Photo Seth Davis
WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME
White-nose syndrome is a devastating disease of bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Our research uses comparative genomics to assess the evolution of this pathogen. We also use sensitive analytical methods to detect and quantify the fungus to understand disease ecology in bat populations. Our work has been funded by various agencies particularly USFWS and NSF-EEID, with projects led by Kate Langwig of Virginia Tech, Marm Kilpatrick of UC Santa Cruz and Winifred Frick of Bat Conservation International.
BRUCELLOSIS
Brucellosis is among the world's most important infectious diseases, affecting a broad range of vertebrates. We use genomics to assess the evolution of Brucella spp. to better understand its phylogeographic history and epidemiology in wildlife, livestock, and humans. We have current projects in Iraq, Cameroon, and Georgia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.
DIET METABARCODING
Molecular approaches now enable us to sequence every item of an animal's diet, from insects and other arthropods to marine invertebrates, seeds, and pollen. These eDNA methods allow unprecedented detail into what birds, bats, rodents, and other animals are eating.
Molecular approaches now enable us to sequence every item of an animal's diet, from insects and other arthropods to marine invertebrates, seeds, and pollen. These eDNA methods allow unprecedented detail into what birds, bats, rodents, and other animals are eating.
SEED DISPERSAL
Many Hawaiian plants are dependent on birds to disperse their seeds. However, nearly all of these native dispersers are now extinct. Concurrent with native bird declines have been introductions of large numbers of birds and plants from throughout the world. We are studying the relative success of non-native birds (and rodents) on the dispersal of native and non-native plants. See the Hawaii VINE project webpage for details.
MALARIA IN HAWAIIAN HONEYCREEPERS
Avian malaria was introduced to Hawaii in the 1800s and has caused widespread declines of native birds. These bird species, particularly Hawaiian Honeycreepers, are extremely susceptible to this disease, having evolved for millennia without this pathogen. Yet, some species such as amakihi appear to have evolved resistance/tolerance to malaria. Our work assesses the evolutionary mechanisms of resistance to malaria. Work has been funded primarily by NSF-EEID, with partners including the Smithsonian's Center for Conservation Genomics, Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, USGS-PIERC, and State of Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
AVIAN CHOLERA
Avian cholera is the leading infectious disease of waterfowl in North America, causing huge die-offs annually in ducks, geese, grebes, and other waterfowl and avian scavengers. The bacterium, Pasteurella multocida, also causes major mortality events in domestic poultry. We are using genetic techniques to assess the epizootiology of avian cholera throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.
Avian cholera is the leading infectious disease of waterfowl in North America, causing huge die-offs annually in ducks, geese, grebes, and other waterfowl and avian scavengers. The bacterium, Pasteurella multocida, also causes major mortality events in domestic poultry. We are using genetic techniques to assess the epizootiology of avian cholera throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.
Collaborators
Jeff Brawn University of Illinois Scott Robinson University of Florida Rob Fleischer Smithsonian Institution Paul Keim Northern Arizona University Dave Wagner Northern Arizona University Tal Pearson Northern Arizona University David Blehert USGS-National Wildlife Health Center Jeff Lorch USGS-National Wildlife Health Center Mike Samuel University of Wisconsin, Madison Winifred Frick Bat Conservation International Marm Kilpatrick UC Santa Cruz Gary McCracken University of Tennessee Carol Chambers Northern Arizona University Faith Walker Northern Arizona University Karen Hill Los Alamos National Lab Adrian Whatmore Veterinary Laboratories Agency, UK David O’Callaghan INSERM, Nimes, France Rebecca Wattam Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Miki Gyuranecz Hungarian Academy of Sciences Holger Scholz Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology Catherine Soos Environment Canada Jane Harms University of Saskatchewan Dan Lindner US Forest Service Jon Palmer US Forest Service Cali Crampton Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project Corey Tarwater University of Wyoming Jinelle Sperry US Army-CERL Don Drake University of Hawaii Brett Dickson Conservation Science Partners Giuliano Garofolo Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, Italy Adrian Allen Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland Robin Skuce Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland Craig Willis University of Winnipeg Jeferson Vizentin-Bugoni University of Illinois Patrick Kelley University of Wyoming |