Wildlife Diseases - Biotic Environment

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to wildlife diseases discussed in the lecture notes, focusing on the interaction between disease, environment, and wildlife populations.

Biotic Environment

The living components of an ecosystem that interact with each other.

Locoism

A disease in elk caused by consuming locoweed, which contains toxic compounds.

Prussic Acid Poisoning

A toxic condition in cattle from consuming plants containing prussic acid.

Adiaspiromycosis

A fungal disease associated with brushy habitats affecting ground squirrels.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Vegetation

The plant life or total plant cover in a specific area.

Fungal Disease

An infection or illness caused by pathogenic fungi.

Yersinia enterocolitica

A pathogenic bacterium commonly found in the soil of forested areas.

Parelaphostrongylus tenuis

The brainworm parasite that affects white-tailed deer and is distributed where suitable hosts exist.

Gastropods

A class of animals that include snails, which can act as intermediate hosts for certain parasites.

Ecological Separation

The niche differentiation among species that may reduce disease transmission.

Botfly Larvae

Parasitic larvae of the botfly that affect meadow voles and are influenced by habitat conditions.

Causative Agents

Factors that can lead to disease in wildlife, including bacteria and toxins.

Anthropogenic Change

Environmental alterations caused by human activity that can affect wildlife health.

Bioaccumulation

The accumulation of substances, such as toxins, in the tissues of a living organism.

Detoxifying Agents

Substances that can reduce or neutralize harmful effects of toxins in wildlife.

Maintenance Hosts

Species that can perpetuate a disease without needing additional sources.

Spillover Hosts

Hosts that may transmit disease but cannot maintain it indefinitely without new sources.

Dead-End Hosts

Species that can become infected but do not pass the disease to others.

Reproductive Rate of Disease (Ro)

A measure of how many secondary infections one infected individual can cause.

Intraspecific Behavior

Interactions and behaviors occurring among individuals of the same species.

Toxicity Problems

Health issues in wildlife caused by exposure to harmful substances.

Environmental Toxicology

The study of the effects of pollutants on wildlife and their environments.

Point Source Acute vs Diffuse Chronic

Types of environmental contamination: focused vs widespread and gradual.

Human Encroachment

The invasion of human activities into natural habitats affecting wildlife.

Natural Wetlands

Ecosystems that support a wide variety of wildlife and are crucial for their health.

Artificial Waterholes

Man-made structures meant to provide water for wildlife, but can alter disease dynamics.

Selenium Poisoning

A toxic condition in birds resulting from agricultural runoff containing selenium.

Necrobacillosis

A bacterial disease affecting animals, often linked to overcrowding and poor hygiene.

Brucellosis

An infectious disease caused by the Brucella species, affecting various animal hosts.

EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease)

A viral disease impacting deer populations, associated with insect bites.

Agricultural Chemicals

Synthetic substances applied in agriculture that can have deleterious effects on wildlife.

Mycotoxicosis

A disease resulting from ingesting mycotoxins produced by mold on food.

Humans and Wildlife Disease

The impact of human actions on the health and disease patterns within wildlife populations.

Surveillance

Monitoring wildlife for signs of disease to manage public health and environmental health.

Wildlife and Agriculture Interface

The interaction between agricultural practices and the health of wildlife populations.