Genome Center - Faculty Profile

Holly Ernest Asst Professor in Residence, Genetics for Wildlife Population Health Population Health and Reproduction (Vet Med) 258 CCAH building, Veterinary Medicine Complex Office (530)754-8245 Lab (530) 752-5727 hbernest@ucdavis.edu http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/wildlife
Chair, Animal Genomics Focus Group for Genetics Graduate Group; Wildlife geneticist and veterinarian with research interests in the application of genomic tools to study animal ecology & wildlife diseases and improve wildlife health, conservation, and management. She directs the Wildlife and Ecological Genetics Unit of the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory.

Degrees:
2001 - PhD - University of California, Davis - Ecology with emphasis on genetics for ecology and wildlife
1986 - DVM - Ohio State University - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
1982 - MS - Ohio State University - Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology
1980 - BS - Cornell University - Biology/Animal Science

Department and Center Affiliations:
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (School of Veterinary Medicine)
Wildlife Health Center (School of Veterinary Medicine)
Department of Population Health and Reproduction (School of Veterinary Medicine)
Genome Center
Center for Vectorborne Diseases
John Muir Center for the Environment

Professional Societies:
American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians
Wildlife Disease Association
The Wildlife Society
Raptor Research Foundation
Society for Conservation Biology
California Veterinary Medical Association

Grad Group Affiliations and Specialties:
Genetics
Non-DBS Grad Group(s) - Animal Biology, Avian Science, Ecology, Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine,

Publications:
See publication list for most recent updates at http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vgl/wildlife/publications.html

Ernest HB, Well JA, and J. Kurushima. 2007, Development of nine microsatellite loci for Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli) and corvid ecology and West Nile virus studies. Molecular Ecology Notes (OnlineEarly Articles).

Scott P. Crosbie, Walter D. Koenig, William K. Reisen, Vicki L. Kramer, Lauren Marcus, Ryan Carney, Edward Pandolfino, Ginger M. Bolen, Lizette R. Crosbie, Douglas A. Bell, Holly B. Ernest. Early Impact of West Nile virus on the Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli). In press 2008. Auk- Journal of the American Ornithologists' Union.

Hull JM, R Anderson, M Bradbury, J Estep, HB Ernest. 2007. Population structure and genetic diversity in Swainsonâ€™s Hawks (Buteo swainsoni), implications for conservation. Conservation Genetics.

Hull J.M., D. Tufts, J.R. Topinka, B.P. May, H.B. Ernest. 2007. Development of 19 microsatellite loci for Swainson's Hawks (Buteo swainsoni) and other Buteos. Molecular Ecology Notes.

Hull J.M., W. Savage, J.P. Smith, N. Murphy, L. Cullen, A.D. Hutchins, H.B. Ernest. 2007. Hybridization among Buteos: Swainson's Hawks (Buteo swainsoni) Ã— Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology.

Kurushima J., J. Well, J. Collins, H.B.Ernest. 2006. Development of 21 microsatellite loci for puma (Puma concolor) ecology and forensics. Molecular Ecology

Hull J., A. Hull, H.B. Ernest. 2006. West Nile Virus Antibody Prevalence in Free-ranging California Raptors. Condor. Volume 108:435-439

Population Genetic Structure of Mountain Lions in California. Holly Ernest, Vernon Bleich, Bernie May, San Stiver, Steven Torres, Walter Boyce. 2003. Conservation Genetics. 4:353-366.

Fecal DNA analysis and risk assessment of mountain lion predation of bighorn sheep. 2002. Holly Ernest, Esther Rubin, and Walter Boyce. Journal of Wildlife Management 66(1) 75-85.

Molecular tracking of mountain lions in the Yosemite Valley region in California: genetic analysis using microsatellites and fecal DNA. 2000. Ernest, H.B., Penedo, M.C.T., May, B.P., Syvanen, M., and W.M. Boyce. Molecular Ecology 9:433-441.

Research Interests:
Genomic science for wildlife biology, conservation, and management including conservation genetics of threatened and endangered species, ecological genetics of free-ranging species of management concern (including mountain lions, black bears, sea otters, and wild pigs), raptor genetics, the study of genomic variation associated with disease susceptibility in wildlife, population genetics. Wildlife disease ecology.
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/wildlife

Laboratory Personnel:
Wildlife and Ecology Unit of the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/wildlife/

Teaching Interests:

Wildlife genomics; population genetics; ecological and landscape genetics; wildlife health & diseases.

Courses Taught:
PHR 298 Ecological Genetics (see website at http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vgl/wildlife/teaching.html) - Term(s): Winter