CRES Seminar Series

There is no fee for these programs, but reservations are required. Please call (619) 231-1515, ext. 4484 to reserve your seat. The Seminar Series is held in the Beckman Center Meeting Room, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).

Monday, April 14

Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkeys at South Baima Snow Mountain, China: Use of Space and Resources
Presented by Cyril Grueter, Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Switzerland
The Yunnan snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus bieti is an unusual primate, living in high-altitude temperate, mixed forests in southwestern China. By studying its behavior and ecology, researchers strive toward an understanding of what adaptive strategy allows the species to survive in their rather marginal environment. In this specially scheduled seminar, Cyril Grueter will present findings from a recently completed field investigation and discuss habitat and dietary requirements for this highly endangered species.

Wednesday, April 16

Acaciato Zebras: Nutritional Services and Applied Nutrition Research
Presented by Dr. Mike Schlegel, Nutritional Services Department, San Diego Zoo
The Nutritional Services Department at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park evaluate the diets and provide the dietary ingredients for over 800 species and nearly 8,000 animals. In addition to clinical nutrition, the nutritionists conduct applied nutrition research to understand and improve the nutritional husbandry of the animal collection. This seminar will give a background on the Nutritional Services Department and a summary of the applied research being conducted.

Wednesday, April 23

Koala Ecology: Range Use, Thermoregulation, and Climate Change
Presented by Dr. Bill Ellis , Conservation Research Postdoctoral Fellow, San Diego Zoo
Koalas have a specialized diet consisting mainly of eucalyptus leaves, but habitat use for thermoregulation also influences their ranging patterns. St. Bees is on the northern edge of the bioclimate that koalas inhabit, with potential future climate change exerting a negative impact on koala distribution. Use of GPS collars has enabled researchers to track koala movements in a very detailed fashion, and their findings can provide important insights for conservation management plans.

Wednesday, April 30

Reducing Risk and Enhancing Efficiency in Island Restoration: A Case Study from Santa Cruz Island, California
Presented by Dr. Scott Morrison , The Nature Conservancy
Spring 2007 was the first in over 150 years without unmanaged mainland vertebrate pests on Santa Cruz Island. The presence of such species has resulted in the endangerment of many island endemic species, including the Santa Cruz Island fox. Dr. Morrison will provide a retrospective of over 25 years of intensive management efforts to restore the island and discuss how the practices developed on Santa Cruz Island can be applied to accelerate the restoration of island systems globally.

Wednesday, May 14

Bovine Tuberculosis in Minnesota
Presented by Dr. Arno Wunschmann, University of Minnesota
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) was identified in Minnesota in 2005 for the first time since the disease was eradicated and Minnesota was declared a "TB free" state in 1971. Although regulatory measures generally prevent the disease from spreading to humans, it is a serious zoonotic disease concern and one of the most important diseases regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Diagnosis of bovine TB, efforts for monitoring the disease in cattle and white tailed deer, and management implications will be discussed.

Wednesday, May 21

Using Genomic Technology to Understand and Manage Infectious Diseases in Elephants
Presented by Dr. Bill Modi, Genetics Division, CRES
Possibly the greatest obstacle to the establishment of self-sustaining populations of elephants in zoos is the unpredictable occurrence of tuberculosis and elephant herpesvirus infections. Major gaps still exist in our knowledge of these diseases. This presentation will discuss a proposed study to assess the host immune response to tuberculosis and herpesvirus infections, with the goal of improving our diagnostic capabilities and understanding of disease transmission.

Wednesday, May 28

The Epidemiology of Johne’s Disease at the Zoological Society of San Diego
Presented by Carmel Witte, Wildlife Disease Laboratories, CRES
Johne’s disease is a chronic wasting disease of ruminant animals caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. It has been a recognized health issue at the Zoological Society of San Diego since the early 1990s. We will take a closer look at epidemiologic patterns related to disease incidence, prevalence, and transmission that have resulted from data collected over a 17-year period.

CRES seminars are held 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) in the meeting room at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research, situated next to the Harter Veterinary Medical Hospital, at the Wild Animal Park. For further information please contact the CRES Seminar Series using our online form.