- Zoos: A Historical Perspective from Smithsonian Institution Libraries
The National Zoological Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
AZA
Jonathan D. Ballou, Ph.D., Population Manager, Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics
Conservation
and Science
Education
University of Virginia, B.A. Behavioral Biology, 1977
George Washington University, M.S. Applied Statistics, 1985
University of Maryland, Ph.D. Population Genetics, 1995
Professional History and Interest
Jonathan Ballou is the population manager at the National Zoo. As a conservation geneticist, his research career has focused on the genetic and demographic problems confronted by small populations, particularly small populations of endangered and threatened species.
This has included a series of analyses (with Katherine Ralls) on the effects of inbreeding on mortality in captive populations. Ballou is recognized as a leader in developing the theoretical basis for the genetic management of small populations and in developing population management tools (software, applied theory) that are widely and internationally used by other wildlife and zoo managers. He serves as the genetic management advisor for California condors, giant pandas, and other endangered species.
His contributions to the science of population management include development of the software PM2000 and MateRx, which are widely used for zoo population management. Ballou is the International Studbook Keeper and coordinator of the captive breeding program for the endangered golden lion tamarin, arguably the most comprehensive conservation program for any endangered species worldwide.
Ballou is also a coauthor of the first textbook in the field of conservation genetics titled Introduction to Conservation Genetics and was a coauthor of the Primer of Conservation Genetics with Richard Frankham and David Briscoe. In recognition of these accomplishments, he received the 2006 Ulysses S. Seal Award for Innovation in Conservation Biology from the IUCN’s Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.
Selected Publications
Ballou, J. D., Miller, P.S., Xie, Z., Wei, R., Zhang, H., Zhang, A., Huang, S., Sun, S., David, V., O'Brien, S.J., Traylor-Holzer, K., Seal, U.S. & Wildt, D.E. 2006. Analysis of demographic and genetic trends for developing a captive breeding masterplan for the giant panda. In: Giant Pandas: Biology, Veterinary Medicine and Management (Ed. by D.E. Wildt, A. Zhang, H. Zhang, D.L. Janssen & S. Ellis), pp. 495-519. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Frankham, R., Ballou, J.D. & Briscoe, D. 2006. Introduction to Conservation Genetics. (Chinese Edition). Cambridge University Press.
Holst, B., Medici, E. P., Marino-Filho, O. J., Kleiman, D., Leus, K., Pissinatti, A., Vivekananda, G., Ballou, J. D., Traylor-Holzer, K., Raboy, B., Passo, F., Vleeschouwer, K. & Montenegro, M. M. 2006. Lion Tamarin Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Workshop 2005, Final Report. Apple Valley, MN: IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.
O'Grady, J. J., Brook, B. W., Reed, D. H., Ballou, J. D., Tonkyn, D. W. & Frankham, R. 2006. Realistic levels of inbreeding depression strongly affect extinction risk in wild populations. Biological Conservation 133: 42-51.
Zimmerman, C., Sturm, M., Ballou, J. D. & Traylor-Holzer, K. 2006. Horses of Assateague Island Population and Habitat Viability Assessment: Final Report. Apple Valley, MN: IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.
View all publications, abstracts, and printable papers by Jon Ballou.
Contact Information
Smithsonian's
National Zoological Park
Conservation and Research
Center
3001
Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington,
D.C. 20008
Telephone:
202.633.4183
