Population Management Center

About the PMC

Lincoln Park Zoo hosts the Population Management Center (PMC) in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Established in June 2000, the center provides assistance to zoo professionals across the country by conducting demographic and genetic analyses and preparing breeding and transfer plans for Species Survival Plan® (SSP) and Red Studbook species. Operational support for the center is provided by the AZA, Rice Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Lincoln Park Zoo.

In their management of captive animals, zoos and aquariums focus on the long-term maintenance of healthy populations in conjunction with education and conservation goals. Cooperative, scientific population management is critical to the long-term sustainability of most zoo and some aquarium animal collections.

Science-based population management ensures that zoo and aquarium collections meet the following standards:

* They’re maintained at the sizes necessary to meet the conservation and education missions of each species
* They retain the highest possible levels of genetic diversity
* They will not grow beyond the zoo and aquarium community's ability to care for them.

Related Projects

PMCTrack Zoos across the country cooperate on breeding and transfer plans to ensure healthy populations. In developing PMCTrack, Lincoln Park Zoo scientists have made it possible to evaluate the outcome of every recommendation for the first time—improving population planning everywhere.

PopLink PopLink is a computer program developed by Lincoln Park Zoo scientists to track data on individual animals over their lifetimes and use that data to help their management.

Researchers

Sarah Long, M.S. Director

Katelyn Marti, M.S. Population Biologist

Sara Sullivan Associate Population Biologist

Kaitlyn Perišin Studbook Analyst

Colleen Lynch Consulting Population Biologist

Cara Groome Bryan Consulting Population Biologist

Working closely with staff from the zoo’s Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology and the Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology, the PMC staff participates in the development and evaluation of population management software, evaluates disease risks and/or reproductive status, and models the impact of potential management strategies on population size and structure.

To schedule a planning meeting or receive population management or software advice for an AZA Studbook or Species Survival Plan®, please contact Studbook Analyst Kaitlyn Perisin.

Multimedia

Gorilla Matchmaking and Family Planning How did zoo matchmakers choose the pairings that produced two gorilla babies at Regenstein Center for African Apes? Population Management Center Director  Sarah Long shares the details.

Seahorses Shake Up Population Planning How do you plan breeding for a species where males incubate eggs and as many as 800 offspring can be produced every two–three weeks? Director Sarah Long offers an inside look at planning for lined seahorses.

Documents

PMC Planning Process Flow Chart
Population Management Guidelines
Preparing for a Planning Meeting with the PMC

How to Publish a Studbook using PopLink
Sending and Receiving Studbooks in PopLink

How to Publish a Studbook using SPARKS
Sending and Receiving Studbooks in SPARKS