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Model-guided fieldwork: practical guidelines for multidisciplinary research on wildlife ecological and
Olivier Restif1, David T S Hayman, Juliet R C Pulliam
1Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. or226@cam.ac.uk
Ecology Letters
|July 20, 2012
Summary
Integrating mathematical modeling with fieldwork and lab work is crucial for understanding wildlife infectious diseases. This multidisciplinary approach enhances biological conservation, animal welfare, and human health by providing holistic insights into complex ecological systems.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Epidemiology
- Mathematical Biology
Background:
- Emerging infectious diseases in wildlife pose significant threats to conservation, animal welfare, human health, and food security.
- Multidisciplinary research is urgently needed, but collaboration between theoreticians and empiricists faces cultural and technical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose practical guidelines for integrating mathematical modeling, fieldwork, and laboratory work in infectious disease ecology.
- To demonstrate the utility of a model-guided fieldwork framework for studying wildlife diseases.
Main Methods:
- Developing a framework for integrating mathematical modeling throughout the research process, from hypothesis formulation to data analysis.
- Applying the framework to case studies on plague transmission in prairie dogs and lyssavirus dynamics in bats.
Main Results:
- Mathematical modeling tools can effectively support all stages of field-based research programs.
- The model-guided fieldwork framework facilitates holistic approaches to complex biological systems.
Conclusions:
- Effective integration of mathematical modeling with empirical research is essential for advancing infectious disease ecology.
- This approach provides a robust framework for understanding and managing wildlife infectious diseases and their broader impacts.
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