Project Grant NA25NMFX439G0127

THE ALABAMA MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK (ALMMSN) PROPOSES A COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT TO INVESTIGATE EMERGING PATHOGENS IN STRANDED BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS WHILE ENHANCING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH THROUGH TARGETED CAPACITY BUILDING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES MULTIPLE PRIORITIES OF THE JOHN H. PRESCOTT MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM (PRIORITIES #1B, #1C, #3A, #4A, #4B, #6B & #6C) BY COMBINING DIAGNOSTIC ADVANCEMENT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR MULTIPLE COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THE CRUCIAL LINKS ACROSS ENVIRONMENTAL, MARINE MAMMAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH (THE ONE HEALTH CONCEPT). THE PROJECT WILL SYSTEMATICALLY ANALYZE TISSUE SAMPLES FROM 30 STRANDED BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS ALONG THE ALABAMA COAST FOR THREE PATHOGENS OF CONCERN: BRUCELLA CETI , ERYSIPELOTHRIX RHUSIOPATHIAE , AND CETACEAN MORBILLIVIRUS (CEMV). TWO OF THESE PATHOGENS, B. CETI AND E. RHUSIOPATHIAE , HAVE DOCUMENTED ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL, POSING RISKS TO BOTH MARINE MAMMAL AND HUMAN HEALTH. THE STUDY WILL EXAMINE THESE PATHOGENS' PREVALENCE AND PATHOLOGY IN RELATION TO PATHOGEN STRAINS, CO-INFECTIONS, CAUSE OF DEATH, AND LIFE HISTORY TRAITS, PROVIDING CRUCIAL BASELINE DATA THAT WILL INFORM MARINE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES AND PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES IN COASTAL REGIONS. TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, WE WILL ORGANIZE A ONE-DAY ONLINE SYMPOSIUM FOR SOUTHEASTERN STRANDING NETWORK PARTNERS, FEATURING EXPERT SPEAKERS IN CETACEAN HEALTH. THIS EVENT WILL FACILITATE KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE ABOUT EMERGING DISEASES AND THEIR IMPACT ON MARINE MAMMAL POPULATIONS, WHILE SUPPORTING EXISTING COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES LED BY DISL AND ALMMSN IN THE REGION. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL CONDUCT THREE STRATEGIC COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS ACROSS MOBILE COUNTY, ALABAMA, TARGETING AUDIENCES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LUPERCALIA ART SOCIETY GALLERY, MOBILE COUNTY TRAINING SCHOOL, AND BAYOU LA BATRE COMMUNITY CENTER. THESE EVENTS AIM TO REACH AT LEAST 200 PARTICIPANTS, EDUCATING RELEVANT COMMUNITIES ABOUT MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH, ZOONOTIC DISEASES, AND THE ONE HEALTH CONCEPT THROUGH ENGAGING AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES. CENTRAL TO THIS PROJECT IS A PAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR A PROMISING INTERN, PROMOTING PARTICIPATION IN MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE. THE INTERN WILL RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING IN LABORATORY TECHNIQUES, DATA ANALYSIS, AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, INCLUDING MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION FOR PUBLICATION IN A PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL. THE PROJECT WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE ALMMSN TEAM AT THE DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB, LED BY THE THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR AND SUPPORTED BY EXPERIENCED CO-INVESTIGATORS AND COOPERATORS INCLUDING A RESEARCH VETERINARIAN, VETERINARY PATHOLOGISTS, MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH EXPERTS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THIS INTEGRATED APPROACH TO RESEARCH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION WILL ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH WHILE BUILDING CAPACITY FOR FUTURE CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN THE REGION. THROUGH THIS WORK, WE AIM TO ENHANCE DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES FOR STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS, IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF EMERGING DISEASES, STRENGTHEN THE STRANDING RESPONSE NETWORK, AND CREATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT'S OUTCOMES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO BOTH IMMEDIATE PUBLIC HEALTH AND LONG-TERM MARINE MAMMAL CONSERVATION GOALS.