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What it is: A simulation focused on infectious diseases What it is: A program that enables
affecting wildlife populations. Scientists use this software Vortex and other tools to link so the
to assess risk and to explore management options such as consequences of interactions among
surveillance, vaccination, or removal of infected animals. species or many environmental factors
How it’s being used: Chytrid disease is an epidemic that has can be assessed. For example, the Vortex
decimated many frog species and wiped out Panamanian golden model of one species can be yoked with
frogs in the wild. Outbreak software has helped predict the rate another upon which the first species is
at which the disease would wipe out species, as well as under what dependent. MetaModel Manager works
conditions—including disease-resistant frogs and reinforcement like a team leader who manages the tasks
from managed colonies—a re-established population might be of individual team members so they
able to not only withstand chytrid disease but also recover. perform together in an efficient way.
How it’s being used: The Barents Sea
near Svalbard, Norway, has long been
home to a large breeding population of
polar bears, but that region is warming
more quickly than other Arctic locations.
Lacy and his team assessed warming
trends, along with habitat and food loss,
and found that the greatest threat to
polar bears there is dwindling populations
of ringed seals, the bears’ primary food
source. They used Vortex to understand
each species and MetaModel Manager
to explain how the species interact and
how the interactions all depend on ice
conditions. Findings may help to predict
the Arctic regions where species will be
most resistant to the effects of a warming
climate. This information could direct
the location of wildlife refuges where the
fragile Arctic fauna can be protected.
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