Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Arizona
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Arizona Project


Emerging viral diseases in at-risk populations of felids and ungulates

January 2020 - February 2027


Personnel

Participating Agencies

  • University of Arizona
  • Arizona State University and University of Arizona
  • University of Arizona - TRIF
  • APHIS

To integrate population genomics, macrobiomics, diet-"ome", and viromics to better assess pathogens that might pose threats to at-risk wildlife populations, and use landscape genomics to identify to what degree population connectivity factors versus environmental factors, and even wildlife urban interface contribute. Populations of pumas, jaguars, and ocelots, in the Sonoran Desert are experiencing higher stress due to drought which may lead to decline, and the status of bobcats in the Southwest is unknown. Sonoran pronghorn are endangered and also experiencing drought. Also Florida panthers are experiencing an unknown neurological disease and we are including samples of these affected individuals