Applying evolutionary concepts to wildlife disease ecology and management

Existing and emerging infectious diseases are among the most pressing global threats to biodiversity, food safety and human health. The complex interplay between host, pathogen and environment creates a challenge for conserving species, communities and ecosystem functions, while mediating the many known ecological and socio-economic negative effects of disease. Despite the clear ecological and evolutionary contexts of host-pathogen dynamics, approaches to managing wildlife disease remain predominantly reactionary, focusing on surveillance and some attempts at eradication. A few exceptional studies have heeded recent calls for better integration of ecological concepts in the study and management of wildlife disease; however, evolutionary concepts remain underused. Applied evolution consists of four principles: evolutionary history, genetic and phenotypic variation, selection and eco-evolutionary dynamics. In this article, we first update a classical framework for understanding wildlife disease to integrate better these principles. Within this framework, we explore the evolutionary implications of environment-disease interactions. Subsequently, we synthesize areas where applied evolution can be employed in wildlife disease management. Finally, we discuss some future directions and challenges. Here, we underscore that despite some evolutionary principles currently playing an important role in our understanding of disease in wild animals, considerable opportunities remain for fostering the practice of evolutionarily enlightened wildlife disease management

The future for ATBC conservation declarations

The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) is the world's largest international and professional organization whose mission is to promote research, education, and communication about the world's tropical ecosystems. A core component of ATBC’s mandate is to engage in conservation science and capacity-building activities on a global and regional basis. It therefore has a critical role to play in advocating the use of science and other evidence-based approaches to inform conservation practices and policies at local, national, and global levels, as described further in the 2015–2025 Strategic Plan.1 The main purpose of our commentary is to enlighten members of ATBC and the wider tropical conservation community of the importance and value of ATBC conference declarations as instruments for identifying and tackling significant conservation issues across the tropics. We also share our combined insights and recommendations on how to prepare, deliver, and evaluate any future ATBC conference declarations

Cold hardiness and transplant response of Juglans nigra seedlings subjected to alternative storage regimes

$\bullet$ Effects of overwinter storage regimes on seedling cold hardiness and physiological vigor are relatively unexplored, particularly for temperate deciduous forest tree species. $\bullet$ We evaluated influence of storage duration (0, 66, 119, or 175 d) on electrolyte leakage of stem and root collar tissues following exposure to a series of freeze-test temperatures in black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) seedlings sampled from cold (3 °C) or freezer (–2 °C) storage. Seedlings were subsequently transplanted into a controlled growth chamber environment for two months. $\bullet$ Regardless of storage temperature, mean LT$_{50}$ was lowest for seedlings stored for 66 d ($\leq$ –34 °C) and increased dramatically after 119 d ($\geq$ –13 °C). $\bullet$ Root collar tissue had lower LT$_{50}$ than stem tissue after 119 d for cold-stored seedlings, reflecting importance of evaluative tissue type. Days to bud break shortened with increasing storage duration up to 119 d and stabilized thereafter for both storage regimes. Root growth potential was maximized after 119 d of storage, and subsequently declined for cold-stored seedlings. Height growth increased following storage, regardless of duration. $\bullet$ To promote stress resistance and transplant growth response, we recommend that black walnut seedlings from this genetic source be outplanted after approximately 66–119 d of storage.Endurcissement au froid et réponse des semis de Juglans nigra transplantés après exposition à différentes modalités de stockage. $\bullet$ Les effets de différentes modalités de stockage hivernal sur la résistance au froid des semis et sur leur vigueur physiologique ont été relativement inexplorés, en particulier pour les arbres forestiers décidus tempérés. $\bullet$ Nous avons évalué l'influence de la durée de stockage (0, 66, 119 ou 175 jours) sur la perte d'électrolyte de la tige et des tissus du collet racinaire exposés à une série de tests (témoin 4 %C, –10 °C, –20 °C, –40 °C) de température de congélation de semis de noyer noir (Juglans nigra L.), après stockage au froid (3 °C) ou au gel (–2 °C). Les semis étaient ensuite transplantés dans une chambre climatisée pour une durée de deux mois. Indépendamment de la température de stockage, la moyenne de LT50 (température létale correspondant à un endommagement de 50 % des plants) a été plus basse pour les semis stockés pendant 66 jours ($\leq$ –34 °C) et s'est accrue de façon spectaculaire après 119 jours ($\geq$ –13 °C). $\bullet$ Les tissus du collet racinaire avaient un plus bas LT50 que les tissus de la tige, après 119 jours pour les semis stockés au froid, reflétant l'importance du type de tissu pour l'évaluation. Le nombre de jours jusqu'au débourrement a été raccourci avec l'accroissement de la durée de stockage jusqu'à 119 jours et s'est stabilisé par la suite pour les deux modalités de stockage. Le potentiel de croissance racinaire a été maximisé après 119 jours de stockage et a décliné par la suite, pour les semis stockés au froid. La croissance en hauteur s'est accrue à la suite du stockage, indépendamment de sa durée. $\bullet$ Pour promouvoir une résistance élevée au stress et une forte reprise de croissance des semis transplantés, nous recommandons que les semis de noyer noir de cette source génétique soient plantés après approximativement 66 à 119 jours de stockage