Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU

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The purpose of the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NoRock) funding opportunity is to attempt to predict the spread of wildlife diseases. Traditional radio-tracking and GPS data are applicable at the scale of wildlife management units (10-100 miles), but not at statewide or regional scales (100-1000 miles). Genetic data, however, may be used to infer movement patterns at broad spatial scales. We propose to analyze approximately 392 lymph nodes collected from mule deer from across the State of Montana to assess the amount of connectivity among different populations using microsatellite markers. Assess whether genetic relatedness and connectivity varies between plains and montane habitats, as well as investigate whether large rivers and mountains create barriers or facilitate movement among populations. Ideally, this research will lay the foundation for future work comparing genetic estimates of connectivity using mule deer DNA with less traditional methods based upon viral markers carried by mule deer. The long-term goal is the development of broad-scale wildlife disease models that are built upon a foundation of empirical movement data, which can then be tailored to specific pathogens. Although interests are focused on chronic wasting disease, this research will also be applicable to future disease threats (e.g. tuberculosis and foot-and-mouth disease) and wildlife conservation and management problems.

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