Abstract Background Captive rearing is often critical for animals that are vulnerable to extinction in the wild. However, few studies have investigated extent which captivity impacts hosts and their gut microbiota, despite mounting evidence indicating host health affected by microbes. We assessed influence of on microbiome Brown Kiwi ( Apteryx mantelli ), a flightless bird endemic New Zealand. ...

Captive breeding and rearing giant tortoises still represents a challenge and little scientific evidence is available on the requirements of juvenile and adult giant tortoises. Zoo veterinarians must know that developmental diseases are the main risk in the raising process. Respiratory tract disease, endoparasites and biting are other pathologic conditions that have been observed in juvenile gi...

Captive breeding and release programs, widely used to supplement populations of declining species, minimize juvenile mortality to achieve rapid population growth. However, raising animals in benign environments may promote traits that are adaptive in captivity but maladaptive in nature. In chinook salmon, hatchery rearing relaxes natural selection favoring large eggs, allowing fecundity selecti...

Supportive breeding is a strategy consisting in maintaining a pool of locally-adapted wild genitors in captivity whose offspring are released in the wild at an early developmental stage. In this study, we tested the utility of this strategy in preventing phenotypic and genetic divergences between captive-bred and wild animals that could be detrimental for wild populations. Combining microsatell...

Lizards in the genus Anolis have radiated extensively within and among islands in the Caribbean. Here, I provide a prospectus for identifying genes underlying adaptive phenotypic traits in anoles. First I review patterns of diversification in Anolis and the important morphological axes along which divergence occurs. Then I discuss two features of anole diversification, the repeated, convergent ...

Abstract Developmental environments play a significant role in shaping animal phenotype, including behavior. Within species, individuals often differ behavior consistent and repeatable way (i.e., demonstrate personality). This consistency can be affected by differences conditions experienced early life. It is, however, unclear whether effects of developmental on personality are driven changes w...

The ability of captive-reared turtles to survive in the wild is not precisely known, nor are movements of immature turtles in the open ocean. To provide information on these issues, a satellite tracking experiment was conducted in the western Indian Ocean to monitor oceanic movements of immature green turtles. Two wild turtles and four captive-reared individuals were tracked. The latter had bee...