Preserving biodiversity: How cryobanks protect endangered species from extinction

The sixth mass extinction and the scientific response

The biodiversity of our planet is dwindling at a rate that scientists are calling the sixth mass extinction. Animal and plant species are disappearing irretrievably every day - often before they have even been studied. Habitat destruction, climate change, environmental pollution and invasive species are affecting ecosystems worldwide.

In the face of this crisis, one instrument is becoming increasingly important: the cryopreservation of genetic material. Cryobanks act as a kind of Noah's Ark of the 21st century - they preserve semen, eggs, sperm, embryos and tissue samples of endangered species at ultra-low temperatures, thus preserving genetic diversity for future generations.

Consarctic® supports research institutions, botanical gardens and conservation organizations worldwide with the cryogenics needed for this critical task. In this article, we highlight the fascinating link between refrigeration technology and species conservation.

What is cryopreserved? An overview of the sample types

The term cryobank in the context of biodiversity conservation covers a wide range of biological material:

Plant material

• Seeds: Seed banks around the world, such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, store millions of seed samples at temperatures of around -18°C. For particularly sensitive species, the samples are stored in nitrogen tanks at -196°C.
• Meristems and shoot tips: Especially for plants that do not produce storable seeds (such as many tropical crops), cryopreservation of meristems is the only long-term preservation option.

Animal material

• Sperm and egg cells: Gametes are cryopreserved for breeding programs of endangered animal species in order to maintain genetic diversity within small populations.
• Embryos: In some cases, whole embryos can be frozen and transferred to surrogate mothers at a later date.
• Tissue samples and DNA: Even if direct reproduction is not possible, securing tissue and DNA can be invaluable for future research and potential resuscitation technologies.

The special challenges of the species conservation cryobank

Compared to a medical biobank, cryopreservation for species conservation places special demands on the technology:

Extreme variety of sample types

A cryo-storage system for a zoological collection must be able to accommodate bird sperm, reptile eggs, coral larvae and insect DNA alike. The required freezing protocols vary greatly depending on the organism. A flexible freezer such as the BIOFREEZE® series is essential here.

Long-term perspective

The storage period is not measured in years, but in decades or even centuries. The quality and durability of the cryogenic tanks is therefore an absolute priority. Consarctic® stainless steel tanks are designed for maximum service life and minimum maintenance.

Site conditions

Cryobanks for species conservation are sometimes located in remote locations - in research stations in tropical rainforests or on Arctic islands. The cryoproducts must function reliably under these difficult conditions and require as little energy and maintenance as possible.

Success stories from around the world

Cryopreservation has already contributed to remarkable successes in species conservation:

• The Frozen Zoo Project: The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance maintains one of the world's largest frozen zoos with tissue samples from over 10,000 individuals from more than 1,000 species, including many endangered species.
• Coral rescue: Scientists are successfully cryopreserving coral larvae and sperm to save genetic material from the Great Barrier Reef and other threatened reef ecosystems.
• Seed banks: The Kew Millennium Seed Bank in England has already secured over 2.4 billion seeds from 40,000 species - a monumental contribution to global food security.

The role of Consarctic® in species conservation

Consarctic® is proud to contribute to species conservation worldwide. Our cryo solutions are used in gene banks, zoological collections and botanical gardens, providing the reliability and efficiency required for the long-term preservation of genetic resources.

From individual cryocontainers for field transportation to complete storage systems for large collections - we offer the right solution for every scenario.

Responsibility for future generations

Cryopreservation for species conservation is more than a technical task - it is an act of responsibility towards future generations. Every sample that is safely stored today could be the key to saving an entire species in the future.

Are you interested in cryogenics for your species conservation project? Contact our experts and find out how we can support you with customized solutions for your unique requirements.