Rationalizing ex situ collection of reproductive materials for endangered livestock breed conservation
开发了一个多阶段机会约束优化模型，帮助在西班牙等国家以最低成本确定濒危家畜品种生殖材料的收集地点、时间和数量，平衡迁地保护成本与原位灭绝风险。
Improvements in ex situ storage of genetic and reproductive materials offer an alternative for endangered livestock breed conservation, but collections should be optimized cost-effectively to avoid duplication, and with reference to the sustainability of in situ breeds. We developed a multi-period chance-constrained optimization model to rationalize collections of endangered livestock breeds at risk of in situ extinction in Spain. The model configures collections by determining the least-cost optimal collection locations, timing and material quantities (semen doses). A decision variable defining an “acceptable level of risk” allows decision makers to specify tolerable levels of in situ breed endangerment when taking ex situ collection and storage decisions. Using data from 18 gene banks we demonstrate how collections can be rationalized, and derive cost curves relating marginal ex situ collection cost and accepted probability of in situ extinction covering the period 2018 to 2060. The modelling framework can be replicated in countries seeking to rationalize ex situ collections under limited conservation budgets and uncertain in situ extinction risks.