Applications of Conservation Physiology to Wildlife Fitness and Population Health

Download or read book Applications of Conservation Physiology to Wildlife Fitness and Population Health written by Terri J. Maness and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the great challenges in ecophysiology is linking physiological measures in wild animal populations with changes in individual fitness. Physiological variables that indicate nutritional state, stress, disease, or injury are used extensively in veterinary practice and captive settings to assess the health and likelihood of reproductive success of many animals. The development and refinement of sampling methods that limit disturbance of animals, coupled with advancements in analytical methods have allowed researchers to begin to examine the relevance of these physiological parameters in wild animals for predicting population trends and response to environmental perturbations. However, despite extensive research in this field, consistent correlations between fitness and/or population health and physiological measures remain rare.