University Calendar

Recent Advances in Biology Lecture Series: From Tadpoles to Trematodes: Discoveries in Disease Ecology and Parasitology

Title:
From Tadpoles to Trematodes: Discoveries in Disease Ecology and Parasitology

Speaker:
Sarah A. Orlofske, PhD

Description:
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the scientific community and the public began to notice population declines and extinctions of amphibians and the alarming occurrence of limb malformations in hot spots across the country including the Midwest United States. Growing up in Wisconsin, I developed a passion for wetlands and amphibians. Inspired by my childhood experiences I pursued a career in biology and conservation taking advantage of some unexpected opportunities along the way to develop expertise in the fields of disease ecology and parasitology. In this presentation, I will provide some highlights of research on amphibian biology including the energetic costs of metamorphosis and the interactions among amphibians, parasites and the wider biological community. Currently my research has transitioned from amphibians to waterfowl, and through some featured projects I will demonstrate how studying waterfowl parasites can help improve our understanding of wetland conservation and management at the ecosystem level. Throughout the presentation I will illustrate the connections among academic researchers, government agencies and non-profit organizations that collaborate on these projects and provide different avenues of career opportunities for current students in biology.

Location:	Warch Campus Center 204 - Cinema
Price:	n/a
Sponsor:	Biology Dept
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