Managing Tasmanian devil populations affected by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. This project aims to put the science behind management options for wild Tasmanian devil populations affected by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a new emerging wildlife disease that is decimating devil populations across large parts of Tasmania. DFTD behaves atypically compared with well-studied wildlife disease models; this project may result in important breakthroughs in our understanding of wildlife disea ....Managing Tasmanian devil populations affected by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. This project aims to put the science behind management options for wild Tasmanian devil populations affected by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a new emerging wildlife disease that is decimating devil populations across large parts of Tasmania. DFTD behaves atypically compared with well-studied wildlife disease models; this project may result in important breakthroughs in our understanding of wildlife diseases. Conservation outcomes of the project may slow the spread of the disease and in aiding population recovery. Devils are an iconic species with economic benefits for ecotourism and livestock farms, industries which are based in economically depressed rural regions.Read moreRead less
Disease in endangered species: The importance of multiple-host infection and spatial structure. Pathogens are increasingly recognised as threats to endangered species. Managing such threats requires models to assess alternative strategies. Most current models deal with a single host and single pathogen, without spatial structure, although multiple-host pathogens pose the greatest conservation threats. This project develops a new generation of spatially-structured multiple-host models, and applie ....Disease in endangered species: The importance of multiple-host infection and spatial structure. Pathogens are increasingly recognised as threats to endangered species. Managing such threats requires models to assess alternative strategies. Most current models deal with a single host and single pathogen, without spatial structure, although multiple-host pathogens pose the greatest conservation threats. This project develops a new generation of spatially-structured multiple-host models, and applies them to two case studies. The first is the chytrid fungus that is thought to have lead to widespread declines and extinctions of frogs in Australia and overseas. The second is birdpox and malaria that have led to the extinction and endangerment of much of Hawaii's endemic avifauna.Read moreRead less
Modelling and control of mosquito-borne diseases in Darwin using long-term monitoring. Management of mosquito populations is a high public health priority because these insects can spread diseases such as malaria, dengue, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and Kunjin/West Nile virus. Our research into the effectiveness of mosquito control programs in Darwin is of immediate national relevance and priority given the need to Safeguard Australia ....Modelling and control of mosquito-borne diseases in Darwin using long-term monitoring. Management of mosquito populations is a high public health priority because these insects can spread diseases such as malaria, dengue, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis and Kunjin/West Nile virus. Our research into the effectiveness of mosquito control programs in Darwin is of immediate national relevance and priority given the need to Safeguard Australia from invasive diseases. There is an urgency to undertake our research because global environmental change and increasing movements of people (particularly military personnel) from overseas regions where these diseases are endemic is increasing the vulnerability of northern Australia to the (re)establishment of mosquito borne diseases.Read moreRead less