Strategy for handling Avian Diseases

Pre-proposal for the Establishment of An Integrated Programto Protect Galápagos Birds From Avian DiseasesHoward L. Snell (1,2), Martin Wikelskil (1,3), and Hernan Vargas(1)

Introduction
Galápagos birds represent a unique opportunity for conservation in the 21st century. In almost all oceanic archipelagos increasing percentages of vertebrate species have been lost to the consequences of human activity. Even in the relatively pristine Galápagos Islands some 60% of the species of indigenous mammals and 10% of the reptiles are extinct. However no species of Galápagos birds have yet been extirpated. In an age where more than 50% of the endemic birds have gone extinct from other famous oceanic centers of evolutionary radiations like Hawaii and New Zealand, the persistence of Galápagos birds is remarkable.
Will Galápagos birds escape extinction in the future? The conclusions drawn by a recent gathering of 24 international experts on the conservation of island birds are clear. Prompt research and management action aimed at controlling avian diseases along with effective control of invasive species can preserve the birds of the Galápagos. Unfortunately there may be little time. A few of the diseases, parasites, and pathogen vectors that apparently contributed to extinctions among birds of Hawaii and other areas have recently been found in the islands.
While active programs of research and manage-ment for invasive species in the Galápagos exist, there are no programs for avian diseases. This pre-proposal seeks to identify potential funding sources for support of a new program in Galápagos conservation – Research and Management of Avian Diseases and Parasites.

The Current Situation
An International Workshop on Avian Diseases in the Galápagos convened 24 experts at Princeton University on 19 and 20 October, 2000. The following points summarize the conclusions of this group:

1. Immunologically naïve assemblages of bird species suffer high rates of extinction when novel diseases and/or parasites arrive.
2. Wild populations of birds are extremely difficult (if not impossible) to treat once a disease outbreak occurs, and they are equally difficult to protect via vaccination.
3. A broad array of avian diseases are available to infect the Galápagos, and reducing the numbers of extinctions they could cause will depend upon reducing numbers that arrive to the islands and prompt containment and eradication of those that get there.
4. The Galápagos present a unique opportunity for the preservation of avian diversity because very few, if any, species of birds have gone extinct; a powerful legal framework exists to support the activities necessary to reduce the arrival and spread of diseases; and global concern over the loss of biological diversity is increasing. However, several populations of Galápagos birds are in decline, and management agencies seek guidance for the formulation of effective regulations based on new laws. Thus the opportunity could be lost quickly unless global concern can be translated into appropriate management.

The Proposed Program
Participants of the workshop also designed an integrated program of research and management projects that will greatly reduce the risks of extirpations of Galápagos birds. The program is made up of seven components, and will be managed by the Charles-Darwin Research Station in Galápagos. We anticipate acquiring specific sponsors for individual components as well as contributors supporting the overall program. The following list highlights the components of the program according to priority of implementation.

A - Modest Veterinary Pathology Laboratory: Establishing and operating a pathology laboratory is the first step in the program. The lab and its personnel will perform necropsies on dead birds and other vertebrates encountered in the Galápagos. This will rapidly build a reference base of diseases and parasites in the Galápagos as well as forming the basis of the monitoring program.

B - Realistic Monitoring Project: This project will promote the early detection of novel avian diseases and/or parasites in the Galápagos through systematic activity of the personnel within the Pathology Laboratory in coordination with projects C and F below.

C - Vector Control: Supplemental Activities for the Current Galápagos Quarantine Program –These activities place added emphasis on control for vectors of avian diseases and parasites within Ecuador’s National Program of Quarantine for the Galápagos Archipelago.

D - Contingency Plan: A rapid response appears to be instrumental for the successful mitigation of outbreaks of novel diseases. This plan will identify collaborators, establish operational agreements and maintain requisite permits to facilitate the action plan to be put into play when abnormal morbidity or mortality is encountered.

E - Evaluation of Specific Intervention Options for Likely Diseases and Parasites: Compile and evaluate information about intervention techniques available for the diseases and/or parasites most likely to threaten avian diversity in the Galápagos. This project will lead to modifications of the Contingency Plan.

F - Collaborative Plan for Opportunistic Activities: Fieldwork in the Galápagos is expensive. Promoting opportunistic activities that can be carried out by collaborating scientific and management parties can offset some costs of the Avian Disease Program.

G - Data Accessibility and Management Project: The program will produce a large amount of data. Data need to be available to a dispersed group of collaborators to promote quick analysis and response. This project will manage data on an INTERNET system promoting direct access by program partners.

Budget
Because this is a new program that will basically start from scratch the first three years require greater investment than the subsequent annual operating costs. The following amounts include personnel, capital and operational costs for each component of the program (in USD).

The totals include 14% indirect and administrative costs

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1) Charles Darwin Foundation
2) University of New Mexico
3) Princeton University