conservation

Wildlife health assessments help identify populations at risk of starvation, disease, and decline from anthropogenic impacts on natural habitats. In this study, we systematically reviewed the available literature on noncaptive vertebrates, and quantified trends in study design and diagnostic methods across taxa. To improve future studies, we devised a conceptual framework to strategically integrate health assessments in population monitoring.

Management and conservation advice can benefit from physiological findings, as these support a mechanistic understanding of changes that are observed on organism- or even population-levels. We highlight examples for coral reef fishes, and advocate better collaboration and knowledge exchange between physiologists and decision-makers.