DOCSLIB.ORG

WDA Council Meeting – Remotely

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
WDA Council Meeting – Remotely Description Doc ID Responsible/version Last update COUNCIL MEETING 2020.07.06 MF May 26th, 2020 MINUTES WDA Council Meeting – Remotely May 26th, 2020, 14:00 EDT (18:00 UTC) through Zoom (online) connection 1. Agenda 3 2. Opening procedures 3 3. Council members’ attendance 3 4. Follow up Actions: 4 5. Council Business – Action Items 5 5.1 ACT#2020-01 Approval of Council Meeting Minutes from December 11th, 2019 5 5.2 ACT#2020-02 Increase Budget Allocation for JWD Technical Editor’s Position 6 5.3 ACT#2020-03 WDA Conference 2021 6 5.4 ACT#2020-04 JWD Editor Search and Transition Pay 7 5.5 ACT#2020-05 Increase Budget Allocation for Strategic Planner 8 6. Council Business – Information Items 9 6.1 INF#2020-01 Awards Committee Report 9 6.2 INF#2020-02 Student Activities: BioOne Ambassador Competition 10 6.3 INF#2020-03 Student Activities: Mentoring Program 10 6.4 INF#2020-04 Student Activities: Asian Student Memberships and Chapters 10 6.5 INF#2020-05 Student Activities: Student News in Brief 10 6.6 INF#2020-06 Student Activities: Webinars 11 6.7 INF#2020-07 WDA Budget 2020 11 6.8 INF#2020-08 Student Awards Committee update 11 6.9 INF#2020-09 WDA Website Revamping 11 5. Other Business 12 6. Concluding remarks 13 7. Additional Documents 14 1. WDA Ed Addison distinguished service awardee documentation (Dolores Gavier-Widén) 14 “WDA is all wildlife diseases, all conservation, all one health, all the time!" Page 1 of 14 Description Doc ID Responsible/version Last update COUNCIL MEETING 2020.07.06 MF May 26th, 2020 MINUTES 2. Student activities: mentoring program 14 3. Student activities: webinars 14 4. WDA Budget 2020 14 5. Election results 14 Note: Audio/Video recording of this Council Meeting (WDA-May26-2020 -CouncilMeeting.mp4) is available and supports these minutes. Please note that the Agenda was not always followed in the above sequence. Action Items, Information Items and additional documents, as submitted to Council prior or at the meeting, are available to Officers and Executive Managers in the WDA’s Google Drive. “WDA is all wildlife diseases, all conservation, all one health, all the time!" Page 2 of 14 Description Doc ID Responsible/version Last update COUNCIL MEETING 2020.07.06 MF May 26th, 2020 MINUTES 1. Agenda An agenda for this Council meeting was included in the information package emailed to Council on May 10th, 2020 (PACKAGE_May2020-BriefingNotes-Minus04_FINAL.pdf), which is now in the Google drive accessible to Officers and ExMen. 2. Opening procedures The meeting was started at 14:03 EDT by President Carlos das Neves who summarized what the meeting would address. Quorum was achieved as there were 16 Council members at the start of the meeting, with a 17th one (Ryser) joining later on. Also present was Executive Manager Peri Wolff. Immediately following das Neves’s opening remarks, Secretary Forzán began with the first item: the approval of last meeting’s Minutes. 3. Council members’ attendance The following Council members were present: Function Name President Carlos das Neves Vice-President Andrew Peters Secretary María Forzán Treasurer Michael Ziccardi Past President Debra Miller JWD Editor Daniel Mulcahy Nordic Section Marja Isomursu European Section Marie-Pierre Ryser* Africa-Middle East Section Stephen Cheng Asia-Pacific Section Tokuma Yanai Latin America Section Pedro Navas Suárez WVS Sonia Hernandez Student Member Marianthi Ioannidis Member at Large Holly Ernest Member at Large Lisa Yon Member at Large Claire Jardine Member at Large Justin Brown “WDA is all wildlife diseases, all conservation, all one health, all the time!" Page 3 of 14 Description Doc ID Responsible/version Last update COUNCIL MEETING 2020.07.06 MF May 26th, 2020 MINUTES The following Council members were absent: Function Name Australasian Section Scott Carver** Member at Large Jenny McLelland Member at Large Annie Page-Karjian Also present was WDAs’ Executive Manager (ExMan) Peregrine Wolff. *Marie-Pierre Ryser joined the meeting around a little after it had begun. **Vice-president Andrew Peters represented the Australasian Section in the absence of its Chair, Scott Carver. 4. Follow up Actions: • Das Neves: New JWD Editor, contract and general update (5.4 ACT#2020-04 JWD Editor Search and Transition Pay) • Peters: Strategic planner (5.5 ACT#2020-05 Increase Budget Allocation for Strategic Planner) • Peters: BioOne and other student awards, consistency and clarity in advertising (6.4 INF#2020- 04 ) • Ioannidis: Including a “help students” box for Asia Pacific students in membership renewal (6.4 INF#2020-04 Student Activities: Asian Student Memberships and Chapters) • Wolff: WDA website revamping, site map and plans (6.9 INF#2020-09 WDA Website Revamping) “WDA is all wildlife diseases, all conservation, all one health, all the time!" Page 4 of 14 Description Doc ID Responsible/version Last update COUNCIL MEETING 2020.07.06 MF May 26th, 2020 MINUTES 5. Council Business – Action Items 5.1 ACT#2020-01 Approval of Council Meeting Minutes from December 11th, 2019 Forzán introduced the item and mentioned the topics from the December meeting that required follow up. In future, a list of “Action Items” will be included at the beginning of Minutes, as per suggestion by ExMan Wolff. Comments from Council are included next to each item except for those items that are included in the Agenda for the present meeting, and which were discussed during their slotted times. The latter items are marked in the list as (In Agenda). • EWDA-WDA finances for Cuenca 2020 (In Agenda) • Uploading the revamped guidelines for student grants onto website – das Neves and Ioannidis confirmed this had been achieved. • JWD page-charge reduction – Mulcahy indicated that this was still pending, and that it will be a topic for a subsequent meeting. • Ad hoc working group to determine guidelines for the Van Riper endowment – das Neves informed Council that the committee has yet to be struck, but that current travel restrictions make it less of a priority as it is intended to provide travel funds to support retired WDA members’ attendance to annual conferences. • Election results for Council – Forzán confessed she had forgotten to include the results in the Information Package to Council. Results will be shared during this meeting as “Other Items”. • Student activities document to be shared with Chairs of Committees and Sections to request feedback - will be discussed alongside the funds required to cover the cost of a professional to work on the WDA Strategic Plan. • BioOne Ambassador (In Agenda) • Student mentoring program (In Agenda) Forzán read the Motion. Ziccardi moved this Action Item’s Motion to Council and the motion was seconded by Peters. Das Neves opened the discussion, particularly for corrections needed. Yon shared a correction of a typographical error on page 14 (via chat). Cheng noted that the motion’s date was incorrect in the package (it stated that the meeting had taken place in 2020, not 2019). Forzán, embarrassingly, stated she would correct the mistake. MOTION was put to vote and APPROVED with one ABSTENTION (Forzán). MOTION, as passed: WDA Council approves the minutes of the Council meeting that took place on Wednesday, December 11th, 2019, at 19:00 UTC via online conference system Zoom. “WDA is all wildlife diseases, all conservation, all one health, all the time!" Page 5 of 14 Description Doc ID Responsible/version Last update COUNCIL MEETING 2020.07.06 MF May 26th, 2020 MINUTES 5.2 ACT#2020-02 Increase Budget Allocation for JWD Technical Editor’s Position Mulcahy provided a little of the history behind this item, upon request from das Neves. Mulcahy explained the role of the technical editor, and he mentioned the decrease in submissions and increase in rejection rate that JWD has been going through recently. Mulcahy informed Council that Julie Napier, who started as a technical editor a month before (May 1st, 2020), had been working closely with him on the technical and formatting of manuscripts, and that the decrease in submissions has helped get her up to speed while not overwhelming her – she had handled 3 manuscripts up to the time of this meeting. Das Neves reminded Council of the context for the request, and the reason why it is now necessary to increase the original $10,000 USD approved by Council in August 2019, to $26,000 USD: the added funds will allow this 20 hr/week position to extend to a full year. He added that having the technical editor for a full year would facilitate the transition between Mulcahy and the new JWD Editor, who is to start in the next few months. Das Neves read the motion. Yon moved this Action Item’s Motion to Council and the motion was seconded by Ernst. Mulcahy recommended a review at the end of this 1-year contract, rather than automatically renew it. Ziccardi asked if there should be some discussion prior to establishing the 2021 budget; Mulcahy said that would be prudent. Yon asked whether after the 1-year contract is coming to an end, we should advertise to fill the position, in addition to reviewing Napier’s performance. Das Neves stated that such a topic of conversation will need to include the incoming JWD editor, and will take place once that person has started the position. MOTION was put to vote and APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. MOTION, as passed: WDA Council approves an annual fee of $25/hour ($26,000/yr) for the position of Technical Editor for the Journal of Wildlife Diseases. This represents an increase of $16,000 in relation to the amount previously approved in August 2019. 5.3 ACT#2020-03 WDA Conference 2021 Das Neves asked Peters, Chair of the Time and Place Committtee, to introduced the item.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • (Connochaetes Taurinus) Behaviour and Physiology
    Comparing the effects of tranquilisation with long-acting neuroleptics on blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) behaviour and physiology Liesel L. Laubscher Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Animal Science) in the Faculty of AgriSciences Stellenbosch University Promoter: Prof Louwrens C. Hoffman Co-Promoter: Dr Neville I. Pitts Co-Promoter: Dr Jacobus P. Raath December 2015 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za DECLARATION By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the authorship owner thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualifications. This dissertation includes two original papers published in peer-reviewed journals and four unpublished papers. The development and writing of the papers were the principle responsibility of myself and for each of the cases where this is not the case, a declaration is included in the dissertation indicating the nature and extent of the contribution of co- authors. Date: August 2015 Copyright © 2015 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za SUMMARY In South Africa, large numbers of game animals are translocated annually. These animals are subjected to a great amount of stress and the use of long-acting neuroleptics (LANs) has become a common practice to minimize animal stress. Long-acting neuroleptics suppress behavioural responses without affecting spinal and other reflexes, and can be administered in such a manner that a single dose results in a therapeutically effective tissue concentration for anywhere between three to seven days.
    [Show full text]
  • (Loxodonta Africana) Faecal Steroid Concentrations Post-Defaecation
    Bothalia - African Biodiversity & Conservation ISSN: (Online) 2311-9284, (Print) 0006-8241 Page 1 of 8 Original Research Changes in African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) faecal steroid concentrations post-defaecation Authors: Background: Faecal hormone metabolite measurement is a widely used tool for monitoring 1 Judith T. Webber reproductive function and response to stressors in wildlife. Despite many advantages of this Michelle D. Henley2,3 Yolanda Pretorius1,4 technique, the delay between defaecation, sample collection and processing may influence Michael J. Somers1,5 steroid concentrations, as faecal bacterial enzymes can alter steroid composition post-defaecation. Andre Ganswindt5,6 Objectives: This study investigated changes in faecal glucocorticoid (fGCM), androgen (fAM) Affiliations: and progestagen (fPM) metabolite concentrations in faeces of a male and female African 1Centre for Wildlife elephant (Loxodonta africana) post-defaecation and the influence of different faeces-drying Management, Department of regimes. Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Method: Subsamples of fresh faeces were frozen after being dried in direct sun or shade for 6, South Africa 20, 24, 48 and 72 h and 7 and 34 days. A subset of samples for each sex was immediately frozen 2Applied Behavioural Ecology as controls. Faecal hormone metabolite concentrations were determined using enzyme and Ecosystem Research immunoassays established for fGCM, fAM and fPM monitoring in male and female African Unit, School of Environmental elephants. Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa Results: Hormone metabolite concentrations of all three steroid classes were stable at first, but changed distinctively after 20 h post-defaecation, with fGCM concentrations decreasing over 3Elephants Alive, Hoedspruit, time and fPM and fAM concentrations steadily increasing.
    [Show full text]
  • NGA NGUYEN, Ph.D
    NGA NGUYEN, Ph.D. Dept. of Anthropology California State University Fullerton 800 N. State College Blvd. Fullerton, CA 92834 Office: McCarthy Hall 063 Phone: 657-278-7144 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://anthro.fullerton.edu/nganguyen/ RESEARCH INTERESTS Behavioral endocrinology of primates & other animals; Social behavior; Sex differences; Development and reproduction CURRENT POSITION Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, California State University Fullerton, CA. 2009-present PREVIOUS POSITION Associate Research Curator, Conservation and Science & Supervisor, Wildlife Endocrinology Laboratory, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, OH. 2006-2009. EDUCATION Princeton University, Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton, NJ Ph.D. September 2006. Dissertation Title: Endocrine Correlates and Fitness Consequences of Variation in the Mother-Infant Relationship in Wild Baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in Amboseli, Kenya. Advisor: Dr. Jeanne Altmann Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY B.A. Majors: Anthropology and Biology, 1999, magna cum laude RESEARCH SUPPORT CSUF Incentive Grant (2010: $10,000) Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation (2008: $14,000) Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation (2007: $10,000) Primate Conservation, Inc. (2006: $2,000) Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (2006: $3,000) L.S.B. Leakey Foundation Dissertation Research Grant (2002-03: $12,000) National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant (2002-03: $12,000) National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2000-2005) Barnard College Spiera Family Prize in Biology (2000: $3,000) RESEARCH SUPPORT (continued) Undergraduate Research Award, American Museum of Natural History (1998: $3,000) NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Grant, Columbia University (1997: $3,000) NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Grant, Bronx Zoo (1996: $3,000) PAPERS IN REFEREED JOURNALS 1. Nguyen N., Gesquiere L., Alberts S.C., Altmann J.
    [Show full text]
  • Package for Longitudinal Data Analysis in Wildlife Endocrinology Studies
    hormLong: An R package for longitudinal data analysis in wildlife endocrinology studies Benjamin Fanson, Kerry V Fanson The growing number of wildlife endocrinology studies have greatly enhanced our understanding of comparative endocrinology, and have also generated extensive longitudinal data for a vast number of species. However, the extensive graphical analysis required for these longitudinal datasets can be time consuming because there is often a need to create tens, if not hundreds, of graphs. Furthermore, routine methods for summarising hormone profiles, such as the iterative baseline approach and area under the curve (AUC), can be tedious and non-reproducible, especially for large number of individuals. We developed an R package, hormLong, which provides the basic functions to perform graphical and numerical analyses routinely used by wildlife endocrinologists. To encourage its use, hormLong has been developed such that no familiarity with R is necessary. Here, we provide a brief overview of the functions currently available and demonstrate their utility with previously published Asian elephant data. We hope that this package will promote reproducibility and encourage standardization of wildlife hormone data analysis. PeerJ PrePrints | https://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1546v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 30 Nov 2015, publ: 30 Nov 2015 1 For PeerJ 2 3 hormLong: An R package for longitudinal data analysis in wildlife endocrinology 4 studies 5 6 Benjamin G. Fanson and Kerry V. Fanson 7 Centre for Integrative Ecology, School
    [Show full text]
  • Repeatability of Glucocorticoid Hormones in Vertebrates: a Meta-Analysis
    Repeatability of glucocorticoid hormones in vertebrates: a meta-analysis Kelsey L. Schoenemann and Frances Bonier Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada ABSTRACT We often expect that investigations of the patterns, causes, and consequences of among- individual variation in a trait of interest will reveal how selective pressures or ecological conditions influence that trait. However, many endocrine traits, such as concentrations of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones, exhibit adaptive plasticity and, therefore, do not necessarily respond to these pressures as predicted by among-individual phenotypic correlations. To improve our interpretations of among-individual variation in GC concentrations, we need more information about the repeatability of these traits within individuals. Many studies have already estimated the repeatability of baseline, stress- induced, and integrated GC measures, which provides an opportunity to use meta- analytic techniques to investigate (1) whether GC titers are generally repeatable across taxa, and (2) which biological or methodological factors may impact these estimates. From an intensive search of the literature, we collected 91 GC repeatability estimates from 47 studies. Overall, we found evidence that GC levels are repeatable, with mean repeatability estimates across studies ranging from 0.230 for baseline levels to 0.386 for stress-induced levels. We also noted several factors that predicted the magnitude of these estimates, including taxon, sampling season, and lab technique. Amphibians had significantly higher repeatability in baseline and stress-induced GCs than birds, mammals, reptiles, or bony fish. The repeatability of stress-induced GCs was higher when measured within, rather than across, life history stages. Finally, estimates of repeatability in stress-induced and integrated GC measures tended to be lower when GC concentrations were quantified using commercial kit assays rather than in-house assays.
    [Show full text]
  • Zoo and Aquarium Researcher Directory
    Last Name First Name Institution Position/Title Email Phone Areas of Research Coordinator of wildlife health, amphibians, Adams Henry Lincoln Park Zoo [email protected] 312-742-4146 Wildlife Management birds, behavioral ecology behavior (especially avian), Disney’s Animal Research Programs welfare, endocrinology, Alba Andrew [email protected] 407-938-1545 Kingdom Specialist population management, visitor studies, RFID strategic planning, capacity enhancement, and the design Senior Advisor at Alberts Allison Retired/Ecoleaders [email protected] and implementation of EcoLeaders reintroduction and recovery programs Disney's Animal enrichment, learning and Alligood Christy Research Manager [email protected] 407-409-0153 Kingdom cognition marine aquarium fisheries, Anderson Paul Mystic Aquarium Scientist-in-Residence [email protected] 202-455-5658 aquaculture physiological and behavioral Alaska SeaLife Center Marine Mammal ecology, biotelemetry Andrews Russel & University of [email protected] 907-224-6344 Scientist development, marine mammals Alaska Fairbanks and seabirds Lincoln Park Zoo, small population management, Senior Population Andrews John AZA Population [email protected] 312-742-6600 avian ecology, population Biologist Management Center modeling, wildlife conservation reproductive physiology, Asa Cheryl Saint Louis Zoo Director of Research [email protected] 314-646-4523 endocrinology, behavior Wildlife Conservation Curatorial Science behavior, reproduction, Bailey Allison [email protected] 212-439-6506
    [Show full text]
  • Using Biomarkers to Optimize the Rehabilitation of Wild Raptors
    Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Biology Theses Department of Biology Spring 5-2-2018 Using Biomarkers to Optimize the Rehabilitation of Wild Raptors Molly A. Haman Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/biology_theses Recommended Citation Haman, Molly A., "Using Biomarkers to Optimize the Rehabilitation of Wild Raptors." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2018. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/biology_theses/83 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. USING BIOMARKERS TO OPTIMIZE THE REHABILITATION OF WILD RAPTORS by MOLLY HAMAN Under the Direction of Laura Carruth, PhD ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to explore the use of stress physiology biomarkers in wildlife rehabilitation. We examined collection, extraction and enzyme immunoassay protocols in order to identify the optimal methods for testing corticosterone levels in injured raptors at a wildlife rehabilitation center. Corticosterone levels were measured periodically during the raptors' rehabilitation using noninvasive techniques. This study focuses on three species: Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), Red-Shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus), and Barred Owls (Strix varia). Fecal samples were collected from patients from all three species from May 2017 to March 2018. This information will contribute to our understanding of the stress profile of raptors in rehabilitation, and will allow for future studies to employ the methods validated by this project. INDEX WORDS: Corticosterone, Enzyme Immunoassay, Glucocorticoids, Hormone Extraction, Raptors, Rehabilitation.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Stressors May Cause Equine Herpesvirus Reactivation in Captive Grévy’S Zebras (Equus Grevyi)
    Environmental stressors may cause equine herpesvirus reactivation in captive Grévy's zebras (Equus grevyi) Peter A. Seeber1, Benoît Quintard2, Florian Sicks3, Martin Dehnhard4, Alex D. Greenwood1,5 and Mathias Franz1 1 Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany 2 Parc Zoologique & Botanique de Mulhouse, Mulhouse, France 3 Tierpark Berlin, Berlin, Germany 4 Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany 5 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany ABSTRACT Equine Herpesviruses (EHV) are common and often latent pathogens of equids which can cause fatalities when transmitted to non-equids. Stress and elevated glucocorticoids have been associated with EHV reactivation in domestic horses, but little is known about the correlation between stress and viral reactivation in wild equids. We investigated the effect of an environmental stressor (social group restructuring following a translocation event) on EHV reactivation in captive Grévy's zebras (Equus grevyi). A mare was translocated by road transport from Zoo Mulhouse, France, to join a resident group of three mares in Tierpark Berlin, Germany. We used an indirect sampling method to assess the frequency of EHV shedding for 14 days immediately after the translocation event (termed the `experimental period'). The results were compared with those from two control periods, one preceding and one subsequent to the experimental period. In addition, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations daily in all individuals from 6 days before, to 14 days after translocation. We found significantly higher EHV shedding frequencies during the experimental period, compared to each of the two control periods.
    [Show full text]
  • Lemur Catta) As a Potential Means of Evaluating Health in Captive and Wild Lemur Populations
    Evaluation and Validation of Measures of Chronic Stress in Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Kathryn E. Seeley Graduate Program in Comparative and Veterinary Medicine The Ohio State University 2017 Master's Examination Committee: Dr. Kathryn Proudfoot, Advisor Dr. Douglas E. Crews Dr. Barbara Wolfe Copyrighted by Kathryn E. Seeley 2017 Abstract Chronic stress can have detrimental long-term health effects but is challenging to measure. In humans, and recently gorillas (Gorilla gorilla), allostatic load index (ALI) has been utilized to measure the impact that exposure to chronic stressors has on somatic systems. The goal of this project was to validate ALI in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) as a potential means of evaluating health in captive and wild lemur populations. The specific objectives of the project were 1) validate the use of commercially available assays to measure six biochemical markers to calculate ALI in ring-tailed lemurs, and 2) determine the effects of age, sex, and stressors on ALI in ring-tailed lemurs. Commercial ELISA assays were utilized to measure and validate the following ALI biomarkers: cortisol, DHEA-S, DNA oxidative damage and PGE2. Serial dilutions of pooled serum were run and compared to the standard curve to ensure that the antigen of interest was accurately being measured. Albumin and glucose were obtained through standard chemistry analysis at a commercial laboratory. Allostatic loads indexes were calculated for each individual by dividing the raw values for each biomarker into quartiles.
    [Show full text]
  • First Assessment of the Sex Ratio for an East Pacific Green Sea Turtle Foraging Aggregation: Validation and Application of a Testosterone ELISA
    RESEARCH ARTICLE First Assessment of the Sex Ratio for an East Pacific Green Sea Turtle Foraging Aggregation: Validation and Application of a Testosterone ELISA Camryn D. Allen1*, Michelle N. Robbins1, Tomoharu Eguchi1, David W. Owens2, Anne B. Meylan3, Peter A. Meylan4, Nicholas M. Kellar1, Jeffrey A. Schwenter2, Hendrik H. Nollens5, Robin A. LeRoux1, Peter H. Dutton1, Jeffrey A. Seminoff1 1 Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, California, United States of America, 2 Grice Marine Lab, University of Charleston South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America, 3 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America, 4 Natural Sciences, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America, 5 Veterinary Services, SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America OPEN ACCESS * [email protected] Citation: Allen CD, Robbins MN, Eguchi T, Owens DW, Meylan AB, Meylan PA, et al. (2015) First Assessment of the Sex Ratio for an East Pacific Green Sea Turtle Foraging Aggregation: Validation Abstract and Application of a Testosterone ELISA. PLoS ONE 10(10): e0138861. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0138861 Determining sex ratios of endangered populations is important for wildlife management, particularly species subject to sex-specific threats or that exhibit temperature-dependent Editor: Daniel E Crocker, Sonoma State University, UNITED STATES sex determination. Sea turtle sex is determined by incubation temperature and individuals lack external sex-based traits until sexual maturity. Previous research utilized serum/ Received: May 13, 2015 plasma testosterone radioimmunoassays (RIA) to determine sex in immature/juvenile sea Accepted: September 4, 2015 turtles.
    [Show full text]
  • A CONSERVATION TRAINING ACADEMY for 1 Education and Training Is at the Core of Our Mission of PREVENTING EXTINCTION
    A CONSERVATION TRAINING ACADEMY FOR 1 Education and training is at the core of our mission of PREVENTING EXTINCTION 2 3 A Conservation Training Academy for Our Mission: Contents: PREVENTING Welcome to Chester Zoo’s 6 Professional Development and Capacity Building 20 Conservation Training Academy Chester Zoo Training Academy Courses 28 EXTINCTION Higher Education 10 Spring/Summer 2021 Zoo Conservation Trainees 16 4 5 A Conservation Training Academy for Welcome to the Chester Zoo Conservation Training Academy. As a conservation charity working in partnership with a wide range of organisations we face huge challenges as we tackle unprecedented biodiversity loss and rapid climate change. These require high levels of skill across a wide range of activities combined with ingenuity and adaptability. Timely, effective, real world training is therefore central to achieving our mission of preventing extinction. In our Conservation Masterplan for 2021-2030, we have set a target committing us to enabling 5,000 conservationists to deliver positive change for wildlife through our training programmes. In turn, our conservation training provides a vehicle to achieving our other targets covering populations, places, people and policy, through building the capacity to multiply our conservation impact. Our Conservation Training Academy is at the heart of achieving this. Chester Zoo has a long established history of training and capacity building and we are now bringing this together under the umbrella of the Conservation Training Academy. Our conservation work is integrated and utilises the wide ranging skills of our staff across the whole organisation from animal husbandry, veterinary care, population management and animal and plant sciences to conservation education, social sciences, public engagement, marketing, campaigning and sustainability.
    [Show full text]
  • ISWE Newsletter
    ISWE Newsletter Volume 8: Feb 2021 International Society of Introducing the New ISWE Board Members Wildlife Endocrinology This past fall, ISWE members elected two new board members. (ISWE) newsletter: Ratna Ghosal is taking on the role of Vice Chair of Memberships Volume 8 and Fundraising and Beth Roberts will be ISWE’s new Secretary. Read our new board members’ profiles below. In this edition, we highlight ISWE’s new board members, Ratna Ghosal, PhD, Vice Chair of spotlight the SEZARC lab, and Memberships and Fundraising share some recent publications I am an Assistant Professor at the from our members. Biological and Life Sciences division, Ahmedabad University, Gujarat, India. I have more than 10 years of research Want to contribute? We are experience on several projects related always seeking newsletter con- to the field of wildlife endocrinology. I tent including: photos, publica- am broadly trained as an ecologist tions, and announcements. Please contact: and my lab works on various research questions that attempt to [email protected] draw linkages between physiological mechanisms underlying animal behavior and their applications in the field of conservation if you have contributions. biology. Since 2011, I have been intimately associated with the laudable work of ISWE. I am delighted to be on the ISWE board and Thanks from the newsletter look forward to strengthening the international membership of the committee! society. I am also excited to explore new strategies to boost Katie Graham, Grace Fuller, fundraising programs for ISWE. Katie Fowler, Elizabeth Beth Roberts, MS, Secretary Freeman, Laura Amendolagine, I am the Senior Conservation Biologist at Tina Dow & Beaux Berkeley the Memphis Zoo.
    [Show full text]