Ecosystems - Wildlife: Terrestrial and Endangered Resources Program
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GeneticsUSGS geneticists work to provide answers to questions of genetics for use in making sound management decisions on fish and wildlife, including their habitat and conservation. Our findings support Endangered Species Act considerations, providing population structure and species information. Genetic research can also assess effects on fish, wildlife, and habitat, from exposure to invasive, nonnative species or genetically engineered plants and animals. Wildlife disease studied from a genetics perspective can help predict whether or when a pathogen will cross over to infect other species, become more virulent, or spread to other parts of the world. Genetics techniques answer questions of plant and animal actions when exposed to contaminants or toxins. Listed below are research efforts and general information about how USGS researchers are using genetics to track animal movements, study wildlife health, assess species diversity, and answer other fundamental questions about the conditions of wildlife.
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