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Ex situ conservation, translocation, and reintroduction are becoming increasingly important for species restoration. In amphibians, however, effects of captive stress on adults and subsequent effects on their offspring that are later reintroduced into the wild are largely unknown. Using Fowler’s toads (Anaxyrus fowleri) as a model species, we investigated effects of increased captive stress on corticosterone (CORT) concentration in adult toads. We then examined CORT levels in their tadpole offspring, which we reared in natural ponds to simulate conditions of a reintroduced population. We found no significant effects of captive stress on adult or offspring CORT levels. However, despite poor model performance due to low sample size, baseline CORT of sires (but not dams) was the best predictor of, and negatively correlated with, baseline CORT and change in CORT in offspring. Our study provides a unique perspective on the potential translation of stress from parent to offspring and points to a need for a closer examination of paternal effects in cases of cross-generational studies in amphibians. 

Abstract Zoos and natural history museums are both collections-based institutions with important missions in biodiversity research and education. Animals in zoos are a repository and living record of the world's biodiversity, whereas natural history museums are a permanent historical record of snapshots of biodiversity in time. Surprisingly, despite significant overlap in institutional missions, formal partnerships between these institution types are infrequent. Life history information, pedigrees, and medical records maintained at zoos should be seen as complementary to historical records of morphology, genetics, and distribution kept at museums. Through examining both institution types, we synthesize the benefits and challenges of cross-institutional exchanges and propose actions to increase the dialog between zoos and museums. With a growing recognition of the importance of collections to the advancement of scientific research and discovery, a transformational impact could be made with long-term investments in connecting the institutions that are caretakers of living and preserved animals.