AccessReview

Understanding How the Unique Context of the Minnesota Zoo Shapes Our Local Conservation Initiatives

by Mary Mallinger, Tricia Markle, Ben Minerich, Cale Nordmeyer, Erik Runquist and Seth Stapleton

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2023, 4(2), 427-444; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg4020032 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2776

Abstract

The field of wildlife conservation is comprised of a variety of players with different contexts and approaches. Zoos and aquariums, historically largely focused on public entertainment, are shifting more towards conservation-minded missions and can play a unique role in wildlife conservation by leveraging their distinct assets. The Minnesota Zoo is an AZA-accredited institution and an agency of the State of Minnesota that has been conducting wildlife conservation for over 40 years. Here, we review our current portfolio of local field projects, including initiatives targeting pollinators, native mussels, turtles, and bison, using several considerations to structure and better understand how our unique context has shaped our work. Our designation as a state agency has impacted our initiatives by necessitating a focus on local efforts and has facilitated many partnerships with other government agencies. Indeed, partnerships have been vital to our success and have shaped our programs significantly since their inception. All of the Zoo’s conservation initiatives are built on a bedrock of sound science, and we continue to contribute to the field through research, utilizing the expertise of department staff. In addition, the various funding streams that support our programs have dramatically shaped our work and have created some siloing of staff within the department. However, grant funding can serve as a buffer against the impacts of economic uncertainty, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lastly, our programs have expanded and our objectives have pivoted over the years in response to changing needs and opportunities; such flexibility—and increased flexibility for our staff—is imperative to the future success of these efforts. The Minnesota Zoo’s narrative is unique and helps us understand how we can continue to most effectively carry out local conservation efforts. As we work to protect habitats and save species from extinction, it is important to utilize the distinct assets that each organization can contribute in order to have the greatest collective impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

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20 pages, 45482 KiB

Open AccessReview

Conservation through Collaboration: Regional Conservation Programs of the North Carolina Zoo

by Elizabeth A. Roznik, Halley Buckanoff, Robert W. Langston, Christopher J. Shupp and Dustin Smith

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2023, 4(2), 292-311; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg4020025 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3538

Abstract

In response to rapid biodiversity losses in recent decades, zoos have become more engaged in conservation issues. Solutions to conservation challenges are complex and require collaborative efforts across organizations. Zoos can be effective partners that can contribute diverse expertise and resources to protect wildlife and their habitats. While zoos often partner with international organizations to facilitate field-based conservation projects on the exotic animals they exhibit, some of the most meaningful conservation and education initiatives are conducted locally in partnership with local organizations. A core part of the mission of the North Carolina Zoo (Asheboro, NC, USA) is the conservation of wildlife and their natural habitats, both regionally and internationally. The goal of this article is to review the North Carolina Zoo’s regional conservation programs and the importance of partnerships with other local organizations in accomplishing shared goals. North Carolina Zoo plays an important role in regional conservation by protecting and managing natural lands, protecting declining amphibians through headstarting and habitat management, rehabilitating native wildlife, and working on local outreach and sustainability projects to reduce impacts on natural resources and inspire others to get involved in conservation. These programs were developed through partnerships with local and state government agencies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, other zoos and aquariums, schools, libraries, and businesses. These collaborations have been instrumental in developing and implementing successful projects by pooling limited resources and sharing crucial expertise. They demonstrate how zoos are evolving to become leaders and partners in conservation, research, and education to protect local species and natural resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

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13 pages, 1221 KiB

Open AccessReview

Why Partner with a Zoo or Garden? Selected Lessons from Seventy Years of Regional Conservation Partnerships at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

by Debra Colodner, Kim Franklin, Craig Ivanyi, John F. Wiens and Stéphane Poulin

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3(4), 725-737; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040054 - 19 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2383

Abstract

Zoos and botanical gardens (ZBGs) play a variety of roles in regional conservation partnerships, including their most common role as the ex situ managers of rare plant and animal populations. Using case studies from a 70-year history of conservation work at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona, USA, this paper illustrates these roles and the characteristics of ZBGs that make them versatile and effective regional conservation partners. ZBGs commonly play the role of conservation advocates, as discussed in the context of the establishment of protected islands in the Gulf of California. ZBGs also conduct field research, including the collection of long-term datasets, as exemplified by the establishment of the Ironwood Forest National Monument and a 40-year Sonoran Desert phenology database. ZBGs can be effective conveners of communities and conservation partners in regional-scale efforts, such as the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and Cooperative Weed Management Areas. The paper also explores the challenges faced by ZBGs in sustaining their conservation work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

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12 pages, 1155 KiB

Open AccessReview

Southern Sea Otter Rehabilitation: Lessons and Impacts from the Monterey Bay Aquarium

by Leilani Konrad, Jessica A. Fujii, Sandrine Hazan, Andrew B. Johnson, Karl A. Mayer, Michael J. Murray, Teri E. Nicholson, Michelle M. Staedler and Colleen Young

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3(4), 641-652; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040047 - 24 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 10011

Abstract

As biodiversity continues to decline across the globe, conservation of wildlife species and the ecosystems they inhabit is more important than ever. When species dwindle, ecosystems that depend on them are also impacted, often leading to a decrease in the life-giving services healthy ecosystems provide to humans, wildlife, and the global environment. Methods of wildlife conservation are complex and multi-faceted, ranging from education and advocacy to, research, restoration, and rehabilitation. Here, we review a conservation program focused on helping recover the federally listed threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) population. We describe the development of unique rehabilitation methods and steps taken to advance the program’s conservation impact. Understanding this evolution can inform conservation efforts for other vulnerable species and their ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

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5 pages, 223 KiB

Open AccessReview

Head-Starting and Conservation of Endangered Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus horridus) at Roger Williams Park Zoo

by Gabriel Montague

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3(4), 581-585; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040043 - 14 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2305

Abstract

The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus) is extinct in Rhode Island and Maine with populations in the remaining New England states afforded endangered species status. Lou Perrotti, Director of Conservation and Research at Roger Williams Park Zoo (RWPZ), has long been a champion of these unloved animals in peril and spearheaded a program at the zoo in fall 2010 to work on the recovery of this endangered snake species. Partnering with multiple state agencies was required to begin saving this maligned native species, which had seen massive population reductions. The program began with accepting adults of varying size and sex suffering from skin lesions believed to be Snake Fungal Disease from multiple New England states. Depending on the severity of the infection, the animals were treated and then released. As the program evolved, it became a goal to not only treat affected adults and determine the overall health of declining New England populations but to begin a head-start program with one of the state conservation partners. Head-starting refers to when neonates are either born in a zoological facility or captured in the wild and raised under managed care until a desired size is reached. They are then released back to the wild, giving them a better chance for survival. The area where the snakes are kept at the zoo allows for temperature manipulation to simulate a natural temperature change and allow for the brumation of individuals. Once the appropriate size is reached, a radio transmitter is surgically implanted to allow radio telemetry tracking after release. The head-starting strategy has been a success, with individuals being found years later, suggesting they are surviving in the wild. Due to the sensitive nature of this program, some data and names of partners have been purposely omitted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

8 pages, 3817 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ex Situ Breeding Program with Wild-Caught Founders Provides the Source for Collaborative Effort to Augment Threatened New England Cottontail Populations

by Jessie Brown and Lauren Puccia

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3(4), 573-580; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040042 - 14 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1912

Abstract

As part of a science-based conservation strategy for the New England cottontail (NEC), Roger Williams Park Zoo (RWPZ), located in Providence, Rhode Island, participates in a NEC ex situ breeding program in partnership with the NEC Population Working Group. RWPZ’s role is to not only breed vulnerable cottontail rabbits for eventual release to bolster wild populations, but also to help foster research on a species that is hard to observe naturally. RWPZ was the first to breed this species in a zoological facility, playing a significant role in the survival of New England’s only native rabbit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

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13 pages, 2308 KiB

Open AccessReview

Over 25 Years of Partnering to Conserve Chiricahua Leopard Frogs (Rana chiricahuensis) in Arizona, Combining Ex Situ and In Situ Strategies

by Tara R. Harris, Whitney L. Heuring, Ruth A. Allard, Audrey K. Owens, Shaula Hedwall, Cat Crawford and Christina Akins

J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2022, 3(4), 532-544; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3040039 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3112

Abstract

The Phoenix Zoo has partnered with US Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, US Forest Service, and other organizations for more than 25 years to help recover Chiricahua leopard frogs (Rana [=Lithobates] chiricahuensis) in Arizona, USA. This federally threatened species faces declines due to habitat loss and degradation, long-term drought, disease, and invasive species. Over 26,000 larvae, froglets, and adults, as well as 26 egg masses produced by adults held at the Phoenix Zoo have been released to the wild, augmenting and/or re-establishing wild populations. Chiricahua leopard frog-occupied sites in Arizona have increased from 38 in 2007, when the species’ recovery plan was published, to a high of 155 in the last five years, as a result of ex situ and in situ conservation efforts. As one of the longest-running programs of its kind in the United States, communication among partners has been key to sustaining it. Recovery strategies and complex decisions are made as a team and we have worked through numerous management challenges together. Though Chiricahua leopard frogs still face significant threats and a long road to recovery, this program serves as a strong example of the positive effects of conservation partnerships for native wildlife. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local Flora and Fauna Conservation—A Role for Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens)

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