Research Projects

Ecology and Genetics for Wildlife Population Health
Laboratory of Holly Ernest

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Birds

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds of California: Population health, conservation genetics, and ecology. Lisa Goldberg, Lisa Tell, Holly Ernest, the Hummingbird Monitoring Network, UC Davis Museum of Wildlife, Institute for Bird Populations, and collaborators.

Corvids

Yellow-billed Magpies: Ecology, Effects of West Nile virus, population genetics,development andapplication of DNA tests to identification of individuals, parents, and kin; and Citizen Science Program to monitor their numbers: Magpie Monitor and Bicycle Bird Biologist Program. Scott Crosbie, Lisa Goldberg, Levi Souza, Ben Harmeling, Holly Ernest,and collaborators.

Western Scrub Jays and other corvids in California: Ecology and population genetics, development and application of DNA tests to identification of individuals, parents, and kin. Holly Ernest, Scott Crosbie, Lisa Goldberg, and collaborators.

American Crows in California: Ecological/population genetics, development and application of DNA tests to identification of individuals, parents, and kin. Holly Ernest, Lisa Goldberg, and collaborators.

House Finches

Passerines and West Nile virus at Stone Lakes Wildlife Refuge.  Ann Pelligini,HollyErnest,andcollaborators.

Raptors

Great Gray Owls: Conservation genetics, development and application of DNA tests to identification ofindividuals, parents, and kin; Exposure to West Nile virus (antibody levels). Joshua Hull, John Keane,Holly Ernest, and collaborators. Habitat modeling: Eric Jepsen, Joe Medley, John Keane, Holly Ernest, and collaborators.

Coopers Hawks: Gender determination by DNA and morphological markers; Exposure to West Nile virus (antibody levels). Joshua Hull, Sarah Pitzer, Buzz Hull, Holly Ernest, and collaborators.

Red-shouldered Hawks: Population genetics, development and application of DNA tests to identification of individuals, parents, and kin; gender determination by DNA and morphological markers; Exposure to West Nile virus (antibody levels). Joshua Hull, Sarah Pitzer, Amanda Irish, Holly Ernest, andcollaborators.

Red-tailed Hawks: Population genetics, development and application of DNA tests to identification ofindividuals, parents, and kin; gender determination by DNA and morphological markers; Exposure to West Nile virus (antibody levels). Joshua Hull, Sarah Pitzer, Buzz Hull, Holly Ernest, and collaborators.

Swainson’s Hawks: Conservation genetics, development and application of DNA tests to identification of individuals, sex (gender), parents, and kin; Exposure to West Nile virus (antibody levels). Joshua Hull, Swainson's Hawk Technical Advisory Committee, Holly Ernest, and collaborators.

Spotted Owls in Sierra Nevada mountains: Exposure to West Nile virus (antibody levels). Joshua Hull, John Keane, Holly Ernest, and collaborators.

Northern Goshawks in Sierra Nevada mountains: Exposure to West Nile virus (antibody levels). Joshua Hull, John Keane, Holly Ernest, and collaborators.

Mammals

Mountain Lions (Puma concolor, cougars) in California: Ecological/population genetics,development andapplication of DNA tests to identification of individuals, parents, and kin. Holly Ernest, Lisa Goldberg, California Department of Fish and Game, National Park Service, USDA-Wildlife Services, and collaborators.

Sea otters: development and application of DNA tests to identification of individuals, parents, and kin; population genetics and disease ecology. Holly Ernest, Lisa Goldberg and collaborators.

Domestic Ferrets, genetics, and cancer. Holly Ernest, Michelle Hawkins, TracyDrazenovich,LisaGoldberg, and collaborators.

Feral Pigs: Ecological/population genetics. Holly Ernest, Lisa Goldberg, Elizabeth Heeg,and collaborators.

Black Bears: Ecological/population genetics. Sarah Brown, Holly Ernest, and collaborators.

Bobcats - ecological genetics and population health. Megan Jennings, Rebecca Lewison, Holly Ernest,and collaborators.

Deer: kinship genetics and forensic applications (collaborations with Service and Forensic Units of Veterinary Genetics Laboratory). Kinship and Chronic Wasting Disease: Holly Ernest, Jay Well, Bruce Hoar, Katherine O'Rourke. Forensic markers: Megan Caulder, Beth Wictum, Holly Ernest, and collaborators.

Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep: Captive Breeding Contingency Plan. Holly Ernest

 

 

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