Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods
Host–pathogen–microbiome interactions
| Presenter | Dr Chava Weitzman | |
|---|---|---|
| Date |
|
|
| Time |
to
|
|
| Contact person | E: RIEL.outreach@cdu.edu.au | |
| Location |
Savanna Room, Yellow 1.2.48 at CDU Casuarina Campus And online via Zoom (see below for Zoom link) All times are ACST |
|
| Open to | Public | |
Dr Chava Weitzman is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods (RIEL) at Charles Darwin University.
In the seminar 'Host–pathogen–microbiome interactions: A look at tortoises and songbirds', Chava will focus on the relative ease and challenges of studying emerging diseases in two groups of hosts, tortoises and house finches, each impacted by a bacterial Mycoplasma pathogen.
Tortoises in North America are protected and sparse on the landscape. Just as tortoises are slow, so are their infections, with delayed impacts to individuals that make patterns difficult to study. In contrast, house finches are abundant, easy to keep in captivity, and are quickly impacted by mycoplasmal infection. The seminar will touch on what has been learned about the ecology of these diseases in light of differences in the two hosts.
Chava is studying skin microbiome communities of reptiles and amphibians with Prof. Keith Christian and Prof. Karen Gibb at RIEL. The work presented in this seminar summarises topics she addressed during her previous postdoctoral position at Virginia Tech and her PhD work at the University of Nevada, Reno, both in the USA.
Related Events
Shark and ray conservation in northern Australia and Asia
In this seminar we will hear from two emerging researchers from the Northern Shark and Ray Research Group at Charles Darwin University’s Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods (RIEL)
Read more about Shark and ray conservation in northern Australia and Asia
The eDNA revolution: advancing biodiversity monitoring while navigating challenges
In this seminar, Maxine will give an overview of how eDNA has been used for monitoring biodiversity and invasive species, showcasing when it works well and when it doesn’t.
Read more about The eDNA revolution: advancing biodiversity monitoring while navigating challenges
'Culture-based conservation' approach to supporting governance of Indigenous territories
Indigenous Peoples are crucial for the long-term persistence of the Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystem services. In the Philippines, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1998 protects Indigenous rights to own and manage territories. The forests of Indigenous territories are habitats of the Philippine eagle – a forest eagle that is endemic to the Philippines where it is a national bird and an apex forest predator.
Read more about 'Culture-based conservation' approach to supporting governance of Indigenous territories