Within the Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC), we aim to improve science based assessment and long-term management of both in-situ and ex-situ (zoo) animal populations. The importance of genetic diversity within populations is well accepted. Within captive breeding genetic goals are evaluated based on pedigrees, which often include gaps (e.g. unknown parentage) and assume founders to be unrelated. Molecular tools hold several interesting opportunities to recover information which is missing. As such, samples of e.g. okapi (Okapia johnstoni), are analysed to resolve questions on founder relatedness, by integrating the molecular data with the available pedigree data.
Apart from captive populations, our genetic research is often based on wild and musea specimens to determine taxonomic positions (e.g. military macaws, Ara militaris) or to get some glimpse on recent population dynamics (e.g. effect of reintroductions in storks, Ciconia ciconia). Often these population genetic surveys are linked to one of our in-situ research projects. Genetic analysis on stool samples of the Cross river gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) for instance enable us to get insights in population sizes, social interactions and dispersal rate of this highly elusive and threatened subspecies. These estimates are essential in modeling (eg. probability of extinction) and the management of these wild populations. Within ex-situ breeding populations we also investigate inbreeding versus outbreeding (depression), in order to retain fitness along with retention of genetic diversity. We study how genes affect the expression of several traits and whether genetic variability of these traits changes throughout time. We strongly believe that future research will further benefit from collaborating with commercial breeders/industries in terms of sharing knowledge and resources (BioBanking, genomics, integration methods, optimal contribution,…).