UAF hosts wildlife society annual meeting

Submitted by Marie Gilbert
Phone: 907-474-7412
04/06/09

Climate change and how it affects parasites and their wildlife hosts headlines the annual meeting of the Alaska Chapter and the Northwest Section of The Wildlife Society at the University of Alaska Fairbanks April 7-8, 2009.

On Tuesday morning, plenary speaker Susan Kutz, a veterinarian from the University of Calgary in Alberta, will address how climate change is affecting the life history and distribution of wildlife parasites. Tuesday afternoon’s session will focus on invasive plants and their effects on wildlife.

"The bark beetle outbreaks on the Kenai Peninsula are an example of what can happen when a parasite’s life cycle is reduced from two years to one," said Kris Hundertmark, conference coordinator and a wildlife biology researcher at the UAF Institute of Arctic Biology, "Dr. Kutz has observed the same phenomenon in a parasite of muskox. Both situations seem to be responses to climate warming."

The Wildlife Society is a professional society for wildlife managers, researchers, educators and students.

"The society enables participants to stay informed of the issues of the day, keeps them abreast of current research through the society’s scholarly journal, helps students know how to be a wildlife professional and provides opportunities to network with other wildlife professionals at meetings," Hundertmark said.

Registration is at the Wood Center ballroom and is $80 per day or $150 for both days. The conference agenda is online at www.iab.uaf.edu/events/docs/TWS_Apr09.pdf.

CONTACT: Marie Gilbert, IAB information officer, 907-474-7412 or via e-mail at marie.gilbert@uaf.edu.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Journalists wishing to attend sessions may do so for free by contacting Gilbert.

MG/4-7-09/147ma-09