Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo hosts the Population Management Center (PMC) in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Established in June 2000, the center provides assistance to zoo professionals across the country by conducting demographic and genetic analyses and preparing breeding and transfer plans for Species Survival Plan® (SSP) and Population Management Plan (PMP) species. Operational support for the center is provided by the AZA, Rice Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Lincoln Park Zoo.

In their management of captive animals, zoos and aquariums focus on the long-term maintenance of healthy populations in conjunction with education and conservation goals. Cooperative, scientific population management is critical to the long-term sustainability of most zoo and some aquarium animal collections.

Science-based population management ensures that zoo and aquarium collections meet the following standards:

* They’re maintained at the sizes necessary to meet the conservation and education missions of each species
* They retain the highest possible levels of genetic diversity
* They will not grow beyond the zoo and aquarium community's ability to care for them.

The PMC employs four full-time staff: Senior Population Biologist Sarah Long directs daily operations and supervises Associate Population Biologists Kristine Schad and Cara Groome and Studbook Analyst Kristin Kovar. Steven D. Thompson, Ph.D., vice president for conservation programs and Emily and John Alexander Chair of Conservation and Science at Lincoln Park Zoo, provides administrative and financial oversight for the center. Former PMC staffers Colleen Lynch and Louise Bier serve as consulting population biologists.

Working closely with staff from the zoo’s Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology and the Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology, the PMC staff participates in the development and evaluation of population management software, evaluates disease risks and/or reproductive status, and models the impact of potential management strategies on population size and structure.

To schedule planning assistance for an AZA TAG, SSP or PMP, please contact Studbook Analyst Kristin Kovar. For information on PMC financial and administrative oversight, please contact Steven D. Thompson, Ph.D.

In the month of October 2009, the PMC will be working with:

9 SSPs (African Wild Dog, Asian Small-clawed Otter, Babirusa, Black-footed Ferret, Francois Langur, Giant Otter, Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo, Radiated Tortoise, Red Wolf, Silvered Langur, Wolf’s Guenon)

15 PMPs (Cape Griffon Vulture, Gentoo Penguin, Jambu Fruit Dove, Mariana Fruit Dove, North American River Otter, Plains Zebra, Pygmy Marmoset, Red-crowned Crane, Roan Antelope, Springbok, Takin, Tammar Wallaby, Wallaroo, White-backed Vulture, White-naped Crane)

2 TAGs (Parrot, Turaco/Cuckoo TAGs)

Planning Meetings in October:

Radiated Tortoise SSP @ LPZ
Asian Small-clawed Otter SSP @ LPZ
Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo SSP via E-mail
Gentoo Penguin PMP via E-mail
Red-crowned Crane PMP via E-mail
Babirusa SSP via E-mail
White-naped Crane PMP via E-mail

Currently in review by participating institutions are Draft Breeding and Transfer Plans for
7 SSPs
11 PMPs

Upcoming Planning Meetings:

November: Black-footed Ferret, Beluga Whale, California Sea Lion

December: Hooded Crane, Sitatunga, Superb Bird-of-Paradise, Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise, Harpy Eagle

Since the PMC started in June 2000, we have:
Produced Final Breeding and Transfer Plans for:
89 SSP programs - 276 reports
(76% of total AZA SSP species)

147 PMP programs -271 reports
(46% of total AZA PMP species)

Assisted Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs) with the development of
20 TAGs - 27 RCP analyses
(39% of AZA TAGs)

Validated North American regional studbooks resulting in
443 Validated Studbooks
1001 Total Validations

Distributed reports for a total of
574 Reports (SSPs, PMPs, RCPs, etc.)
256 Programs

Involvement with 579 different programs (some analyses not necessarily resulting in a final report)

Last Updated: 9 October 2009

Preparing for Breeding and Transfer Plan
Preparing for Target Size Meeting
Sending and Recieving Studbooks
PMC Planning Diagram and Chart

Lynch, C. 2005. Social behavior of the Guinea baboon. AZA Baboon SSP Husbandry Manual. Wildlife Conservation Society, New York. In press.

Earnhardt, J.M., Thompson, S.D. and Schad, K. 2004. Strategic planning for captive population: projecting changes in genetic diversity. Animal Conservation, 7: 9-16.

Long, S., Lynch, C. and Van Dyke, F. 2003. Designing a captive breeding plan with real world constraints. A workbook in conservation biology: solving practical problems in conservation, 63-67.

Long, S., Lynch, C. and Van Dyke, F. 2003. Implementing alternative captive breeding strategies. A workbook in conservation biology: solving practical problems in conservation, 57-61.

Long, S., Lynch, C. and Van Dyke, F. 2003. Managing gene diversity in captive populations. A workbook in conservatin biology: solving practical problems in conservation, 49-56.

Long, S., Lynch, C. and Van Dyke, F. 2003. Simple pedigree analysis. A workbook in conservation biology: solving practical problems in conservation, 1-47.

Lynch, C. 2000. San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike studbook. Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, California.

Lynch, C. 1999. San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike studbook. Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, California.

Lynch, C. 1998. San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike studbook. Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, California.