Wildlife Genetics

 

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HAPPY MIGRATORY BIRD DAY
MAY 2008  

Migratory Bird Day 

"Tundra to Tropics: Connecting Birds, Habitats, and People"

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DNA DAY 
APRIL 2008  

DNA day

National DNA Day has a unique web site where you can learn more about genetics and genomics!

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EARTH DAY 
APRIL 2008  

Earthday

 http://ww2.earthday.net  

What did you do for 
mother earth today? 

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These special days in highlight the focus of our work: use of DNA and wildlife population health science to further conservation of Earth's wildlife resources!

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Exciting discoveries
in our lab

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Genetic data supports
very close genetic
relationship of
Swainson's Hawks
with Galapagos Hawks

in press,
Biological Journal
of Linnean Society

 
Galapagos Hawk
   

Galapagos Hawk

work of
Dr. Joshua Hull
and collaborators
at Dr. Patricia Parker's
lab at
University of Missouri

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deer

Genetics of deer
with Chronic Wasting
Disease ("Mad Deer
Disease")

work of Dr. Holly Ernest
and collaborators at
USDA Animal Research
Service and the Veterinary
Genetics Lab Service Unit

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magpie

Yellow-billed Magpies in California suffered decline associated with West Nile Virus

work of Scott Crosbie and team of ornithologists and disease experts

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Ecological Genetics for
Wildlife Population Health

Laboratory of Holly Ernest DVM PhD

Located at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Ernest's laboratory is a research and education unit within the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory and the Department of Vet Med: Population Health and Reproduction. We develop and apply genetic and ecological tools to answer key questions toward improved population health, conservation, and management of free-ranging wild birds and mammals.

Key functions of the laboratory include 1) basic and applied wildlife population health and genetics research; 2) undergraduate, veterinary, graduate, and post-doctoral education; 3) collaborative work toward wildlife conservation with state and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and community citizen scientist volunteers; and 4) outreach and education to the public.

Our research

Ecological genetics & disease research
for wildlife population health and conservation


 Population genetics, disease ecology, phylogenetics,
and demographics of avian species

Swainson's HawkYellow-billed Magpie

  • Corvids Yellow-billed Magpie, American Crow, Western Scrub Jay
  • Raptors Swainson's Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Great Gray Owls, Spotted Owls, and others.
  • House Finches and other passerines
  • West Nile virus disease ecology
  • West Nile virus disease ecology
  • Conservation genetics and ecology at landscape scales of imperiled bird populations

Ecological genetics and disease ecology
of mammals

Mtn Lion Sea otter

  • Mountain lions (Puma, cougar) - ecological genetics
  • Black bears - landscape genetics
  • Sea otters - interface among disease ecology, toxicology & genetics
  • Wild Pigs - invasion ecology & genetics of non-native species in California
  • Deer - kinship genetics of populations with Chronic Wasting Disease
  • Ferrets - population genetics and cancer incidence
  • More details at Projects)

 

Help us through donations for our research,
education and service to the public

  • You can help by donating money to keep our projects active or to fund the education of students who will lead wildlife conservation efforts in not-so-distant future years.
  • The excellent quality of our lab's work requires financial resources that are scarse in this economic climate.

Your thoughtful donation can really help!

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credits:
Galapagos Hawk: Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Science
Yellow-billed Magpie (above): © Tim Waring
Yellow-billed Magpie (left): © Tom Greer
Swainson's Hawk in Redwood Tree © Holly Ernest
Mtn Lion: Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Science
Sea Otter: Dr. Lloyd Glenn © California Academy of Science