Ryan Wagner

Scientific Research

 

Emerging infectious diseases are a major threat to biodiversity. Developing a robust framework to understand when disease outbreaks occur and what impact those outbreaks have on long-term population dynamics will increase our understanding of disease ecology and our ability to implement disease interventions for the conservation of imperiled species. Disease outcome is often context-specific and influenced by the interactions between host, pathogen and environment. Shifting environmental conditions may contribute to disease outbreaks and lead to population declines, making it essential to link environmental conditions to population trends. While much research has investigated the environmental drivers of disease, translation of those discoveries into conservation action has been limited. To implement disease interventions efficiently and effectively, it is important to understand the complex environmental drivers of disease, link those drivers to population-level responses, and investigate their impact on the efficacy of disease interventions.

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For my Ph.D. research, I am using decades-long population, disease, and climate datasets, disease treatment experiments, and translocation experiments to examine the environmental drivers of disease outcome and disease intervention effectiveness in an amphibian-disease system. Specifically, I am investigating 1) the role of the climate in disease dynamics and population-level impacts, 2) spatial and temporal variation in treatment effectiveness and disease impact on population vital rates, and 3) the effect of habitat on disease dynamics and on translocation success. My project addresses fundamental questions about the role of the environment in determining the cause and outcome of disease outbreaks and develops and tests disease intervention strategies as conservation tools.

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Photojournalism

 

I am fascinated by the intimate relationships between humans and the natural world. These relationships are sometimes mutualistic and other times exploitative. In my images and writing, I use colorful characters and places to engage my audience, while rooting my reporting in the latest science. My research background allows me to communicate the broader context, stakes, and scientific nuance while remaining salient. I am an emerging league member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP). My work has been featured in National Geographic, The Guardian, BBC Wildlife Magazine, National Wildlife Magazine, Nature, CNN, the Big Picture Competition, MontPhoto, Nature and Humans, the North American Association of Nature Photographer's Showcase, among others.

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Reviews

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Thanks for an interesting and entertaining talk, though it was also appalling and depressing.

- John Bishop, Ph.D.

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I will use these photos for the rest of my life. These are so cool. You're so cool.

-Susie Masecar

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Ryan, you're killin me.

-Bill Peterman, Ph.D.