Using Epidemiology to Manage Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation Challenges

Dr. Amy Kinsley

Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota

Abstract

Human activities are driving unprecedented ecosystem change by facilitating the spread of invasive species, emerging pathogens, and pollutants, leading to degradation and widespread biodiversity loss. Epidemiology, the study of the distribution and spread of health-related events in populations, provides a powerful framework for understanding how these threats move through aquatic ecosystems and where interventions may be most effective. This seminar will show how epidemiological approaches can be applied to aquatic conservation, drawing on examples of invasive species spread, amphibian disease surveillance, and pollutant transport. It will also highlight how emerging tools such as aquatic robots and interactive dashboards, when developed in collaboration with managers and stakeholders, extend these approaches into practical, real-world conservation solutions.