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
- Corvids Yellow-billed Magpie, American Crow, Western Scrub Jay
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Raptors Swainson's Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Great Gray Owls, Spotted Owls, and others.
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House Finches and other passerines
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West Nile virus disease ecology
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West Nile virus disease ecology
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Conservation genetics and ecology at landscape scales of imperiled bird populations
Ecological genetics and disease ecology
of mammals
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Mountain lions (Puma, cougar) - ecological genetics
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Black bears - landscape genetics
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Sea otters - interface among disease ecology, toxicology & genetics
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Wild Pigs - invasion ecology & genetics of non-native species in California
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Deer - kinship genetics of populations with Chronic Wasting Disease
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Ferrets - population genetics and cancer incidence
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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.
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










