Aquatic Animal Health and Disease

Center scientists perform investigations related to the health, pathogens and diseases of aquatic animals in natural freshwater, estuarine, and marine surface/deep water environments as well as aquaculture. Scientists engage in research utilizing the disciplines of pathobiology, physiology, immunology, microbiology, and molecular biology in tandem to identify pathogens and determine their impacts on host organisms and aquatic ecosystems. Further investigation, often involving controlled laboratory experimentation, helps discern the potential impacts to the host and understand whether additional environmental stressors such as climate change, contaminants, or other anthropogenic influences will affect the disease ecology in the natural environment. Additionally, we utilize these same technologies to investigate the role of invasive species in the spread of diseases. Through field investigation supplemented by laboratory based research, we are able to study emerging pathogens carried by invasive species and increase our scope of understanding of the health related impacts of these species to wildlife, domestic animals and humans.