Carter T Atkinson
Specialty: Wildlife disease with a focus on vector borne parasitic diseases of birds
Research Interests: Ecology and pathogenicity of blood parasites of vertebrates
Personal Interests: Hiking and family life
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1985 Veterinary Parasitology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
M.S. 1981 Medical Parasitology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA
B.S. 1976 Biology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
Science and Products
Hawaii Island forest bird avian malaria detection using whole blood preserved in lysis buffer, 2005-2006
It is unclear whether DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) lysis buffers used for preservation of whole blood samples from Hawaiian forest birds cause denaturation and loss of antigen binding capability of antibody molecules. If their antigen binding capability is not affected, then the samples can be used in serological assays to provide an independent assessment of the accuracy of PCR...
Hawaii Island, modelled density of malaria-resistant and -susceptible Iiwi following release of malaria-resistant birds under three climate change projections, 2030-2100
This data set provides the simulated results of releasing malaria-resistant Iiwi into existing populations of wild birds on the Island of Hawaii. Resistant birds are released into mid- and high-elevation forests at different densities at 10-year intervals from 2030 to 2070. Populations of both malaria-resistant and susceptible Iiwi are then predicted at 10-year intervals from release...
Hawaii Island Environmental Sampler Comparison 2016-2018
These data include metadata and associated data files associated with the manuscript, "Economical Environmental Sampler Designs for Detecting Airborne Spread of Fungi Responsible for Rapid Ohi'a Death." These data include a total of 8 datasets used for both controlled and field studies evaluating the use of Active (with battery operated fan) and Passive (dependent on wind) USGS...
Filter Total Items: 95
Effectiveness of rapid 'ōhi'a death management strategies at a focal disease outbreak on Hawai'i Island
The ongoing spread of rapid ‘ōhi‘a death (ROD) in the Hawaiian Islands threatens the long-term sustainability of ‘ōhi‘a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) forests throughout the state. First identified in the Puna district of Hawai‘i Island in 2014, the disease caused by the novel fungi Ceratocystis lukuohia and Ceratocystis huliohia has now spread island-wide and was recently detected on...
Authors
Kylle Roy, Carolina Granthon, Robert W. Peck, Carter T. Atkinson
Introduction to life cycles, taxonomy, distribution and basic research techniques
Avian haemosporidian parasites are a closely related group of apicomplexan parasites with important similarities in their life cycles, development, physiology, and reproduction. Current phylogenies based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes reflect more traditional attempts to classify these organisms based on life history characteristics and morphology, but limited sampling from poorly...
Authors
Gediminas Valkiunas, Carter T. Atkinson
Use of whole blood samples preserved in DNA lysis buffer for serological detection of avian malaria in Hawaiian forest birds
Recent detections of avian malarial parasites in native and non-native forest birds at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge and reports of epidemic transmission of the disease in high elevation habitats as well as controversy over accuracy of the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) diagnostic test that was being used led to a request by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to see if existing...
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson
Facilitated adaptation for conservation – Can gene editing save Hawaii's endangered birds from climate driven avian malaria?
Avian malaria has played a significant role in causing extinctions, population declines, and limiting the elevational distribution of Hawaiian honeycreepers. Most threatened and endangered honeycreepers only exist in high-elevation forests where the risk of malaria infection is limited. Because Culex mosquito vectors and avian malaria dynamics are strongly influenced by temperature and...
Authors
Michael Samuel, Wei Liao, Carter T. Atkinson, Dennis Lapointe
Economical environmental sampler designs for detecting airborn spread of fungi responsible for rapid `Ōhi` death
We designed two new samplers for monitoring airborne particulates that rely on either natural wind currents (Passive Environmental Sampler) or a battery-operated fan (Active Environmental Sampler). Both samplers are significantly less expensive than commercial devices such as Rotorod® and Burkard Samplers that are used in the agricultural and health science industries. They are...
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson, Kylle Roy, Carolina Granthon
Population differences in susceptibility to Plasmodium relictum in zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata
Domesticated Australian and Timor zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis, and T. guttata guttata, respectively) were inoculated with canary (Serinus canaria) blood containing a Hawaiian isolate of Plasmodium relictum (lineage GRW04), a hemoparasite that causes avian malaria. In two experimental trials, Timor, but not Australian zebra finches developed parasitemia that was detected...
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Christopher N. Balakrishnan, Carter T. Atkinson
Science and Products
Hawaii Island forest bird avian malaria detection using whole blood preserved in lysis buffer, 2005-2006
It is unclear whether DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) lysis buffers used for preservation of whole blood samples from Hawaiian forest birds cause denaturation and loss of antigen binding capability of antibody molecules. If their antigen binding capability is not affected, then the samples can be used in serological assays to provide an independent assessment of the accuracy of PCR...
Hawaii Island, modelled density of malaria-resistant and -susceptible Iiwi following release of malaria-resistant birds under three climate change projections, 2030-2100
This data set provides the simulated results of releasing malaria-resistant Iiwi into existing populations of wild birds on the Island of Hawaii. Resistant birds are released into mid- and high-elevation forests at different densities at 10-year intervals from 2030 to 2070. Populations of both malaria-resistant and susceptible Iiwi are then predicted at 10-year intervals from release...
Hawaii Island Environmental Sampler Comparison 2016-2018
These data include metadata and associated data files associated with the manuscript, "Economical Environmental Sampler Designs for Detecting Airborne Spread of Fungi Responsible for Rapid Ohi'a Death." These data include a total of 8 datasets used for both controlled and field studies evaluating the use of Active (with battery operated fan) and Passive (dependent on wind) USGS...
Filter Total Items: 95
Effectiveness of rapid 'ōhi'a death management strategies at a focal disease outbreak on Hawai'i Island
The ongoing spread of rapid ‘ōhi‘a death (ROD) in the Hawaiian Islands threatens the long-term sustainability of ‘ōhi‘a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) forests throughout the state. First identified in the Puna district of Hawai‘i Island in 2014, the disease caused by the novel fungi Ceratocystis lukuohia and Ceratocystis huliohia has now spread island-wide and was recently detected on...
Authors
Kylle Roy, Carolina Granthon, Robert W. Peck, Carter T. Atkinson
Introduction to life cycles, taxonomy, distribution and basic research techniques
Avian haemosporidian parasites are a closely related group of apicomplexan parasites with important similarities in their life cycles, development, physiology, and reproduction. Current phylogenies based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes reflect more traditional attempts to classify these organisms based on life history characteristics and morphology, but limited sampling from poorly...
Authors
Gediminas Valkiunas, Carter T. Atkinson
Use of whole blood samples preserved in DNA lysis buffer for serological detection of avian malaria in Hawaiian forest birds
Recent detections of avian malarial parasites in native and non-native forest birds at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge and reports of epidemic transmission of the disease in high elevation habitats as well as controversy over accuracy of the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) diagnostic test that was being used led to a request by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to see if existing...
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson
Facilitated adaptation for conservation – Can gene editing save Hawaii's endangered birds from climate driven avian malaria?
Avian malaria has played a significant role in causing extinctions, population declines, and limiting the elevational distribution of Hawaiian honeycreepers. Most threatened and endangered honeycreepers only exist in high-elevation forests where the risk of malaria infection is limited. Because Culex mosquito vectors and avian malaria dynamics are strongly influenced by temperature and...
Authors
Michael Samuel, Wei Liao, Carter T. Atkinson, Dennis Lapointe
Economical environmental sampler designs for detecting airborn spread of fungi responsible for rapid `Ōhi` death
We designed two new samplers for monitoring airborne particulates that rely on either natural wind currents (Passive Environmental Sampler) or a battery-operated fan (Active Environmental Sampler). Both samplers are significantly less expensive than commercial devices such as Rotorod® and Burkard Samplers that are used in the agricultural and health science industries. They are...
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson, Kylle Roy, Carolina Granthon
Population differences in susceptibility to Plasmodium relictum in zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata
Domesticated Australian and Timor zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis, and T. guttata guttata, respectively) were inoculated with canary (Serinus canaria) blood containing a Hawaiian isolate of Plasmodium relictum (lineage GRW04), a hemoparasite that causes avian malaria. In two experimental trials, Timor, but not Australian zebra finches developed parasitemia that was detected...
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Christopher N. Balakrishnan, Carter T. Atkinson