Canada Geese using a small retention pond near a commercial poultry facility.
Diann Prosser, Ph.D.
Diann is a research wildlife ecologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center located in Laurel, MD
Modeling Waterfowl Distribution
Modeling Waterfowl Distribution
This project is an effort to create spatially and temporally explicit models for waterfowl distribution across the United States for use in avian influenza transmission risk modeling.
Productivity of Species of Concern – Least Tern and Common Tern on Poplar Island Restoration Site
Productivity of Species of Concern – Least Tern and Common Tern on Poplar Island Restoration Site
This project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.
Prosser Lab Personnel
Prosser Lab Personnel
Current and past members of Diann Prosser’s lab at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Eastern Ecological Science Center.
She began working at Patuxent in 1999. Her background is in wetland ecology and ornithology and her research interests include using spatial modeling techniques to help answer questions related to wildlife and stressors such as climate change and disease.
Recently Hosted Visiting Scientists from Chinese Academy of Sciences (2012-2013)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 17
Understanding wild waterfowl use of retention ponds at commercial poultry farms – a potential route for avian influenza virus transmission
Retention ponds on commercial poultry farms are used by wild waterfowl, representing a potential pathway for the transmission of avian influenza viruses between waterfowl and farmed poultry. Managing vegetation conditions surrounding ponds may be one way to reduce their use by waterfowl.
Avian Influenza Prevalence Correlated to Mercury Concentrations in Wild Waterfowl
Low pathogenic avian influenza infections were directly correlated with blood mercury concentrations in wild waterfowl, indicating that mercury exposure may be related to pathogen susceptibility. Further study is needed to determine if and how mercury and other environmental contaminant exposures may affect disease susceptibility in wildlife.
Disease Decision Analysis and Research
The Disease Decision Analysis and Research group is a multi-disciplinary team based out of the Eastern Ecological Science Center whose strengths are in ecology, decision sciences and quantitative modeling.
COVID-19 Pathways and Wildlife Dynamics
Below are the USGS 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) research projects related to COVID-19 pathways and wildlife dynamics. Select tabs above for related items.
Advancing Risk Modeling for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Southeast Asia has long been the epicenter of AIV emergence. However, as demonstrated by H5NX, these viruses can quickly reach global spread and have significant impacts on poultry production and human health. We have two ongoing efforts funded by the National Science Foundation to help improve our understanding of AIV emergence, spread, and transmission in today’s rapidly changing landscape.
Asian Flyways Collaborative for Waterbirds (AFCoW)
The Asian Flyways Collaborative for Waterbirds (AFCoW) is a collaborative group effort that brings together research scientists engaged in understanding waterbird ecology in Eastern Asia. Due to the complexity of waterbird biology and unique threats to their populations in East Asia, we have established a voluntary international network of collaborators to promote advanced studies of large-scale...
Blue-winged Teal and Cross Continental Avian Influenza Transmission
This project focused on improving our understanding of the migratory ecology of Blue-winged Teal and their ability to transmit avian influenza or other pathogens across the wild bird – domestic poultry interface.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Seaduck Challenge Study
This project seeks to improve our understanding of the susceptibility and pathogenesis of pertinent strains of avian influenza viruses in diving duck species.
Avian Influenza Surveillance in Waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway
This project seeks to quantify the strains and prevalence of avian influenza viruses circulating in wild waterfowl across the Atlantic Flyway, and allow comparison with the nations other flyways.
Pathogens in the Aquatic Environment – Waterfowl, Avian Influenza
This project focuses on understanding the prevalence and strains of avian influenza viruses in the aquatic environment and how this compares to those circulating within wild birds in the same area.
USGS Wild Bird Avian Influenza Program – Studies from Endemic Regions of Eurasia
This project focuses on tracking wild birds throughout Eurasia via satellite telemetry to better understand their spatiotemporal movement patterns, relationship to domestic birds, and potential role in the spread, persistence, and amplification of avian influenza viruses.
Productivity of Species of Concern – Least Tern and Common Tern on Poplar Island
This project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.
Canada Geese in Front of a Poultry House
Canada Geese using a small retention pond near a commercial poultry facility.
Movement of waterfowl infected with AIV
Spring migration departure date (a–e) and duration of first stopover (f–j) by species and infection status across 84 individuals with paired influenza and telemetry data. Partially transparent points show raw data; large points and error bars show means and 95% confidence intervals estimated from linear models.
Spring migration departure date (a–e) and duration of first stopover (f–j) by species and infection status across 84 individuals with paired influenza and telemetry data. Partially transparent points show raw data; large points and error bars show means and 95% confidence intervals estimated from linear models.
Conceptual Diagram of NSF PIPP Avian Influenza work
This conceptual diagram explains how the research involved in the NSF PIPP project will be broken down into specific components.
This conceptual diagram explains how the research involved in the NSF PIPP project will be broken down into specific components.
Bar-headed Goose
This bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) was marked with a satellite transmitter at Qinghai Lake, China, in an effort to understand the role that wild birds play in avian influenza.
This bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) was marked with a satellite transmitter at Qinghai Lake, China, in an effort to understand the role that wild birds play in avian influenza.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 17
Understanding wild waterfowl use of retention ponds at commercial poultry farms – a potential route for avian influenza virus transmission
Retention ponds on commercial poultry farms are used by wild waterfowl, representing a potential pathway for the transmission of avian influenza viruses between waterfowl and farmed poultry. Managing vegetation conditions surrounding ponds may be one way to reduce their use by waterfowl.
Avian Influenza Prevalence Correlated to Mercury Concentrations in Wild Waterfowl
Low pathogenic avian influenza infections were directly correlated with blood mercury concentrations in wild waterfowl, indicating that mercury exposure may be related to pathogen susceptibility. Further study is needed to determine if and how mercury and other environmental contaminant exposures may affect disease susceptibility in wildlife.
Disease Decision Analysis and Research
The Disease Decision Analysis and Research group is a multi-disciplinary team based out of the Eastern Ecological Science Center whose strengths are in ecology, decision sciences and quantitative modeling.
COVID-19 Pathways and Wildlife Dynamics
Below are the USGS 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) research projects related to COVID-19 pathways and wildlife dynamics. Select tabs above for related items.
Advancing Risk Modeling for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Southeast Asia has long been the epicenter of AIV emergence. However, as demonstrated by H5NX, these viruses can quickly reach global spread and have significant impacts on poultry production and human health. We have two ongoing efforts funded by the National Science Foundation to help improve our understanding of AIV emergence, spread, and transmission in today’s rapidly changing landscape.
Asian Flyways Collaborative for Waterbirds (AFCoW)
The Asian Flyways Collaborative for Waterbirds (AFCoW) is a collaborative group effort that brings together research scientists engaged in understanding waterbird ecology in Eastern Asia. Due to the complexity of waterbird biology and unique threats to their populations in East Asia, we have established a voluntary international network of collaborators to promote advanced studies of large-scale...
Blue-winged Teal and Cross Continental Avian Influenza Transmission
This project focused on improving our understanding of the migratory ecology of Blue-winged Teal and their ability to transmit avian influenza or other pathogens across the wild bird – domestic poultry interface.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Seaduck Challenge Study
This project seeks to improve our understanding of the susceptibility and pathogenesis of pertinent strains of avian influenza viruses in diving duck species.
Avian Influenza Surveillance in Waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway
This project seeks to quantify the strains and prevalence of avian influenza viruses circulating in wild waterfowl across the Atlantic Flyway, and allow comparison with the nations other flyways.
Pathogens in the Aquatic Environment – Waterfowl, Avian Influenza
This project focuses on understanding the prevalence and strains of avian influenza viruses in the aquatic environment and how this compares to those circulating within wild birds in the same area.
USGS Wild Bird Avian Influenza Program – Studies from Endemic Regions of Eurasia
This project focuses on tracking wild birds throughout Eurasia via satellite telemetry to better understand their spatiotemporal movement patterns, relationship to domestic birds, and potential role in the spread, persistence, and amplification of avian influenza viruses.
Productivity of Species of Concern – Least Tern and Common Tern on Poplar Island
This project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.
Canada Geese in Front of a Poultry House
Canada Geese using a small retention pond near a commercial poultry facility.
Canada Geese using a small retention pond near a commercial poultry facility.
Movement of waterfowl infected with AIV
Spring migration departure date (a–e) and duration of first stopover (f–j) by species and infection status across 84 individuals with paired influenza and telemetry data. Partially transparent points show raw data; large points and error bars show means and 95% confidence intervals estimated from linear models.
Spring migration departure date (a–e) and duration of first stopover (f–j) by species and infection status across 84 individuals with paired influenza and telemetry data. Partially transparent points show raw data; large points and error bars show means and 95% confidence intervals estimated from linear models.
Conceptual Diagram of NSF PIPP Avian Influenza work
This conceptual diagram explains how the research involved in the NSF PIPP project will be broken down into specific components.
This conceptual diagram explains how the research involved in the NSF PIPP project will be broken down into specific components.
Bar-headed Goose
This bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) was marked with a satellite transmitter at Qinghai Lake, China, in an effort to understand the role that wild birds play in avian influenza.
This bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) was marked with a satellite transmitter at Qinghai Lake, China, in an effort to understand the role that wild birds play in avian influenza.