Genetic insights into wildlife movement, disease dynamics, and conservation decision-making

Abstract

Across wildlife and conservation systems, patterns of movement, connectivity, and transmission shape both ecological and social processes. These patterns influence population persistence, disease dynamics, and the flow of information and decision-making. This dissertation examines these dynamics across multiple systems spanning population genetics, movement ecology, disease ecology, and the human dimensions of wildlife management, with a common focus on the application of genetic concepts in wildlife conservation and management. The first chapter examined how population decline and changes in spatial structuring influenced genetic connectivity over time in a migratory ungulate system in Alaska. Analyses revealed no genetic differentiation among subgroups and no significant evidence of inbreeding, despite evidence of spatial subdivision. These results suggest that movement within the herd is best characterized as a spatially structured yet genetically cohesive system, where connectivity is maintained across the broader geographic range. Building on themes of movement, connectivity, and genetic analyses, the second chapter evaluated how host connectivity, landscape composition, and epidemiological processes interact to shape wildlife disease dynamics. Using raccoon rabies in Alabama as a case study, our results indicate that raccoon populations were highly connected at the county level, with little evidence that land cover acted as a barrier to connectivity, while raccoon rabies cases exhibited significant spatial clustering. These findings revealed a mismatch between host connectivity and disease spatial dynamics, suggesting that pathogen transmission may operate at finer spatial scales than host genetic structure alone would predict. The third chapter transitioned to the human dimensions of wildlife management by examining how familiarity with genetic tools influences perceptions of scientific utility, trust, and institutional support for implementation among wildlife professionals in the southeastern United States. Analyses demonstrated that respondents reporting greater familiarity with genetics were more likely to anticipate increased perceptions of its utility, trustworthiness, and expected institutional support in management contexts. Finally, the fourth chapter applied foundational concepts from population genetics to examine how information spreads through conservation governance and stakeholder networks over time. Using grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) conservation as a case study, our results highlighted patterns of directional information flow among governance actors and demonstrated how communication dynamics may shape conservation decision-making across institutions. Collectively, these chapters demonstrate how genetic concepts and analytical frameworks can be applied across both ecological and social systems to better understand movement, connectivity, transmission, and information flow in wildlife conservation and management. By drawing from multiple wildlife systems and disciplines, this dissertation also highlights the interconnected nature of ecological and social processes in wildlife conservation and management. This interdisciplinary approach also contributes to a broader understanding of connectivity, disease dynamics, and information exchange in wildlife conservation and management.