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1 | Becki Lawson - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust report
Optimising a citizen science approach to national wildlife health surveillance
Becki Lawson
MA VetMB MSc PhD Dip ECZM (Wildlife Population Health) MRCVS European Veterinary Specialist in Wildlife Population Health
Institute Research Fellow Institute of Zoology
Zoological Society of London Regent's Park
LONDON NW1 4RY Tel / +44- 20-7449-6677
email/ [email protected]
2 | Becki Lawson - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust report
Contents
Summary Page 3
WCMT Project Objectives Page 4
Itinerary and Activities
Visit 1 - Cornell University, Ithaca Page 5
Visit 2 - Princeton University, New Jersey Page 10
Visit 3 - Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Massachusetts Page 11
Visit 4 - Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Conference, University of Michigan, Michigan Page 13
Visit 5 - 5th Annual White-Nose Syndrome Symposium, Wisconsin Page 14 Visit 6 - EcoHealthNet 2012 Workshop, Wisconsin Page 15
Visit 7 - National Wildlife Health Center, Wisconsin Page 16
Project Outputs and Information Dissemination Page 22
Acknowledgements Page 23
Images Page 24
Appendix
1 - Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Conference poster: Page 30
“Is an emerging infectious disease causing dramatic declines of common British birds?”
3 | Becki Lawson - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust report
Summary
Monitoring the health of wildlife species can help us learn more about diseases that affect wild animal welfare, impact biodiversity and conservation, or have implications for public and livestock health. Since qualification as a veterinarian, I have worked with a range of native wildlife species in Great Britain, including terrestrial and marine mammals, in a wildlife rehabilitation centre and then conducted disease investigation through post-mortem examinations on various projects. In 2005 I set up a national scheme, the Garden Bird Health initiative, to investigate the causes of garden bird mortality in Britain as part of my PhD research. This involved collaboration between vets and ornithologists and used a citizen science approach with a volunteer network and public reporting to achieve surveillance.
At the time of my application to the WCMT my career plan, as part of a Research Fellowship at the Institute of Zoology, was to work with colleagues and collaborators to expand the wildlife health surveillance to include additional garden wildlife species (i.e. hedgehog, amphibian and reptile). Also to transfer to a web-based recording format to capture the data collected by citizen scientists in a time efficient and cost effective manner.
During May-June 2012, my WCMT travel fellowship afforded the opportunity to visit many centres of excellence for wildlife disease investigation and epidemiological research in the USA, including Cornell University, Princeton University, the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, and the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison. I was also able to attend and present at a number of workshops and conferences on field skills for epidemiology and disease outbreak investigation, the general principles of disease ecology and evolution, and specific emerging infectious diseases affecting North American wildlife.
These visits enabled me to develop a greater understanding of the regional, national, North American and international schemes currently in operation for wildlife health surveillance. I gained experience of the multidisciplinary nature of wildlife disease investigation, ranging from protocols for field investigation of wildlife mortality incidents, pathological examinations and laboratory diagnostic techniques, to various data recording formats used to capture wildlife disease investigation and surveillance data. I was also able to assist with classroom training for members of the public who had volunteered to participate in a systematic citizen science for wildlife disease surveillance. This varied practical experience was combined with range of meetings, seminars and conferences that offered greater insight into the theoretical approach to wildlife disease ecology and modelling.
Specifically, I was able to learn about the infectious and non-infectious diseases affecting free-living wildlife in the USA, including those that are novel and emerging (e.g. keratin beak disorder, white-nose syndrome); have caused epidemic mortality and significant wildlife population decline (e.g. house finch conjunctivitis, West Nile virus); and zoonoses of public health importance (e.g. rabies). Importantly, I’ve established contacts with many veterinarians and wildlife health professionals in North America, with whom I hope to maintain contact through international conferences and, perhaps, future research collaborations.
Since completion of the WCMT travel fellowship, grant applications for funding to support the Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) project were successful and financial support was gained from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Defra (AHVLA Great Britain Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership which receives funding from the Defra through the Scanning Surveillance Programme and Defra’s Strategic Evidence Fund). The GWH project includes the Institute of Zoology, in collaboration with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Froglife. The GWH had a soft launch in summer 2013 for a period of testing and review, followed by an official launch of the website (www.gardenwildlifehealth.org) in January 2014.
My WCMT travel fellowship was tremendously useful for my personal professional development. The skills and experience I have gained are directly relevant to development and co-ordination of the GWH project, which I hope will benefit both British wildlife and the British general public over the coming years. Early detection of emerging wildlife diseases and a clear understanding of their origin and methods of transmission can inform practical mitigation strategies to help conserve native wildlife species. Public participation in citizen science projects for wildlife disease surveillance, such as the GWH project, offers an opportunity to encourage public engagement with nature, which is known to promote human quality of life and have positive health benefits; it can promote interest and perceived value of wildlife thereby promoting societal support of conservation; it can provide science education; and it can inform and improve land-use change and its implications for wildlife thereby facilitating optimization of habitat management for biodiversity.
4 | Becki Lawson - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust report
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Project Objectives
(1) Gain skills in field and laboratory techniques for investigation of wildlife mortality incidents used in the USA.
(2) Understand the protocols for data collection and information exchange used in citizen science schemes for wildlife disease investigation in the USA.
(3) Update my knowledge of wild bird diseases that are currently important in the USA (e.g. West Nile virus, house finch conjunctivitis, keratin beak disorder) that might emerge in the UK in the future.
(4) Build organisation links to foster future international collaborations. (5) Use this knowledge to inform development of the Garden Wildlife Health project on return to the UK.
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Itinerary and Activities
Visit 1: Cornell University, Ithaca Visit hosted by André Dhondt at Alice Cook House
Monday 7th
May 2012
Visit to the Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/) is a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds. Organisational hallmarks include scientific excellence and technological innovation to advance the understanding of nature and to engage people of all ages in learning about birds and protecting the planet. Founded in 1915, the Cornell Lab is a non-profit organization supported by 45,000 friends and members with a community of 200,000 citizen-science participants.
Activities:
Gave Research Seminar to the Citizen Science staff group entitled “Citizen Science and Wildlife Disease Surveillance”. Tour of facilities at the Lab of Ornithology. Attended Speciation Day poster session with scientists from Cornell, Syracuse and Rochester universities. Meetings with Research Staff.
Meeting with André Dhondt, Director of Population Studies
Discussed the National Science Foundation (NSF) funding support to investigate the emergence, impact and epidemiology of house finch conjunctivitis, caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). A series of three 5-year NSF grants have been received. Discuss parallels between our finch trichomonosis research in GB and the MG research in the USA. Discussed focus of the first NSF grant which included field work including mark-recapture studies to appraise disease impact on individual bird survival; a large-scale survey to establish disease spread in time and space; and studies to establish the incubation period and basic parameters of infection. Subsequent grant applications have shifted focus to experimental studies to inform pathogen virulence evolution and address mechanistic questions. Highlighted NSF Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases programme with opportunities for US-UK Collaborative Projects.
Meeting with Wesley Hochachka, Assistant Director, Bird Population Studies
Discussed the network of ornithological non-governmental organisations in the USA (e.g. Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell; Nature Conservancy; Audobon) and their respective roles and responsibilities with conservation and research.
Meeting with David Bontner, Head of Citizen Science
Discussed the range of public participation in scientific research (PPSR) or citizen science projects co-ordinated by the Laboratory of Ornithology and whether parallel schemes operate in the UK/ Europe.
Project Feederwatch (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/) was set up 25 years ago and has circa 17,000 participants across North America. Online data reporting began in 1999 and 85% of participants submit via the web rather than in paper format. Participants select two consecutive days once every two weeks and count the birds in their garden, noting the species present during all or part of those days. Project Feederwatch runs through the winter only (November to early April). There is an annual 15 USD participation fee that helps fund the scheme. To encourage engagement, participants receive an annual magazine, calendar and handbook.
Garden BirdWatch (GBW) (http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw) is the analogous scheme in GB organised by the BTO, through which systematic disease surveillance has been achieved in the GBHi (www.ufaw.org.uk/gbhi.php). GBW began in 1994 and has circa 15,000 active participants who provide information throughout the year online and through paper recording format on the species of birds, and other wildlife species in their gardens. In a similar way to Project FeederWatch, participants have an annual membership fee and receive a range of educational materials and the magazine “BTO Bird Table”.
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House Finch Disease Survey (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/hofi/HFDhistory.html) was launched in 1994, and set up within a few months of the onset of the epidemic mortality in house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) caused by MG. This is an example where disease surveillance through citizen science could be achieved by linking to an existing large-scale citizen science project for monitoring species distribution and abundance. This continued until 2008 when the prevalence of clinical disease reduced markedly and infection was most commonly associated with no external signs of disease. This scheme relied solely on public reporting for the characteristic external signs of infection (i.e. conjunctivitis) in affected birds. This contrasts with the GBHi in GB where many infectious and non-infectious causes of mortality were investigated; often with non-specific clinical signs. Therefore, in GB submission of carcasses for post-mortem examination (PME) was required to determine the cause of death.
In the USA, data collection on garden bird morbidity and mortality is now conducted using a “Sick and Unusual bird” form which is available online. The majority of completed forms are currently from north-western USA and report beak deformities, thought to be keratin beak disorder syndrome. This syndrome of unknown aetiology was first noted in Alaska in 1999 and has reached high prevalence in certain species (http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/landbirds/beak_deformity/index.html). Discussed research of Caroline van Hemert, USGS Alaska, into this syndrome (http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/landbirds/beak_deformity/index.html). Also discussed the findings of the BTO’s Big Garden BeakWatch (http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/about/background/projects/bgbw) where a number of species with beak abnormalities have been reported by citizen scientists. Our intention is to investigate cases in GB to determine if there is evidence for a shared aetiology. Feather abnormalities including leucism and albinism are also frequently reported in the USA, as per in GB. Discussed species in which avian pox and cnemidocoptosis occur in the USA.
Discussed patterns of garden bird feeding practice in the USA and how they contrast with GB in terms of season and food type.
Discussed pros and cons of online data recording schemes used at the Lab of Ornithology. Oracle database infrastructure and current challenges to incorporate digital photograph submission. Data validation tools have been developed to ensure quality control of information. For unusual data entries, the reporter receives a query message requesting that they double check the details and provide additional information before they are verified.
Great Backyard Count (http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc) scheme runs across North America for four days in mid-February and is considered the gateway entry to participation in citizen science and public engagement with circa 70,000 participants. Participants provide one-off counts of the birds in their gardens. This scheme is most analogous to the RSPB Big Garden BirdWatch (http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch) in GB which began in 1979 and has circa 400,000 participants.
Yardmap (http://content.yardmap.org/) is a NSF-funded programme to link people with their environment, and aims to improve gardens as wildlife refuges in the USA. This is similar to the RSPB’s Better Homes for Wildlife scheme (http://www.rspb.org.uk/hfw) in GB but with more focus on individual garden web-based mapping tools.
Nestwatch (http://nestwatch.org/) has been running since the 1960s and is a nationwide monitoring program in the USA designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. This is similar to the BTO’s Nest Record Scheme (http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/nrs) in GB.
eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird/) is an open access data project that was launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. The birding community reports individual bird sightings online. eBird provides basic information on bird abundance and distribution at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. The scheme is analogous to BirdTrack in Europe (http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdtrack).
Discussed schemes for bird population monitoring undertaken in the USA including the Christmas Bird Count (http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count) run by the Audobon Society since 1901 making it the longest running citizen science project in the world. Also the North American Breeding Bird Survey (https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/ ) run by the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center which involves road-side transect count monitoring. Discussed how these compare with GB schemes including the Breeding Bird Survey (http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/bbs) which uses line transect data over circa 3000 x1km
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transects to generate relative abundance estimates for populations of common British birds with a consistent methodology since 1994.
Discussed the North American Bird Banding Program run by the Bird Banding Laboratory, Patuxent (http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/) and how this contrasts with the BTO Ringing Scheme (http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/ringing/ringing-scheme) and Euring (http://www.euring.org/) throughout Europe.
Discussed bird-disease related PhD students at the Lab of Ornithology:
Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) on Bird Song - Sara DeLeon PCBs cause neurological damage and mimic oestrogen activity, thereby altering sexual development and reproduction. Hormonal balance plays a key role in bird song, so it might be possible to monitor PCB exposure by studying songbirds. To test this hypothesis, Sara recorded songs and collected blood and feather samples from black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) along a gradient of PCB contamination along the Hudson River in New York. Her preliminary results suggest that nonlethal levels of PCBs in the environment do affect bird song, a finding with implications for wild birds in polluted landscapes.
DeLeon S, Halitschke R, Hames RS, Kessler A, DeVoogd TJ, et al. (2013) The Effect of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on the Song of Two Passerine Species. PLoS ONE 8(9): e73471. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0073471
Disease transmission of House Finch Conjunctivitis – Sarah States Sarah’s research focuses on MG transmission to examine how the disease impacts behaviour and pathogen transmission.
States SL, Hochachka WM, Dhondt AA (2009) Spatial variation in an avian host community: implications for disease dynamics. Ecohealth 6(4):540-545. Dhondt AA, States SL, Dhondt KV, Schat AA (2012) Understanding the origin of seasonal epidemics of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis. Journal of Animal Ecology 81(5):996-1003.
Tuesday 8th May 2012
Visit to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Activities:
Attend lunchtime Veterinary Department (Zoo, Exotic Pets and Wildlife) meeting with clinicians from the range of disciplines. Discuss veterinary undergraduate teaching at Cornell University on zoo and exotic pet species and free-living wildlife. Meetings with multiple staff members.
Meeting with Elizabeth Bunting, Wildlife Veterinarian and Krysten Schuler, Wildlife Disease Specialist, Animal Health Diagnostic Center
Tour of recently opened New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory/ Animal Health Diagnostic Center Discussed the structure of state and national wildlife disease surveillance in the USA, from State Wildlife Biologists and Veterinarians, through regional networks (South Eastern Cooperative for Wildlife Disease Surveillance (SCWDS), Northeast Wildlife Disease Cooperative (NEWDC)), species-specific networks (e.g. marine mammal strandings) to the National Wildlife Health Center (see below).
Discussed the range of diseases and research programmes of current interest in wild mammals and birds in New York State (e.g. rabies, chronic wasting disease).
Meeting with Patrick McDonough, Associate Professor of Microbiology Discussed passerine salmonellosis, known as “songbird fever” in cats in the USA and compared the disease epidemiology with that seen in GB. Note that phage typing of Salmonella sp. isolates is not performed in the
USA as a routine for typing, as in GB.
Evening dinner with undergraduate students at Alice Cook House.
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Wednesday 9th
May 2012
Attended the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology research group meeting chaired by André Dhondt Holly Lutz, PhD student, presented her research on avian Plasmodium and other haemoparasites.
Thursday 10th
May 2012 Meeting with Colin Parrish, Professor of Virology at the Baker Institute for Animal Health
(http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/)
Discussed research programme on viral diseases of dogs and cats, particularly analysis of parvoviruses of cats, raccoons, mink, and other carnivores (including free-living wildlife).
Observed Hellbender PME performed by the Cornell Resident in Zoo & Wildlife Pathology There are two species of Hellbenders which are threatened salamanders and North America’s largest amphibian species. The significance of non-infectious or infectious disease as a factor contributing to the recent decline of the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is yet to be determined. Met Peter Petokas from Lycoming College who is involved in field studies on this species. Discussed Institute of Zoology’s amphibian disease research programme on ranavirosis and chytridiomycosis in GB.
Meeting with Beth Buckles, Senior Lecturer in Anatomic Pathology
Discussed Cornell pathology department and residency opportunities in Zoo and Wildlife Pathology in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (http://www.wcs.org/). Discussed current research interests and compared wild bird diseases frequently diagnosed in the USA and GB.
Meeting with George Kollias, Professor of Wildlife Medicine Tour of the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health program and clinic which has a mixed species caseload of circa 800 casualties per year. Discussed common reasons for wildlife casualty presentations in different taxa and compared rehabilitation schemes in operation in the USA and GB. In the USA wildlife rehabilitators must undertake examinations in order to be granted species-specific State licenses to practice. Specific permits are required to deal with rabies-risk species and Federally-listed endangered species. No similar scheme for regulation of wildlife rehabilitators exists in GB, only voluntary codes of practice.
Discussed Zoo & Wildlife Medicine teaching programme for undergraduates and residents at Cornell University. Compared with educational opportunities in the field in GB.
Meeting with Avery August, Chair and Professor of Immunology
Discussed shared interest in Coral Conservation and international opportunities to fund capacity-building projects for conservation.
Friday 11th
May
Meeting with Cuban field research studies students on Externship at the Laboratory of Ornithology
Discussed recent observations of passerine disease at field stations and ongoing research. I presented on avian pox disease research, papillomatosis and cnemidocoptosis in British passerines and discussed diagnostic approaches that they might employ.
Participated in Clinical Rounds presentation in the Zoo, Wildlife & Exotic Animals Departments Gave a brief presentation on passerine disease research in GB. Tour of the Small Animal and Exotic Animal clinical department facilities with Dr Ricardo de Matos.
Participated in Pathology Rounds “Show & Tell” Session
9 | Becki Lawson - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust report
Series of case presentations on recent pathology cases given by the Pathology residents and veterinary undergraduates.
Meeting with Keila Dhondt, DVM
Tour of the passerine aviary facilities and discussed husbandry techniques.
10 | Becki Lawson - Winston Churchill Memorial Trust report
Visit 2: Princeton University, New Jersey Visit hosted by Professor Andy Dobson
Princeton University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB)
Monday 14th
May – Friday 18th
May
EEB (http://www.princeton.edu/eeb/) integrates the study of biology across scales of space, time and organizational complexity, seeking to understand on ecological and evolutionary scales how organisms, populations and ecosystems operate. Andy Dobson’s research is concerned with the ecology of infectious diseases and the conservation of endangered and threatened species.
Activities:
Tour of EEB and Princeton University departments. Meetings with staff and students from across the core research areas of EEB and attended several student research seminars. Gave a research seminar to the staff and students on “Endemic and emerging diseases of British garden birds”.
Meetings with Andy Dobson, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Discussed the parallels between the emergence of house finch conjunctivitis, caused by the bacterium MG, in the USA, and finch trichomonosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae in GB.
Meeting with Bryan Grenfell, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Discussed current research primarily on human pathogens (e.g. measles, human influenza, rotavirus, HIV, Shigella, Typhoid and Hand Foot and Mouth Disease) working at the interface between theoretical models and empirical data and utilising phylodynamic approaches.
Meeting with Erik Osnas, Wildlife Biologist
Discussed research on house finch conjunctivitis and the evolution of pathogen virulence. Emphasised how epidemiological research typically focuses on host evolution; however, pathogen evolution under selection pressure may be rapid and significant.
Hawley DM, Osnas EE, Dobson AP, Hochachka WM, Ley DH, Dhondt AA (2013) Parallel patterns of increased virulence in a recently emerged wildlife pathogen. PLOS Biology 11(5):e1001570. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001570.
Meeting with Corinne Kendall, Graduate Student, on African Vulture declines
Discussed current threats to African vultures in decline and related research programme, including GPS tracking of birds to investigate the extent of furadan poisoning. Compared the situation with the precipitous declines of Gyps sp. vultures in India due to non-infectious disease; IoZ staff were involved in the research to
investigate the cause of this decline due to diclofenac toxicity.
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Visit 3: Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Massachusetts Visit hosted by Associate Professor Mark Pokras, Department of Environmental and Population Health, Wildlife Clinic & Center for Conservation Medicine
Monday 21st
May
Activities:
Tour of the Tufts Wildlife Clinic facilities. Gave a research seminar to staff and students on “Endemic and emerging diseases of British garden birds” Meetings with veterinary research staff.
Meeting with Mark Pokras, Allison Robbins (Research Assistant Professor) and Gretchen Kaufman (Assistant Professor, Wildlife and International Veterinary Medicine)
Discussed undergraduate and postgraduate teaching opportunities in Conservation Medicine at Tufts University, specifically the new MSc in Conservation Medicine that began in 2010 (http://www.tufts.edu/vet/mcm/). Shared information on the syllabus from the MSc in Wild Animal Biology and Health, co-run by the Institute of Zoology and Royal Veterinary College, London since 1994 (which I graduated from in 2000).
Discussed different objectives of veterinarians, wildlife managers/ biologists and wildlife rehabilitators to wildlife rehabilitation in the USA and GB. Agreed on the opportunity for wildlife rehabilitators to collect biological samples and information that can be used inform wildlife disease surveillance. At the Wildlife Clinic, PME are prioritised for certain species e.g. common loon (Gavia immer), blue heron (Ardea herodias) and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
Discussed the Loon Health and Mortality Project (http://www.tufts.edu/vet/loons/), a long-term surveillance project for infectious and non-infectious disease threats to loon health launched by Mark Pokras in 1988 with an estimated of 2500 birds examined to date (circa 50-100 per year). Major threats include lead poisoning and fishing line entanglement. Discussed parallels between this research and longitudinal studies for wild bird disease surveillance, such as the GBHi in GB, including methods of carcass retrieval.
Discussed other wildlife species (circa 2000 casualties per annum) that present to the Wildlife Clinic and common reasons for species presentation.
Discussed white-nose syndrome in bats (see below) and amphibian chytridiomycosis disease research programmes at Tufts.
Meeting with Julie Ellis, Research Assistant Professor Discussed SEANET (www.wdin.org/seanet), a citizen science project co-run by Tufts which began in 2003 and involves standardised beach surveys undertaken by participants. Around 200 volunteers walk stretches of beach for an hour and record their observations online. Record details of search (e.g. dog on walk, number of people, date and time, weather, visible oil on the beach) and then if a carcass is found, record details (e.g. photograph, species measurements, link to eBird (see above) for reporting of live birds). The project has a particular interest in investigating the ecological significance of oil spills, algal toxins, plastic consumption and disease outbreaks (e.g. Wellfleet virus in Eiders (Somateria mollissima)) for seabirds. Discussed the potential to develop a similar scheme in GB, where seabird disease surveillance is under-represented, perhaps in collaboration with NGOs such as the Marine Conservation Society who run citizen science schemes such as Beachwatch (http://www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch/).
Discussed oiled wildlife emergency response procedures in the USA, including Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research (http://www.tristatebird.org/response) and International Bird Rescue (http://www.bird-rescue.org/our-work/oil-spill-response-and-preparedness.aspx). In the USA, the Oil Pollution Act 90 mandates wildlife response during oil spills and a successful response requires professional, trained wildlife responders to work within an incident management team using a contingency plan based on real world experience. Tri-State and IBR help deliver this emergency response. Compared situation in GB, with oiled wildlife care principally undertaken by the RSPCA.
Discussed the North Eastern Wildlife Disease Co-operative (NEWDC, http://sites.tufts.edu/newdc/). This network aims to offer wildlife health and disease services to the Northeast US. The network is at an early
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stage of development with training workshops for State wildlife staff in Connecticut, Maine and New Hampshire. Plans to involve a network of veterinary schools, State veterinarians and rehabilitation centers. Discussed parallels with the South Eastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) which was founded in 1957, is based at the University of Georgia, and involves collaboration between 19 States. SCWDS work is partially funded by annual contributions from participating State governments.
Meeting with Maureen Murray, Veterinarian
Discussed research on anticoagulant exposure and toxicosis in birds of prey presented to the Wildlife Clinic and compared with the situation in GB.
Murray M (2011) Anticoagulant rodenticide exposure and toxicosis in four species of birds of prey presented to a wildlife clinic in Massachusetts, 2006-2010. J Zoo Wildl Med. 2011;42(1):88-97.
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Visit 4: Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Conference 22-25th May 2012 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Michigan
Activities:
This international meeting was an excellent opportunity to meet scientists from a range of theoretical, medical and veterinary backgrounds, with a conceptual interest in the ecological drivers of infectious disease and pathogen evolution. A complete list of the Abstracts of Talks and Posters is available @ http://www.eeidconference.org/EEID2012/.
I presented my collaborative research from the UK on finch trichomonosis derived using a citizen science approach at the conference poster session, “Is an emerging infectious disease causing dramatic declines of common British birds?” See abstract and poster in Appendix 1.
Meeting with Dr Jim Adelman and Dr Dana Hawley from the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech Discussed their research on MG in house finches and lead on the current NSF grant on this disease. Discussed sampling and molecular testing protocols for characterisation of T. gallinae parasites and the potential for a transatlantic collaboration, comparing and contrasting the emergence of T. gallinae as a passerine parasite in GB and North America. Additionally, as an outcome of this contact with Dr Adelman, I received an invitation to present at the Ecological Society of America's meeting in Minneapolis, August 4-7 2013 on Disease Ecology in Human-Altered Landscapes.
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Visit 5: 5th Annual White-Nose Syndrome Symposium, The Madison Concourse Hotel, Madison, Wisconsin June 4-7
th
Activities:
Attended the symposium and participated in the Diagnostics Working Group meeting.
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern to the central United States at an alarming rate. Since the winter of 2007-2008, millions of insectivorous bats in 19 states and four Canadian provinces have died from this disease. The disease is caused by the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus (formerly Geomyces) destructans that infects the skin of the
muzzle, ears, and wings of hibernating bats.
WNS is arguably the second most important infectious disease threat to global biodiversity, after amphibian chytridiomycosis which has caused amphibian declines and species’ extinctions in multiple continents. Attendance of this workshop was an excellent opportunity not only to learn more about this specific disease outbreak but to witness the multi-disciplinary and large-scale approach to investigate, attempt mitigation and control, and inform the impact of this emerging infectious disease within a short time-frame. In addition to veterinarians, disease ecologists, modellers and fungal pathogen experts, there was representation from multiple government departments, the national speileological society, bat conservation groups and experts in bat natural history. Following 1.5 intense days of oral and poster presentations updating research findings on WNS, there was a series of Working Group meetings covering different aspects of the response to this disease emergence event, including:
Data Management
Ecology, Etiology, and Epidemiology
Conservation and Recovery
Diagnostics
Disease Management
Communications and Land Managers
I participated in the Diagnostics Working Group meeting. This was an opportunity to meet veterinary pathologists from a range of centres including Beth Buckles (Cornell – see above) and Dee McAloose, Head of Pathology for the Wildlife Conservation Society. The full meeting programme is available @ http://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/sites/default/files/resource/wns_symposium_2012_plenary__session_agendas_6_1_2012.pdf.
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Visit 6: EcoHealthNet 2012 Workshop, hosted by the Nelson Institute Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), University of Wisconsin-Madison and the USGS, National Wildlife Health Center, in Madison, Wisconsin
June 11-15th
Activities:
My application to participate in the EcoHealthNet 2012 Workshop on “Epidemiology and Outbreak investigation“(http://www.ecohealthalliance.org/health/29-ecohealthnet) was successful. EcoHealthNet is a program for US and International graduate students who are interested in infectious disease research. Financial support for EcoHealthNet is provided by a NSF Research Coordination Network Grant awarded to EcoHealth Alliance who organized the workshop. All accommodation, tuition and subsistence costs were provided. This NGO integrates innovative science-based solutions and partnerships that increase capacity to achieve two interrelated goals: protecting global health by preventing the outbreak of emerging diseases and safeguarding ecosystems by promoting conservation.
There were 25 international participants at the workshop from a range of backgrounds including medicine, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, public health and development.
Dr Simon Anthony, Wildlife Disease, Pathogen Discovery at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University and the EcoHealth Alliance Discussed opportunities for collaboration with veterinary colleagues responsible for marine mammal disease surveillance in GB.
Dr Josh Dein, Veterinary Officer NWHC
Discussed the Wildlife Health Event Reporter (http://www.whmn.org/wher/), an international website for reporting wildlife mortality incidents that is open access. Also, Healthmap, which offers a mobile application for reporting of wildlife mortality incidents (http://healthmap.org/outbreaksnearme/). Also the Wildlife Disease News Digest list-serve, produced by the University of Wisconsin.
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Visit 7: National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC), Madison, Wisconsin Visit hosted by Dr Jonathan Sleeman, Center Director
June 18-29th
The NWHC is a science center of the Biological Resources Discipline of the United States Geological Survey. The NWHC was established in 1975 as a biomedical laboratory dedicated to assessing the impact of disease on wildlife and to identifying the role of various pathogens in contributing to wildlife losses.
The NWHC mission: National leadership to safeguard wildlife and ecosystem health through dynamic partnerships and exceptional science.
Objectives:
1. Investigate and diagnose causes of wildlife illness and death. 2. Study the epidemiology of wildlife diseases. 3. Assess the impact of diseases and contaminants on wildlife populations. 4. Develop models of environmental and other factors influencing disease outbreaks. 5. Transfer technology for disease prevention and control to field biologists and managers.
The NWHC buildings and laboratories are designed exclusively for combatting wildlife diseases. Due to the mobility of wildlife and the potential for spread of disease, timely and accurate determination of causes of wildlife illness and death is a prerequisite to achieving effective disease control and prevention. National wildlife refuge personnel, law enforcement agents, state conservation agency biologists, university-affiliated scientists and others send wildlife carcasses and tissue samples to the NWHC for diagnostic examination. The Center has a staff of over seventy scientists and support personnel who offer services and conduct activities to prevent and control wildlife diseases. The Center had a major role in conducting field studies and providing expert testimony that resulted in the conversion to nontoxic shot for hunting waterfowl in the United States.
Center field investigations provide immediate technical assistance to field personnel who find sick and dead wildlife. NWHC personnel provide instructions on collection, preservation, and shipment of specimens for laboratory examination and may travel to problem areas to conduct field investigations and assist local personnel with disease control operations. They respond to catastrophic events, such as major die-offs, that threaten the health of wildlife populations. Assistance is provided for disease problems that involve migratory birds, endangered species and other warm-blooded wildlife that live on Department of Interior (DOI) lands throughout the United States.
Activities: Tour of the facilities, rotation between different departments and meetings with staff members. I gave a lunchtime research seminar to the NWHC staff entitled the “Endemic and emerging diseases of British garden birds”. Attended research presentations given by staff and visiting scientists. Short field visits to the International Crane Foundation and for AMBLE training workshops. Disease Investigation and Pathology Facilities with Dr David Green, Wildlife Pathologist Received training in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) use including being fitted with a respirator and having my rabies serology titre checked. Induction to the Necropy Suite Safety Protocols at the NWHC. Observed PME performed on a range of native species by Dr David Green, including whooping crane (Grus americana), turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), cooter turtle (Pseudemys concinna), bald eagle, common tern (Sterna hirundo), double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). Learnt protocols for handling suspect rabies cases within the diagnostic laboratories. Observed West Nile virus testing protocols using heart blood and feather pulp for virus isolation. Use of Nobutu filter strips to collect body fluids to be used as a serum-equivalent. Observed PME data recording using the “LIMS” Access database and the voice-activated system for dictation of PME notes in real-time used
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in the NWHC pathology laboratories. Observed use of digital radiography and photography and automatic integration with the “LIMS” database. Discussed forensic cases for legal investigation and collaboration with the US Wildlife Forensics Laboratory (https://www.lab.fws.gov). This website includes short video clip tours of the department explaining their remit and research and are a useful and cost-effective way of increasing public access and interest in the project which could be reapplied in the GWH project in GB. Meetings with Brenda Berlowski-Zier, Microbiology Technician, and David Blehert, Microbiologist
Discussed protocols, sample handling, common bacterial and fungal infections of wild birds diagnosed at the NWHC, e.g. Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia albertii, Yersinia enterocolitica, Pasteurella multocida. Introduced to the Biolog System (http://www.biolog.com/) for microbial identification (aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, yeast and fungi) as an alternative, or addition, to the Analytical Profile Index (API) biochemical profile tests used at the Zoological Society of London.
Meeting with Barb Bodenstein, Field Investigation Team (FIT) For the purposes of wildlife mortality event reporting, the USA is divided into four different regions (Western. Central, Eastern, Hawaii) and reports of wildlife morbidity and mortality are fielded by the responsible regional FIT officer. Individual States have Departments of National Resources and variable resources, some with Wildlife Biologists and others with Wildlife Veterinarians. Wildlife morbidity/ mortality incidents are first reported to State Officials who may then elect to investigate, often in collaboration with a State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Alternatively, they may contact the NWHC for assistance with the investigation, dependent on its scale, potential significance, resources required etc. Individual States are responsible for the courier costs of carcass delivery to the NWHC, following defined packaging criteria, with subsequent costs within onsite diagnostics covered by the NWHC. Details for the scheme are available online (http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/mortality_events/reporting.jsp). In some instances, NWHC staff may travel to the site for field investigation and carcass collection.
Discussed Information Dissemination schemes used by the NWHC. Quarterly reports are available online (http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/quarterly_reports/index.jsp) which summarise all incident investigations. Information on New and Ongoing Wildlife Mortality Events Nationwide (http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/mortality_events/ongoing.jsp) are available online, along with a Recent Mortality Events Map (http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/map/mortality_events.jsp). Wildlife Health Bulletins are produced on particular disease issues with key information updates (http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/wildlife_health_bulletins/index.jsp).
Discussed the other regional wildlife disease investigation networks (SCWDS, NEWDC) in the USA and research groups based around veterinary schools (e.g. UC Davis).
Discussed how the networks of wildlife disease reporting and investigation compare in the USA and GB. Introduced the GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership, launched in 2009, with Quarterly Reports also made available online (http://vla.defra.gov.uk/reports/rep_surv_wildlife.htm).
Barb gave me a demonstration of the two Microsoft Access databases used for record-keeping at the NWHC; “LIMS” and “Epizoo”. We discussed the pros and cons of the recording formats which was a useful opportunity to learn lessons that can be reapplied to development of the Garden Wildlife Health project in GB.
Meeting with Rebecca Cole, Wildlife Parasitologist
Discussed parasitological research projects at the NWHC, including amphibian malformations associated with Riboraria sp. infection and epidemic mortality of waterbirds due to trematodiasis. Also discussed routine diagnostics used for confirmation of trichomonosis in birds, the species affected by this disease in the USA, and compared the situation in the USA with GB.
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Meeting with Dan Finley, Technician
Tour of the toxicology laboratories and discussed test methods available onsite, including heavy metals (lead, copper, selenium), acetylcholinesterase testing (for carbamates and organophosphate exposure), cyanide, strychnine and mycotoxins.
Meeting with Carol Meteyer, Wildlife Pathologist
Discussed infectious and non-infectious disease investigation in wild birds in the USA and compared this experience with the situation in GB.
Meeting with Daniel Walsh, Quantitative Ecologist Discussed weighted and targeted disease surveillance approaches for pathogen detection, and assumptions for sample size estimates required to determine disease prevalence in free-living wildlife populations. Walsh, D.P.,ed., 2012, Enhanced surveillance strategies for detecting and monitoring chronic wasting disease in free-ranging cervids: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1036. 42 p. Meeting with Dr Benjamin Zuckerberg, Assistant Professor, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Discussed his experience with analysis of citizen science-derived datasets in the USA and publication of a recent book (J.L. Dickinson, R. Bonney, J.W. Fitzpatrick (2012) Citizen Science: Public Participation in Environmental Research. Comstock Publishing Associates, 1-288). Discussed application of occupancy models to data collected through citizen science approaches, such as Project FeederWatch. Attended CHNET-Works One Health Webinar given by staff from the National Center for Emerging and Zooonotic Infectious Diseases from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC)
“One Health” is a term used to describe the collaborative effort of multiple health science professions, together with their related disciplines and institutions – working locally, nationally, and globally – to attain optimal health for people, domestic animals, wildlife, plants, and our environment. This webinar introduced the recently-launched “One Health Global Network” (http://www.onehealthglobal.net) which aims: to create a global virtual community of like-minded individuals, around One Health topics, to foster synergy and action for the betterment of health in humans, animals and the environment; to identify, bring together, share and discuss information (new investigations, articles, events), opportunities (grants, funding, employment), and ideas (strategies, policies, training, programmes and projects), related to One Health.
Attended presentation by Milton Friend on “Wildlife Disease: Past, Present and Future” Milton Friend was the first NWHC Director, He is now (semi-)retired and continues to write books on wildlife disease investigation and ecology. In this presentation, he reviewed the history of wildlife disease investigation in North America and the origins of the NWHC. He outlined examples of key diseases and research focus each decade of the twentieth century, including avian cholera, rabies in fox and raccoon, duck plague, sylvatic plague in ground squirrel, tularemia, bison brucellosis, sarcoptic mange in carnivores, epizootic haemorrhagic disease of white-tailed deer, Parastrongylus tenuis infection in moose, chronic wasting disease in cervids, West Nile virus, etc. He highlighted the contribution of Aldo Leopold from Wisconsin, author of a Sand County Almanac, who is recognized as the first person to argue that the impact of disease on wildlife populations is under-estimated and of the need for increased recognition of disease as a driver of wildlife population dynamics. He reviewed changing perspectives with time with initial emphasis on infectious disease, shift to non-infectious/ toxicological research with the advent of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, renaissance of emerging infectious diseases with pathogen spill-over, and wildlife reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens. Finally, a move towards the status quo considering One Health and integration of human, animal and ecosystem health.
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Attended presentation by Robin Heagy, University of Pennysylvania Veterinary School on “What’s killing the Cooters (Pseudemys concinna)?”
Reviewed the investigation led by Dr David Green during her externship at the NWHC on the cause of a mortality incident affecting cooters, a freshwater aquatic turtle. Robin reviewed the diagnostic workup to date and the major differential diagnoses remaining in this incident of undetermined aetiology.
Attended presentation by Dr Ted Leighton, Head of the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC)
Lunch meeting with Ted Leighton and Dr Jonathan Sleeman, Director of the NWHC The Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC, http://www.ccwhc.ca/) is an organization encompassing Canada's veterinary colleges. Its purpose is to apply the veterinary medical sciences to wildlife conservation and management in Canada. The organization is also dedicated to developing and using knowledge of wildlife health and disease to improve human health and the health of domestic animals. The CCWHC coordinates Canada's national wildlife health surveillance program and provides educational programs, information, and consultation to both government and non-government agencies, as well as to the public. The CCWHC also coordinates targeted surveillance programs of wildlife diseases, such as West Nile Virus, Avian Influenza Virus, and Chronic Wasting Disease. In 2007 the CCWHC was designated an OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) Collaborating Centre dedicated to wildlife disease surveillance and monitoring, epidemiology and management.
The presentation covered the development of this disease surveillance network in Canada. The CCWHC uses a multi-centre approach with a network of collaborating universities and veterinary schools undertaking the laboratory investigations. This novel approach provides excellent teaching and research opportunities and ensures scientific independence from government. The CCWHC uses a web-based database to house >200,000 wildlife morbidity and mortality records. The importance of data sharing agreements and automatic generation of reports to the finder to maintain compliance were highlighted.
The CCWHC objectives since 1992 include:
Establish a national catalogue of pathogens, hosts and their distributions
Detection of new pathogens and changing patterns of disease
Capacity for investigation, response and management
Inform public policy
Education of wildlife health professionals
The new website (http://www.healthywildlife.ca/) was discussed which has been set up in the style of a blog, with the intention to form a broad community of people interested in wildlife health. Valuable lessons can be used from this approach for education and engagement with citizen science communities for wildlife disease investigation in GB.
The presentation covered the role of global animal health organisations, including the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO, http://www.fao.org) and OIE – World Organisations for Animal Health (http://www.oie.int/). Since May 2012, the NWHC and CCHWC have become an OIE Collaborating Centre for Research, Diagnosis and Surveillance of Wildlife Pathogens.
In the presentation, the need for opportunistic disease investigation, with ad hoc retrieval of carcasses and post-mortem examination was emphasised; circa 3000-4000 animals of a range of species are examined at the CCHWC using this approach each year. Additionally, targeted disease surveillance programmes are undertaken with a more defined and hypothesis-driven remit. Highlighted the importance of a toll-free telephone number for public reporting of mortality incidents and the efforts required for carcass retrieval.
Attend Training Workshop (2-day) for Lake Michigan Volunteer Avian Monitoring for Botulism Lakeshore Events (AMBLE)
Bird mortality caused by ingestion of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum has been periodically reported on the Great Lakes since the 1960s. Resurgence of avian botulism type E outbreaks since the late 1990s has brought renewed attention to this wildlife health issue. This increase has been hypothesised to be secondary to the introduction and population increase of non-native species (e.g. Zebra
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mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), Quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensi), and round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus)) in the Great Lakes, which has altered the ecological balance in these freshwater systems.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s NWHC, with help from many partners and support from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, has implemented “Lake Michigan Volunteer AMBLE – Avian Monitoring for Botulism Lakeshore Events.” The goal of AMBLE (http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/mortality_events/amble/) is to empower concerned citizens to monitor bird health and beach conditions along miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, thus increasing knowledge of avian botulism trends. AMBLE is the best current example of a citizen science approach for wildlife disease surveillance utilised by the NWHC and is a new initiative, launched in 2011. AMBLE is a 2-year programme, in the first instance, with government funding.
Participants in AMBLE attend a training workshop and are provided with a set of training materials to complete their surveys. These include species identification materials, carcass marking (i.e. non-toxic spray paint), carcass collecting (bags, gloves, cable ties, labels), data recording sheets and clipboards. Additional equipment is recommended for use during transect monitoring (e.g. GPS unit, digital camera, shovel, binoculars). Transects to monitor are allocated after training is received. Each participant has a user login and unique profile for data entry online. Information on healthy bird sightings and bird carcass sightings are recorded. Each participant receives a USGS permit and signed letter from the NWHC Director explaining the aim of the activity. Participants have the option of acting as carcass collectors, where appropriate health and safety guidance is provided. Carcasses are gathered at regional freezers and then retrieved for post-mortem examination at the NWHC in batches, including screening for botulinum toxin. The AMBLE co-ordinator reviews all data and queries anomalous findings with the reporter before acceptance of the report to assure data quality control.
Citizen scientists participating in AMBLE gain a range of field and observational skills, networking and local engagement, in addition to education on species identification, disease ecology and potential secondary risks of non-native species introductions.
I attended and assisted with two participant training workshops in the library at Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the Nature Center, Door County, Wisconsin. This was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the reasons that motivate participation in citizen science schemes, the educational material resources required and a greater understanding of the importance of relationship building with the scheme co-ordinator to facilitate long-term compliance with the scheme. Field trip (3-day) with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and NWHC Field Investigation Team staff
Discussed North American model of wildlife conservation and attitudes to game hunting, consumption and legal protection, and how they compare with GB, with DNR and USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services field staff. For example, Ducks Unlimited (http://www.ducks.org/) is a leading organisation for wetland and waterfowl conservation with membership and derived income from the hunting and field sports community,
Discussed legislation governing wildlife in the USA (e.g. Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Animal Welfare Act, Bald Eagle Protection Act). Also discussed the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society (http://www.nafws.org/) and wildlife disease investigation in Tribal Lands.
Day Visit to the International Crane Foundation The International Crane Foundation (ICF, http://www.savingcranes.org/) works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds and flyways on which they depend. ICF is dedicated to providing experience, knowledge, and inspiration to involve people in resolving threats to these ecosystems. Activities: Took the public tour of the captive collection at the ICF including all fifteen species of Gruidae. Presentation and guided tour provided information on species’ natural history, population status (many are highly endangered) and current population threats.
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Discussion of captive breeding including studbook management and artificial insemination techniques at ICF along with tour of facilities for egg incubation and hatchery. Meeting with Dr Julie Langenberg, Vice-President Conservation Science Discussed the range of conservation work undertaken by the ICF in the USA and overseas. Discussed the captive breeding and release programme for the Eurasian Crane (Grus grus) currently underway in GB, led by Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). Meeting with Dr Barry Hartup, Director of Veterinary Services Accompanied veterinary team on case rounds, tour of the veterinary facilities and captive breeding facilities. Tour of the whooping crane rearing unit, including wearing costumes for rearing to avoid imprinting on humans in captivity. Discussed the important infectious (e.g. inclusion body disease, visceral coccidiosis) and non-infectious diseases (e.g. power line collisions, skeletal deformity, hardware disease) affecting free-living and captive cranes. Discussed ICF’s quarantine and preventive health protocols. Discussed Barry’s PhD research on MG and other diseases of house finches when he was based at Cornell University.
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Project Outputs and Information Dissemination
Summary of skills and experience gained
This opportunity to visit many centres of excellence for wildlife disease investigation and epidemiological research in the USA has enabled me to gain experience and improve a range of skills including:
Approach to multidisciplinary investigation to emerging infectious disease
Data recording formats
Diagnostic methods and examination techniques
Field investigation protocols
Training workshops for citizen science participants
Theoretical approach to wildlife disease ecology and modelling
Specifically, I’ve gained a greater understanding of the regional, national, North American and international schemes for wildlife health surveillance and the infectious and non-infectious diseases affecting free-living wildlife in the USA.
Most importantly, I’ve established contacts with many veterinarians and wildlife health professionals in North America, with whom I hope to maintain contact through international conferences and, perhaps, future research collaborations.
Plans to pass on the knowledge gained for the wider benefit of others in the UK
My research at the IoZ since 2005 includes collaboration with a number of non-governmental organisations, university departments, animal welfare charities, medical agencies, research institutes and government. The skills and knowledge of wildlife disease investigation and surveillance methodologies that I have gained in the USA will directly benefit future work with each of these organisations in GB and international research collaborations. I will communicate the project findings to veterinary peers, government and key stakeholder organisations in GB through presentations and a planned publication.
The general public will also benefit since their participation in citizen science networks, such as the Garden Wildlife Health project (launch in summer 2013), offers an opportunity for public education on the current issues adversely affecting native species health, methods for participation in scientific study and how to mitigate wildlife disease outbreaks when they occur in private gardens. Further information is available at http://www.gardenwildlifehealth.org.
Presentations
(1) Workshop for Hypothesis-Driven Citizen Science hosted by the Max Planck Institute, 24-27th October
2012. As a result of contacts established through my WCMT Travel Fellowship, I was invited to attend this workshop and present on “Disease monitoring and Citizen Science”. The workshop included participants from across Europe and the USA.
(2) I gave a presentation to the GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Group summer meeting, June 2013 on my WCMT travel fellowship and the Citizen Science approach we are adopting with the Garden Wildlife Health project. This was attended by veterinarians from Defra, the Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency and multiple other institutions.
(3) 62nd
Wildlife Disease Association Conference, 27th July- 2
nd August, 2013 in Tennessee. I presented
on “Citizen Science as a tool for wildlife disease surveillance: the evolution of the Garden Wildlife Health project in Great Britain”.
(4) Ecological Society of America Symposium on Disease Ecology in Human-Altered Landscapes, 4-7th
July 2013 in Minneapolis. I was invited to present on “Using Citizen Science as a tool to investigate wildlife disease in peri-domestic habitats: patterns of endemic and emergent disease in Great Britain”.
Planned publications
(1) A review paper describing the range of citizen science programmes used for wildlife disease investigation in the USA and GB, comparing the methods used (ad hoc, systematic surveillance; transect monitoring, requirement or not for sample submission, frequency of participation, range of species, general or pathogen-specific programmes, links with schemes on species distribution and relative abundance).
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Further Citizen Science opportunities and resources
Conference on Public Participation in Scientific Research, August 2012, Portland, Oregon, USA 300 science researchers, project leaders, educators, technology specialists, evaluators, and others – representing many disciplines (including astronomy, molecular biology, human and environmental health, and ecology) – gathered to engage in dialogue and an exchange of ideas. This landmark event launched an ongoing conversation to share insights across projects and fields of study, and to advance the field of Public Participation in Scientific Research (PPSR). Abstracts with useful information on International Citizen Science projects are available at: http://www.citizenscience.org/community/conference2012/.
Centre for Ecology and Evolution Symposium 14th November, ZSL
“Smarter Science – The Power of the Crowd”. I attended this conference in the UK which enabled me to informally share experience of Citizen Science schemes in the USA with other delegates and consider how these relate to the presentations on Crowd Sensing, Crowd Thinking and Crowd Management. Publication of a Guide to Citizen Science, by the UK Environmental Observation Framework in November 2012 was highlighted at this meeting, a useful reference tool for development of future projects in GB.
Cooper CB, Lloyd KAT, Murante T, Dickinson J (2012) Natural history trains associated with detecting mortality within residential bird communities: can Citizen Science provide insights? Environmental Management DOI: 10.1007/s00267-012-9866-x
Dickinson JL, Bonney R. Citizen Science – Public Participation in Environmental Research. Comstock Publishing Associates, pp. 1-279.Multi-chapter textbook detailing the Practice of Citizen Science, its impacts on conservation research, educational, social and behavioural aspects.
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment Special Issue: Citizen Science – new pathways to public involvement in research, Issue 6(10), August 2012. Special journal issue funded by the NSF comprising multiple articles on Citizen Science projects, principally in North America.
Acknowledgements Sincere thanks to the generosity of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust for this opportunity to visit multiple centers for wildlife disease investigation and ecology in the USA. I’m particularly grateful to André Dhondt, Andy Dobson and Jonathan Sleeman for supporting me through the application process and welcoming me to their institutions. There is a long list of others to thank for sparing their time, and for sharing their experience and enthusiasm for this field. An inexhaustive list includes; Cornell University (Avery August, Beth Buckles, Christina Chen, Christine Ann Bellaza, Colin Parrish, David Bontner, Elizabeth Bunting, George Kollias, Holly Lutz, Keila Dhondt, Misleydis Almeida de la Cruz, Patrick McDonough, Ricardo de Matos, Wendy Williams, Wesley Hochachka); Princeton University (Bryan Grenfell Erik Osnas, Tiffany Bogich); Tufts University (Alison Robbins, Gretchen Kaufman, Maureen Murray, Mark Pokras); EEID (Dana Hawley, Jim Adelman); WNS symposium (Christina Kocer, Dee MacAloose, Gudrun Wibbelt, Irene Bueno Padilla, Maarten Vonhof); EcoHealthNet (Chia-Yi Hou, Jonathan Patx, Jon Epstein, Jordan Mencher, Martina Gross, Nico Preston, Simon Anthony); NWHC (Anne Ballman, Barb Bodenstein, Brenda Berlowksi-Zier, Bryan Richards, Chip Lovell, Carol Meteyer, Christina Carlson, Daniel Walsh, David Blehert, David Green, Hon Ip, Jennifer Buckner, Jennifer Chipault, LeAnn White, Milton Friend, Joshua Dein, Paul Slota, Rebecca Cole); ICF (Barry Hartup, Julie Langenberg). And to Susan Rath, her friends and family, who looked after me so well in Wisconsin and introduced me to delicious pancakes!
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Visit 1 - Laboratory of Ornithology, Sapsucker Woods, Ithaca
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New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory/ Animal Health Diagnostic Center
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Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Clinic
Visit 2 - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
Princeton University, New Jersey
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Visit 3 - Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Massachusetts
Digital radiography facilities at the Wildlife Clinic
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Visit 6 - EcoHealthNet 2012 Workshop, Wisconsin
Wildlife Disease Investigation Field Exercise
Visit 7 - National Wildlife Health Center, Wisconsin
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International Crane Foundation, Wisconsin
Gloves used in whooping crane rearing facility to avoid imprinting on humans
Whooping cranes (Grus americana) in conservation breeding programme at the
International Crane Foundation
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Appendix 1:
