Environment

More than 100 different species of Vibrio bacteria live in coastal habitats, and while most are harmless, a few species can cause serious illness in both people and marine wildlife, including sea otters. Two closely related species, Vibrio alginolyticus and the lesser known Vibrio diabolicus, are particularly difficult to tell apart, thus V. diabolicus infections may have been underreported and overlooked as a potential cause of illness for years.

Limestone karst caves support bat biodiversity across Southeast Asia, yet many remain poorly studied and are increasingly impacted by human activity. In this study recently published study, we collaborated with the Nature Conservation Society Myanmar to characterize 41 caves in Southern Shan State, Myanmar to explore how cave size, structure, microclimate, and nearby disturbance relate to bat abundance and species diversity. We found that larger caves, warmer internal temperatures, and greater distance from roads were associated with higher numbers of bats.

Mathematical models are an important tool that the EpiCenter uses to understand the mechanisms associated with emerging infectious diseases. Although the thought of the many equations involved may be intimidating, the bigger picture is that these models can help to represent the transmission of viruses from one species or individual to another, and how that varies under different, complex conditions. In a dynamic environment affected by climate change and land use alterations, understanding the ways these changes can affect disease intensity and transmission is critical.

A study published today in the International Journal of Primatology and led by the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the University of California, Davis, confirms living Skywalker gibbons in Myanmar. It was the endangered primate’s love songs that alerted scientists that their home extends beyond China and that Myanmar has the largest population of endangered Skywalker gibbons on Earth.