Editing Species reintroduction (section)

==Methods for sourcing individuals==
There are a variety of approaches to species reintroduction. The optimal strategy will depend on the biology of the organism.<ref name="IUCN 2017 Guidelines">{{cite web|title=IUCN Guidelines for Restorations and Other Conservation Translocations|url=http://www.iucn-whsg.org/sites/default/files/IUCN%20Guidelines%20to%20Reintroduction%20and%20Other%20Conservation%20Translocations.pdf|website=IUCN|access-date=15 May 2017}}</ref> The first matter to address when beginning a species reintroduction is whether to source individuals ''in situ'', from wild populations, or ''ex situ'', from captivity in a zoo or botanic garden, for example.

===''In situ'' sourcing===
''[[In-situ conservation|In situ]]'' sourcing for restorations involves moving individuals from an existing wild population to a new site where the species was formerly [[Local extinction|extirpated]]. Ideally, populations should be sourced ''in situ'' when possible due to the numerous risks associated with reintroducing organisms from captive populations to the wild.<ref name="IUCN 2017 Ex Situ">{{cite journal|last1=Maunder|first1=Mike|last2=Byers|first2=Onnie|title=The IUCN Technical Guidelines on the Management of Ex Situ Populations for Conservation: reflecting major changes in the application of ex situ conservation|journal=Oryx|date=January 2005|volume=39|issue=1|pages=95–98|doi=10.1017/S0030605305000177|doi-access=free}}</ref> To ensure that reintroduced populations have the best chance of surviving and reproducing, individuals should be sourced from populations that genetically and ecologically resemble the recipient population.<ref name=":1" /> Generally, sourcing from populations with similar environmental conditions to the reintroduction site will maximize the chance that reintroduced individuals are well adapted to the habitat of the reintroduction site otherwise there are possibilities that they will not take to their environment. .<ref name="Houde et al 2017">{{cite journal|last1=Houde|first1=Aimee|last2=Garner|first2=Shawn|last3=Neff|first3=Bryan|title=Restoring species through reintroductions: strategies for source population selection|journal=Restoration Ecology|date=2015|volume=23|issue=6|pages=746–753|doi=10.1111/rec.12280|bibcode=2015ResEc..23..746H |s2cid=83859097 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Montalvo|first1=Arlee M.|last2=Ellstrand|first2=Norman C.|date=2000-08-15|title=Transplantation of the Subshrub Lotus scoparius: Testing the Home-Site Advantage Hypothesis|journal=Conservation Biology|language=en|volume=14|issue=4|pages=1034–1045|doi=10.1046/j.1523-1739.2000.99250.x|bibcode=2000ConBi..14.1034M |s2cid=84203019 |issn=0888-8892}}</ref>

One consideration for ''in situ'' sourcing is at which life stage the organisms should be collected, transported, and reintroduced. For instance, with plants, it is often ideal to transport them as seeds as they have the best chance of surviving translocation at this stage. However, some plants are difficult to establish as seed and may need to be translocated as juveniles or adults.<ref name="IUCN 2017 Guidelines"/>

===''Ex situ'' sourcing===
In situations where ''in situ'' collection of individuals is not feasible, such as for rare and endangered species with too few individuals existing in the wild, [[Ex situ conservation|''ex situ'']] collection is possible.
''Ex situ'' collection methods allow storage of individuals that have high potential for reintroduction. Storage examples include [[germplasm]] stored in seed banks, sperm and egg banks, [[cryopreservation]], and tissue culture.<ref name="IUCN 2017 Ex Situ"/> Methods that allow for storage of a high numbers of individuals also aim to maximize genetic diversity. Stored materials generally have long lifespans in storage, but some species do lose viability when stored as seed.<ref name="Walters 2005">{{cite journal|last1=Walters|first1=Christina|last2=Wheeler|first2=Lana|last3=Grotenhuis|first3=Judith|title=Longevity of seeds stored in a genebank: species characteristics|journal=Seed Science Research|date=2005|volume=15|issue=1|pages=1–20|doi=10.1079/ssr2004195|s2cid=86085929}}</ref> Tissue culture and cryopreservation techniques have only been perfected for a few species.<ref name="Engelmann 2011">{{cite journal|last1=Engelmann|first1=Florent|title=Use of biotechnologies for the conservation of plant biodiversity|journal=In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant|date=2011|volume=47|issue=1|pages=5–16|doi=10.1007/s11627-010-9327-2|s2cid=23582569}}</ref>

Organisms may also be kept in living collections in captivity. Living collections are more costly than storing germplasm and hence can support only a fraction of the individuals that ''ex situ'' sourcing can.<ref name="IUCN 2017 Ex Situ"/> Risk increases when sourcing individuals to add to living collections. Loss of genetic diversity is a concern because fewer individuals stored.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Witzenberger|first1=Kathrin|last2=Hochkirch|first2=Axel|title=Ex situ conservation genetics: a review of molecular studies on the genetic consequences of captive breeding programmes for endangered animal species|journal=Biodiversity and Conservation|date=2011|volume=20|issue=9|pages=1843–1861|doi=10.1007/s10531-011-0074-4|bibcode=2011BiCon..20.1843W |s2cid=19255252}}</ref> Individuals may also become genetically adapted to captivity, which often adversely affects the reproductive fitness of individuals. Adaptation to captivity may make individuals less suitable for reintroduction to the wild. Thus, efforts should be made to replicate wild conditions and minimize time spent in captivity whenever possible.<ref name="Frankham 2008">{{cite journal|last1=Frankham|first1=Richard|title=Genetic adaptation to captivity in species conservation programs|journal=Molecular Ecology|date=2008|volume=17|issue=1|pages=325–333|doi=10.1111/j.1365-294x.2007.03399.x|pmid=18173504|bibcode=2008MolEc..17..325F |s2cid=8550230}}</ref>