Editing Species reintroduction (section)

== Improving research techniques ==
A cooperative approach to reintroduction by ecologists and biologists could improve research techniques. For both preparation and monitoring of reintroductions,  increasing contacts between academic population biologists and wildlife managers is encouraged within the Survival Species Commission and the IUCN.  The IUCN states that a re-introduction requires a multidisciplinary approach involving a team of persons drawn from a variety of backgrounds.<ref name="SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group 1995"/> A survey by Wolf et al. in 1998 indicated that 64% of reintroduction projects have used subjective opinion to assess habitat quality.<ref name="Stamps 2007"/>  This means that most reintroduction evaluation has been based on human anecdotal evidence and not enough has been based on statistical findings. Seddon et al. (2007) suggest that researchers contemplating future reintroductions should specify goals, overall ecological purpose, and inherent technical and biological limitations of a given reintroduction, and planning and evaluation processes should incorporate both experimental and modeling approaches.<ref name="Seddon 2007" />

Monitoring the health of individuals, as well as the survival, is important; both before and after the reintroduction. Intervention may be necessary if the situation proves unfavorable.<ref name="SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group 1995"/>  Population dynamics models that integrate demographic parameters and behavioral data recorded in the field can lead to simulations and tests of a priori hypotheses. Using previous results to design further decisions and experiments is a central concept of [[adaptive management]]. In other words, learning by doing can help in future projects. Population ecologists should therefore collaborate with biologists, ecologists, and wildlife management to improve reintroduction programs.<ref name="bgci.org">{{cite web |title=''In situ'' Conservation |website=Our Work |publisher=BGCI |access-date=April 30, 2012 |url=http://www.bgci.org/ourwork/Ecosystems/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201233921/http://www.bgci.org/ourwork/Ecosystems |archive-date=2012-02-01}}</ref>

=== Genetic monitoring ===
For reintroduced populations to successfully establish and maximize reproductive fitness, practitioners should perform genetic tests to select which individuals will be the founders of reintroduced populations and to continue monitoring populations post-reintroduction.<ref name="IUCN 2017 Guidelines" /> A number of methods are available to measure the genetic relatedness between and variation among individuals within populations. Common genetic diversity assessment tools include [[microsatellite]] markers, [[mitochondrial DNA]] analyses, [[alloenzyme]]s, and [[amplified fragment length polymorphism]] markers.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Schwartz|first1=M|last2=Luikart|first2=G|last3=Waples|first3=R|date=2007|title=Genetic monitoring as a promising tool for conservation and management|journal=Trends in Ecology & Evolution|volume=22|issue=1|pages=25–33|doi=10.1016/j.tree.2006.08.009|pmid=16962204|bibcode=2007TEcoE..22...25S|s2cid=3744830|issn=0169-5347|url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1481&context=usdeptcommercepub|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Post-reintroduction, genetic monitoring tools can be used to obtain data such as population abundance, [[effective population size]], and [[Population stratification|population structure]], and can also be used to identify instances of [[inbreeding]] within reintroduced populations or [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridization]] with existing populations that are genetically compatible. Long-term genetic monitoring is recommended post-reintroduction to track changes in genetic diversity of the reintroduced population and determine success of a reintroduction program.
Adverse genetic changes such as loss of [[heterozygosity]] may indicate management intervention, such as population supplementation, is necessary for survival of the reintroduced population.<ref name="Haye 877–892">{{Cite journal|last1=Haye|first1=M. J. J. La|last2=Reiners|first2=T. E.|last3=Raedts|first3=R.|last4=Verbist|first4=V.|last5=Koelewijn|first5=H. P.|date=2017-08-01|title=Genetic monitoring to evaluate reintroduction attempts of a highly endangered rodent|journal=Conservation Genetics|language=en|volume=18|issue=4|pages=877–892|doi=10.1007/s10592-017-0940-z|bibcode=2017ConG...18..877L |issn=1566-0621|doi-access=free|hdl=2066/177140|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Roques|first1=S.|last2=Berrebi|first2=P.|last3=Rochard|first3=E.|last4=Acolas|first4=M.L.|date=2018|title=Genetic monitoring for the successful re-stocking of a critically endangered diadromous fish with low diversity|journal=Biological Conservation|volume=221|pages=91–102|doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2018.02.032|bibcode=2018BCons.221...91R |issn=0006-3207}}</ref><ref name="Mowry 196–206">{{Cite journal|last1=Mowry|first1=R. A.|last2=Schneider|first2=T. M.|last3=Latch|first3=E. K.|last4=Gompper|first4=M. E.|last5=Beringer|first5=J.|last6=Eggert|first6=L. S.|date=2014-08-06|title=Genetics and the successful reintroduction of the Missouri river otter|journal=Animal Conservation|language=en|volume=18|issue=2|pages=196–206|doi=10.1111/acv.12159|s2cid=83575190 |issn=1367-9430}}</ref>