Ch. 1— Summary and Options for Congress • 7 



the total diversity. Technologies for plants in- 

 clude seed storage, in vitro culture, and living 

 collections. Most animals are commonly main- 

 tained offsite as captive populations. Cryogenic 

 storage of seeds, in vitro cultures, semen, or 

 embryos can improve the efficiency of offsite 

 maintenance and reduce costs. 



Microbial diversity is important for both its 

 beneficial and its harmful effects. That is, mi- 

 crobes (e.g., bacteria and viruses) can present 

 serious threats to human health. By the same 

 token, these organisms are used in a range of 

 beneficial activities, such as for developing vac- 

 cines or for treating wastes. 



Scientists are hampered in their storage, use, 

 and study of microbial diversity by their in- 

 ability to isolate most micro-organisms. For 

 those micro-organisms that have been isolated 

 and identified, offsite maintenance is the most 

 cost-effective technique. 



Links between onsite and offsite management 

 systems are important to increasing the effi- 

 ciency and effectiveness of efforts to maintain 

 diversity. Some technologies developed for do- 

 mesticated species, for instance, can be adapted 

 to wild species. Embryo transfer technologies 

 developed for livestock are now being adapted 

 for endangered wild animals. 



redit: B. Dresser 



Staff of the Cincinnati Wildlife Research Federation 

 working on an anesthetized white rhinoceros in an effort 

 to develop embryo transfer techniques. Proper equipment 

 must be developed for collection of embryos from the 

 more common white rhino before it is tested on the 

 endangered black rhino. The white rhino would then 

 be used as a surrogate for embryos from black rhinos. 



Determining the efficacy and appropriateness 

 of technologies depends on biological, sociopo- 

 litical, and economic factors. Taken together, 

 these factors influence decisionmaking and 

 must be considered in defining objectives for 

 maintaining diversity and for identifying strat- 

 egies to meet these objectives. 



Biological considerations are central to the 

 objectives and choice of systems. Only some 

 diversity is threatened; therefore, the task of 

 maintaining it can focus on elements that need 

 special attention. A biologically unique species 

 (one that is the only representative of an entire 

 genus or family) or a species with high esthetic 

 appeal may be the focus of intensive conserva- 

 tion management. 



Political factors also influence conservation 

 objectives and management systems. Commit- 

 ments of government resources, policies, and 

 programs determine the focus of attention, and 

 to a large extent, such commitments reflect pub- 

 lic interests and support. For example, a dis- 

 proportionate share of U.S. resources is devoted 

 to programs for a few of the many endangered 

 species. Substantial sums have been spent in 

 llth-hour efforts to save the California condor 

 and the black-footed ferret, while other endan- 

 gered organisms such as invertebrate species 

 receive little attention. 



The applicability of management systems also 

 depends on economic factors. Costs of alter- 

 native management systems and the value of 

 resources to be conserved may be relatively 

 clear in the case of genetic resources. For ex- 

 ample, the benefits of plant breeding programs 

 compared with the cost of seed maintenance 

 justify germplasm storage technologies. How- 

 ever, cost-benefit analysis is more difficult 

 when benefits are diffuse and accrue over a long 

 period. And onsite maintenance programs com- 

 pete with other interests for land, personnel, 

 and funds. 



Success in maintaining biological diversity 

 depends largely on institutions that develop and 

 apply the various technologies. Within the 

 United States, a variety of laws in addition to 

 public and private programs address various 

 aspects of diversity conservation. But while 



