Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines
A research priority can be defined as a knowledge gap that, if resolved, identifies the optimal course of conservation action. We (a group of geographically distributed and multidisciplinary research scientists) used tools from nominal group theory and decision analysis to collaboratively identify a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418302233 |
| _version_ | 1811286406785400832 |
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| author | Evan H. Campbell Grant Michael J. Adams Robert N. Fisher Daniel A. Grear Brian J. Halstead Blake R. Hossack Erin Muths Katherine L.D. Richgels Robin E. Russell Kelly L. Smalling J. Hardin Waddle Susan C. Walls C. LeAnn White |
| author_facet | Evan H. Campbell Grant Michael J. Adams Robert N. Fisher Daniel A. Grear Brian J. Halstead Blake R. Hossack Erin Muths Katherine L.D. Richgels Robin E. Russell Kelly L. Smalling J. Hardin Waddle Susan C. Walls C. LeAnn White |
| author_sort | Evan H. Campbell Grant |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A research priority can be defined as a knowledge gap that, if resolved, identifies the optimal course of conservation action. We (a group of geographically distributed and multidisciplinary research scientists) used tools from nominal group theory and decision analysis to collaboratively identify and prioritize information needs within the context of disease-associated amphibian decline, in order to develop a strategy that would support US management agency needs. We developed iterated influence diagrams to create and assess a unified research strategy. We illustrated a transparent process for identifying specific knowledge gaps in amphibian disease ecology relevant to environmental management, and then constructed a research plan to address these uncertainties. The resulting priorities include a need to: (1) understand the drivers of the community-disease relationship, (2) determine the mechanisms by which exposure to contaminants influence disease outcomes, (3) identify elements of terrestrial and aquatic habitats that stabilize host-pathogen dynamics, (4) discuss how metapopulations may be managed to reduce the speed and intensity of disease outbreaks, and (5) define the relationship between habitat management and the environmental and host microbiomes. Along with identifying research priorities for disease management, we present the details of the process used to develop a consensus plan for addressing disease-related declines in amphibians on federally managed lands of the United States. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:59:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff4546a3bb404ad493976590501b4c82 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:59:18Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff4546a3bb404ad493976590501b4c822022-12-22T03:05:30ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942018-10-0116Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declinesEvan H. Campbell Grant0Michael J. Adams1Robert N. Fisher2Daniel A. Grear3Brian J. Halstead4Blake R. Hossack5Erin Muths6Katherine L.D. Richgels7Robin E. Russell8Kelly L. Smalling9J. Hardin Waddle10Susan C. Walls11C. LeAnn White12U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, SO Conte Anadromous Fish Research Lab, 1 Migratory Way, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, USA; Corresponding author.U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego, CA, 92101, USAU.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd, Madison, WI, 53711, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon, CA, 95620, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Missoula, MT, 59801, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USAU.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd, Madison, WI, 53711, USAU.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd, Madison, WI, 53711, USAU.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USAU.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USAU.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd, Madison, WI, 53711, USAA research priority can be defined as a knowledge gap that, if resolved, identifies the optimal course of conservation action. We (a group of geographically distributed and multidisciplinary research scientists) used tools from nominal group theory and decision analysis to collaboratively identify and prioritize information needs within the context of disease-associated amphibian decline, in order to develop a strategy that would support US management agency needs. We developed iterated influence diagrams to create and assess a unified research strategy. We illustrated a transparent process for identifying specific knowledge gaps in amphibian disease ecology relevant to environmental management, and then constructed a research plan to address these uncertainties. The resulting priorities include a need to: (1) understand the drivers of the community-disease relationship, (2) determine the mechanisms by which exposure to contaminants influence disease outcomes, (3) identify elements of terrestrial and aquatic habitats that stabilize host-pathogen dynamics, (4) discuss how metapopulations may be managed to reduce the speed and intensity of disease outbreaks, and (5) define the relationship between habitat management and the environmental and host microbiomes. Along with identifying research priorities for disease management, we present the details of the process used to develop a consensus plan for addressing disease-related declines in amphibians on federally managed lands of the United States.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418302233 |
| spellingShingle | Evan H. Campbell Grant Michael J. Adams Robert N. Fisher Daniel A. Grear Brian J. Halstead Blake R. Hossack Erin Muths Katherine L.D. Richgels Robin E. Russell Kelly L. Smalling J. Hardin Waddle Susan C. Walls C. LeAnn White Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines Global Ecology and Conservation |
| title | Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines |
| title_full | Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines |
| title_fullStr | Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines |
| title_short | Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines |
| title_sort | identifying management relevant research priorities for responding to disease associated amphibian declines |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418302233 |
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