Premium
Using decision analysis to support proactive management of emerging infectious wildlife diseases
Author(s) -
Grant Evan H Campbell,
Muths Erin,
Katz Rachel A,
Canessa Stefano,
Adams Michael J,
Ballard Jennifer R,
Berger Lee,
Briggs Cheryl J,
Coleman Jeremy TH,
Gray Matthew J,
Harris M Camille,
Harris Reid N,
Hossack Blake,
Huyvaert Kathryn P,
Kolby Jonathan,
Lips Karen R,
Lovich Robert E,
McCallum Hamish I,
Mendelson Joseph R,
Nanjappa Priya,
Olson Deanna H,
Powers Jenny G,
Richgels Katherine LD,
Russell Robin E,
Schmidt Benedikt R,
Spitzenvan der Sluijs Annemarieke,
Watry Mary Kay,
Woodhams Douglas C,
White C LeAnn
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1002/fee.1481
Subject(s) - wildlife , infectious disease (medical specialty) , business , risk analysis (engineering) , disease , agency (philosophy) , disease management , disease control , environmental resource management , environmental planning , biology , geography , environmental health , medicine , ecology , economics , philosophy , epistemology , pathology , parkinson's disease
Despite calls for improved responses to emerging infectious diseases in wildlife, management is seldom considered until a disease has been detected in affected populations. Reactive approaches may limit the potential for control and increase total response costs. An alternative, proactive management framework can identify immediate actions that reduce future impacts even before a disease is detected, and plan subsequent actions that are conditional on disease emergence. We identify four main obstacles to developing proactive management strategies for the newly discovered salamander pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans ( Bsal ). Given that uncertainty is a hallmark of wildlife disease management and that associated decisions are often complicated by multiple competing objectives, we advocate using decision analysis to create and evaluate trade‐offs between proactive (pre‐emergence) and reactive (post‐emergence) management options. Policy makers and natural resource agency personnel can apply principles from decision analysis to improve strategies for countering emerging infectious diseases.