Population Analysis & Breeding and Transfer Plan Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) AZA Species Survival Plan® Yellow Program AZA Species Survival Plan® Studbook Keeper & Coordinator R. Harrison Edell, MS, Dallas Zoo ([email protected]) AZA Population Advisor Andrea Putnam, PhD, San Diego Zoo Global ([email protected]) 2 November 2018 Executive Summary Species Survival Plan® for Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) The current, formally managed population of marbled teals includes 286 birds at 39 AZA institutions (151 males, 116 females, 8 unknown sex) and 2 non-AZA institutions (2 males, 9 females). One AZA institution will be added to the Program as a result of this plan. The Anseriformes Taxon Advisory Group has set the AZA target size for this population to be 250 animals (2012 Regional Collection Plan). Where noted, a larger target size of 300 is used in this plan because of an increased holding capacity among SSP institutions. At present, the Marbled Teal Program qualifies as a Yellow SSP Program. This is a two-year breeding and transfer plan. Genetic and demographic analyses of a North American studbook (current to 1 April 2018) were performed using PopLink 2.4 and PMx 1.5, resulting in the current breeding and transfer plan for this species. The pedigree of the breeding population is 0% known, primarily because founding teals entered the population from the private sector and historic pedigree information was not well recorded. Through the incorporation of multiple potential (MULT) parentage and a large number of pedigree assumptions, the pedigree can be increased to 100% known. However, given the nature and extent of the pedigree manipulations standard genetic calculations should be interpreted with caution. The improved pedigree is primarily used to examine known, recent relationships among individuals to avoid breeding birds known to share recent ancestors. Demography Current SSP population size (males.females.unknown) 286 (153.125.8) Number of animals excluded from management 3 (2.1.0) Population size following exclusions 283 (151.124.8) Target population size (2012 RCP / AZA capacity) 250 / 300 Mean generation time (T; in years) 2.4 Projected population growth rate (λ) from life tables 1.628 Recent population growth rate (average λ 2013-2017) 1.043 Genetics Current 2018 Potential Founders 67 0 additional Founder genome equivalents (FGE) 7.58 19.08 Current gene diversity (GD %) 93.40 97.38 Population mean kinship (MK) 0.0660 ----- Mean inbreeding (F) 0. 0893 ----- % pedigree known before assumptions and exclusions 0 ----- % pedigree known after assumptions and exclusions 100 ----- % pedigree certain after assumptions and exclusions 29.4 ----- Effective population size/census size ratio (Ne / N) 0.2392 Years To 90% Gene Diversity NA* ----- Years To 10% Loss of GD NA* ----- Gene Diversity at 100 Years from Present (%) NA* ----- * projections were not calculated because of extensive pedigree assumptions Analyses suggest that 120 hatches are needed over the next two years (60 per year) to maintain the current population size, while 140 hatches are needed over the next two years (70 per year) if a 4.3% growth rate is maintained to grow the population toward the SSP capacity of ~300 birds. The average number of hatches over the past 5 years is 61, which is sufficient to maintain, but not grow the population. The number of pairs recommended is intended to produce sufficient offspring to slightly increase the population size, fill new institutions if recruited, and replace individuals as needed. Recommendations contained in this plan supersede those made by earlier plans. To continue facilitating genetic management, the following actions are recommended to all institutions: Assure that all animals can be individually identified. This Animal Program is currently a Yellow SSP Program and recommendations proposed are non-binding – Participation is voluntary. Dispositions to non-AZA institutions must comply with each institution's acquisition/disposition policy, in accordance with the AZA policy on Responsible Population Management. Marbled Teal SSP – 2018 Final 1 Breeding institutions are recommended to record parents of all offspring. If multiple sires or dams are possible, track and report all possible parents to the Studbook Keeper. Non-breeding institutions should consider maintaining single-sex exhibit flocks, thus minimizing the production of offspring from non-recommended pairs. Summary Actions: The SSP recommends 66 females to breed and 96 transfers. This Animal Program is currently a Yellow SSP Program and recommendations proposed are non-binding – Participation is voluntary. Dispositions to non-AZA institutions must comply with each institution's acquisition/disposition policy, in accordance with the AZA policy on Responsible Population Management. Marbled Teal SSP – 2018 Final 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Description of Population Status Introduction 4 Analytical Population 4 Demography 4 Genetics 5 Management Strategy 6 Recommendations Summary Recommendations 7 AKRON 15 BALTIMORE, BIRMINGHM 16 BUSCH TAM, CALGARY 17 CENTRALPK, CINCINNAT 18 DALLAS, DENVER 19 DICKSON P 20 DISNEY AK 21 DREHER PA, EL PASO 22 FORTWORTH, FRANKLINP 23 JACKSONVL, KANSASCTY 24 LITCHFIEL, LITTLEROC 25 LODI, LOWRY, MEMPHIS 26 METROZOO, MILWAUKEE 27 MINNESOTA, NATAVPGH 28 NEW BEDFO, NY BRONX, OKLAHOMA 29 OMAHA, ORLANDO 30 PROSPECTP, S BARBARA 31 SAN ANTON 32 SANDIEGOZ, SD-WAP 33 SEAWORLD, SEATTLE 34 SEDGWICK, ST LOUIS 35 STATEN IS, TUCSON 36 Appendices A. Analytical Assumptions 37 B. Summary of Data Exports 40 C. Individuals Excluded from Genetic Analyses 40 D. Life Tables 41 E. Ordered Mean Kinships 42 F. Explanation of MateRx Analyses 46 G. Definitions 47 H. Directory of Institutional Representatives 49 Report and Analyses prepared by: Andrea Putnam, PhD, Population Biologist – San Diego Zoo Global, [email protected] Planning occurred July 17th 2018 at the Dallas Zoo and was attended by Harrison Edell (Dallas Zoo) and Andrea Putnam (San Diego Zoo Global) This plan was reviewed and distributed with the assistance of the Population Management Center. [email protected] Cover photo provided by Paul Foch-Gatrell. This Animal Program is currently a Yellow SSP Program and recommendations proposed are non-binding – Participation is voluntary. Dispositions to non-AZA institutions must comply with each institution's acquisition/disposition policy, in accordance with the AZA policy on Responsible Population Management. Marbled Teal SSP – 2018 Final 3 Description of Population Status Species Survival Plan® for Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) Introduction: The current, formally managed population of marbled teals includes 286 birds at 39 AZA institutions (151 males, 116 females, 8 unknown sex) and 2 non-AZA institutions (2 males, 9 females). One AZA institution will be added to the Program as a result of this plan. The Anseriformes Taxon Advisory Group has set the AZA target size for this population to be 250 animals (2012 Regional Collection Plan). Where noted, a larger target size of 300 is used in this plan because of an increased holding capacity among SSP institutions. At present, the Marbled Teal Program qualifies as a Yellow SSP Program. This is a two year breeding and transfer plan. Genetic and demographic analyses of a North American studbook (current to 1 April 2018) were performed using PopLink 2.4 and PMx 1.5, resulting in the current breeding and transfer plan for this species. Conservation Status: IUCN Red List – Vulnerable (assessed in 2016; current population trend is listed as decreasing); USFWS – Not Listed; CITES – Not Listed Analytical Population: Multiple potential (MULT) parentage has been extensively documented for a notable portion of the population, as 0% of the pedigree can be traced to wild founders. The PMx software allows MULT parentage to be incorporated into genetic calculations to provide improved estimates of gene diversity and kinship. A number of reasonable pedigree assumptions are made (Appendix A), increasing the pedigree to 100% known. Given that birds have been liberally exchanged among zoos and private breeders since the 1980’s, any unpedigreed birds coming from the private sector are likely related to the formally managed marbled teal population. To facilitate identifying close relationships among living birds and avoid, to the extent possible, breeding birds known to share recent ancestors, some birds from private breeders were assumed full or half- siblings but unrelated to the rest of the population. Although these birds were given WILD/WILD parents they are not considered true founders of the population (Appendix A). Three birds were excluded from genetic analyses because of unknown pedigree or unusual color morph, leaving a total of 283 potential breeders. Given the nature and extent of the pedigree manipulations standard genetic calculations should be interpreted with caution. However, the improved pedigree was used to examine known, recent relationships among individuals as well as document trends in the estimates of inbreeding and the retention of gene diversity. Demography: Studbook data indicate that the first marbled teal appeared in North American zoos in 1952. However, the population size remained at less than 20 individuals until 1970, and then began growing in part due to successful zoo and private-sector hatches. The population size has grown steadily since 2004 (Figure 1), with an average growth rate of 4.4% since then. Because of