Michael D. Samuel

Title
Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology
Assistant Unit Leader, USGS BRD
Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit

Contact Information
204 Russell Labs
1630 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 5370-1598

(608) 263-6882
mdsamuel@wisc.edu  

Background
Ph.D. 1984 University of Idaho, Wildlife Management: Dissertation – An evaluation of elk sightability in north central Idaho with application to aerial census and herd composition counts.
M.S. 1985 University of Idaho, Applied Statistics: Thesis – Nonresponse Horvitz-Thompson methods for aerial surveys of wildlife populations.
M.S. 1980 University of California-Davis, Ecology: Thesis - A population dynamics model of California sea otters: identification of critical life history stages and management implications.
B.S. 1973 University of California-Berkeley, Computer Science

Professional Affiliations
The Wildlife Society, The Wildlife Disease Association, The Biometrics Society

Current Research
The epidemiology of wildlife disease involves a complex interplay among the disease agent, the environment, and the ecology of host species. In a broad sense, understanding key components of the dynamics within and interactions among these three components are crucial to an improved understanding of wildlife disease ecology. Dr. Samuel’s research program combines a variety of laboratory analyses, field investigations, and epidemiology modeling tools to address a broad range of applied research on the ecology of wildlife disease. Recent and current projects concentrate on increased understanding the complexity of disease ecology affecting wildlife species and the development of effective management strategies. Research topics typically involve questions related to disease transmission, disease reservoirs, host ecology, impacts of disease of wildlife populations, and epidemiological modeling. 

Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting North American deer and elk, has recently emerged as an internationally important wildlife management issue. Interest and concern over the spread of this disease and its potential impact on free-ranging cervid populations has increased with discovery of the disease in numerous states and provinces. Current studies suggest that CWD may have long-term adverse affects of these highly visible, socially desirable, and economically valuable species. Scientific understanding of the ecology and transmission of CWD in free-ranging wildlife is very limited and this information critical to providing knowledge for making management decisions, and helping to better understand the ecology of CWD in free-ranging populations. Current research is being conducted on CWD in white-tailed deer in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and USGS National Wildlife Health Research Center. The objectives of these studies include understanding the spatial distribution and patterns of CWD affected deer populations; determining the demographic patterns of disease prevalence related to age, sex, and harvest susceptibility; determining the routes of transmission of CWD based on social interactions of female and male white-tailed deer; evaluating the importance of feeding and baiting on potential for disease transmission; evaluating the role of deer carcasses and transmission of CWD in small and medium-sized mammals; and epidemiological modeling of CWD dynamics. "For information on current CWD"

Avian Malaria and Pox in Hawaiian Forest Birds
Accidental introduction of mosquito-borne avian malaria and pox virus to Hawaii provides an outstanding example of how introduced diseases can have a profound affect on endemic biota. The geographic distribution, density, and community structure of endemic Hawaiian avifauna has changed dramatically in the last century, in large part because of the spread of these diseases and their introduced mosquito vector. This disease system is dynamic and biologically complex, involving both direct and indirect interactions among endemic and introduced avian hosts, mosquito vector, parasites, and environmental conditions that extend across multiple temporal and spatial scales. An integrated, multi-disciplinary research project is studying the demography of exotic and endemic forest birds, mosquito vectors, and pox and malaria parasites across a range of climate, hydrology, and vegetation patterns. Within this project Dr. Samuel leads a holistic modeling effort designed to study this complex system by integrating across scales ranging from the gene to the landscape. This modeling effort will be used to integrate the diversity of research studies being conducted within the overall project and to evaluate broad hypotheses about the dynamics of the Hawaiian forest bird ecosystem, including how biocomplexity associated with biotic and abiotic components at multiple scales affect persistence of the disease. Complementary field and laboratory studies are being conducted by other investigators that focus on genetic variation of hosts, vectors and parasites and epidemiological factors such as host susceptibility and resistance, parasite virulence and vectors competency. For more information on diseases in Hawaiian forest birds  For more information on diseases in Hawaiian forest birds

Epidemiology and Impacts of Wildlife Disease
Dr. Samuel’s previous, and continuing studies have included extensive research on the ecology of diseases affecting waterfowl and wetland ecosystems. These studies have focused on disease ecology and contaminants in waterfowl, on the effects of disease on waterfowl populations, and on how wetland environmental conditions influence the risk of disease outbreaks. Most of these research studies have addressed the ecology of avian cholera in snow geese and other waterfowl, avian botulism in wetlands systems, and lead poisoning the ducks. For more information about research on avian cholera in waterfowl