• Conservation Medicine
• Animal Management, Husbandry & Health
• Restoration Ecology
• Professional Training
• Conservation Education
• International Work
• Professional Partnerships

Conservation Medicine

As the loss of biodiversity continues to undermine the ecological systems that support life on Earth, scientists are beginning to recognize the link between the health of our ecosystems, the health of wildlife populations, and the health of humans. An ecological continuum exists between humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife and the emergence or proliferation of diseases at any point on that continuum has the potential to spread, often to other species. While there is broad recognition of the increasing impact of emerging diseases, environmental pollutants, and climate change, our understanding of the interrelatedness of these processes and the fact that they are the result of large-scale alterations of ecological processes is in its infancy. What is required to understand, and ultimately address many of these issues, is a truly interdisciplinary (as opposed to multi-disciplinary) approach to problem solving – one that includes health professionals (human and veterinary) and conservation biologists, cell biologists and toxicologists, ecologists and geneticists, all working together to address the health of our planet and its inhabitants.

The recently defined field of Conservation Medicine has emerged as a response to this challenge. The goal of Conservation Medicine is to integrate the diagnostic and problem-solving skills of medical professionals with the ecological and management knowledge of conservation professionals, to develop an expanded, ecological approach to health and medicine.

The Wilds is ideally suited to foster the development of Conservation Medicine. Many of the components of an appropriate interdisciplinary effort are already in place. With resident expertise in wildlife management, veterinary medicine, ecology and restoration biology, the philosophical underpinnings of Conservation Medicine are well aligned with the mission of the Wilds. As managers of both animal populations and large tracts of highly altered land, the Wilds is able to investigate many of the salient questions of Conservation Medicine more readily than most. These efforts are strengthened by established collaborations with leading academic institutions, bringing additional skills and expertise to bear on the questions at hand. Further, our experience with conveying this information through an array of educational programs will help to broaden the public’s understanding, and ultimately their support, of these important issues.

Recently, the Wilds’ staff has identified several projects that will serve as models for a broader Conservation Medicine initiative.

Assessment of water quality and its effects on aquatic vertebrate and invertebrate species. Taking advantage of the large number of lakes and ponds, watersheds, and wetlands areas at the Wilds, we are evaluating (broad) health parameters, species diversity and demography, and reproductive capacity for a number of “indicator” species.

Results of these studies will have implications for pond, lake, and wetland restoration practices.

Comparisons of animal health parameters across habitats of variable environmental quality. These studies compare various aspects of ecology, demographics, and behavior with a range of health measures (disease patterns, parasites, toxins, etc.). In the Appalachian region in general, for instance, we are comparing the health and habitats of the Eastern hellbender, a reclusive giant salamander that is endangered in the state of Ohio. By assessing disease prevalence and ecology and correlating health parameters with water quality and other environmental factors, we are striving to elucidate ‘healthy’ environmental parameters and improve living conditions for these mild-mannered creatures. On site at the Wilds, many areas have been subjected to mining and subsequent reclamation/restoration. The maturation and development of each site vary temporally and appear to vary in terms of microhabitat structure and available nutrition. We are investigating the response of several species of small mammals, mid-sized mammals, reptiles and birds to these environmental changes.

Evaluations of fresh water mussels for diseases, parasites and toxins in both source and refugia populations. The Wilds, in cooperation with the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the USFWS, has established a project to evaluate the utility of refugia for freshwater bi-valves “at-risk” in their native habitat. To date, the only measures of success (or failure) have been “growth” and “survival” of the translocated specimens, and little attention has been paid to the disease risks (both to the mussels and to the resident fish populations) posed by such a program. We are developing new methods for health assessment and monitoring in freshwater mussels, with the aim of discovering environmental effectors of their health and improving their future survivability.

The Wilds offers a 3-year residency in Wildlife and Conservation Medicine. This program, accredited by the American College of Zoological Medicine, is available every three years. For more information, please see Conservation Medicine Residency.

Revised April 17, 2006