Species360 Research Partnership Overview

Species360 Research Partnership Subscription: Colleges, universities, research centers, students and others can participate in a Species360 Research Partnership for a low annual fee. For more information, email Support@Species360.org.

COMMENTARY / How ZIMS data changes what we know about species: A biodemographer’s perspective. With **James R. Care**y, distinguished professor of entomology at the University of California (UC), Davis, senior scholar at the Center for the Economics and Demography of Aging at UC Berkeley, and lead author (with Deborah Roach) of the book *Biodemography: An Introduction to Concepts and Methods* (2020, Princeton).

The Species360 Research Partnership provides scientists with access to demographic, medical, and other insights on more than 25,000 species, in the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS).

Curated by members of global nonprofit Species360, ZIMS is the world’s largest data set on wildlife residing in ex situ environments. According to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), ZIMS increases demographic knowledge of species by as much as 800 percent.

For almost 50 years, Species360 members worldwide have collected the most amazing details regarding the wildlife in their care. Together, we are changing what is known about species.
Jim Guenter, CEO, Species360

The Species360 Research Partnership provides access to ZIMS aggregated data, reports, tools, and analytics. Most recently, Species360 introduced Survival, Reproduction, and Growth reports showing what can be expected during the lifecycle. Learn more about Survival, Reproduction, and Growth reports here.

Where does the data originate? Members of nonprofit Species360 use ZIMS to record and share data on populations in their care. This includes the biologists, aquarists, veterinarians, and other scientists at more than 1,200 wildlife institutions worldwide. Their observations and measurements reflect daily work in animal husbandry, animal welfare, medical treatment, and biobank samples.

Aggregated, Anonymous Data: A Research Partnership subscription provides online access to global, aggregated ZIMS data, reports and tools – all available for individual species. The data is anonymous to the individual animal or institution. What’s included:

Husbandry Data: Species Event History, Species Holding, Animal Age Distribution, Weight Comparison Report, TAG Export, Population Overview, Global Holdings by Animal Type.

Medical Data: Anesthesia Summaries, Drug Usage by Type, Expected Blood Test Results.

Privacy Policy: The Species360 data is anonymous, adhering to privacy standards of our members, and allows researchers to analyze aggregated husbandry, demographic, and medical data for thousands of species.

Species360 Data: Sample reports in ZIMS (Zoological Information Management System)

Research partners have online access to a variety of reports and tools, including data on individual species. Here is a look at some of the available information.

**Sample Population Overview Report** for: Aonyx cinereus / **Asian small-clawed otter** IUCN: Vulnerable (VU) CITES: II (From: 08 Aug 1999 to: 08 Aug 2019) (Source: Species360 / Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS))

Sample Excerpt: AnesthesiaSummary-Wolf (Source: Species360 / Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS))

**Sample Excerpt** of Species360 Research Partner report, Elephas maximus Expected Test Results (Source: Species360 / Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS))

Hear what wildlife experts with CITES, IUCN SSC, TRAFFIC, and more say about the value of Species360 and ZIMS data (Video).

Download a PPT summary of the Species360 Research Partner Program, including sample reports.

Species360 Research Partners

Here is a look at some of the institutions participating in our research partner program:

IUCN Primates Section on Small Apes will use ZIMS data to inform gibbon rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centers. *University of California, Davis (United States) – Conducting research on wildlife life history and behavior change over time and space, the researcher is examining variation in birthing times across a latitudinal gradient, supplementing work being done in the field. *Veterinary Diagnostic Services (Canada) – A laboratory within the Manitoba Agriculture Department, Government of Canada. *University of Pennsylvania (United States) – Conducting research on wildlife fertility and how it varies by birth season and by species. *Babes Bolyai University (Romania) – Evolutionary Ecology Group will enhance their field-collected physiological measurements on bird species with zoo results. Research focused on finding correlations between bird species physiological parameters, specimen size, and overall health predictors. *Murdoch University (Australia) – Compliment their field research in numerous wildlife medical areas with aggregated zoo data for a more complete species’ understanding. *Sorrento Therapeutics (Nasdaq: SRNE) & their ARK Animal Health subsidiary, USA – Clinical stage biotechnology company involved in physical research, primarily engaged in the discovery and development of therapies focused on oncology and the treatment of chronic cancer pain – in human, companion animals, wildlife. *Hamilton College, Department of Biology (United States) –Research investigating the trade-offs among physiological traits across numerous wildlife species. *University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) – Research on population changes of species held in captivity that have disappeared (or are at a critical stage) in the wild in the Ivory Coast. This research is part of the wildlife project under the direction of the Aboukouamékro National Parc, Ivory Coast. *University of California, Berkeley (United States) – Research on the types of species frequently held in zoo collections to help inform biodiversity discussions, and conservation prioritization/spending. *University of Virginia (United States) — Comparative study of parasitism and immune function in primates will use physiological markers data in ZIMS. *University of Suffolk (UK) Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Science Program. *University of Navarro (Spain) – Department of Environmental Biology is completing analysis on the role of zoos in species conservation. *Snow Leopard Trust (United States) – Research to protect the endangered snow leopard and its habitat in 12 countries of Central Asia.

To inquire about a Species360 Research Partnership, email us at Support@Species360.org.