The interface between human activities, domestic animal management, and wildlife populations is critical for disease transmission, conservation, and ecosystem health. Balancing these components reduces zoonotic and livestock disease risks, minimizes wildlife stressors, and improves conservation outcomes. Camera trap networks, telemetry, and biologging technologies quantify wildlife behavior, habitat use, and contact rates between wildlife, livestock, and humans, identifying transmission hotspots and spillover risks. Biomarker analysis reveals physiological impacts of anthropogenic pressures on wildlife and domestic animals. Understanding spatial ecology and social structure uncovers transmission pathways and super-spreader individuals. Evidence-based monitoring detects imbalances such as high wildlife densities near livestock, habitat encroachment, or inadequate biosecurity. This enables targeted solutions including spatial zoning, feeding restrictions, optimized grazing strategies, and public education and sensitization. Continuous assessment allows adaptive management. For veterinary services, this integrated framework supports early infection detection, spillover risk evaluation, vaccination optimization, and sustainable practices that protect animal health, support conservation, and maintain human activities in shared landscapes.

Five publications related to the Researc topic for the candidate interview:

• Using integrated wildlife monitoring to prevent future pandemics through one health approach. Barroso et al. One Health 16 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100479
• Combined effects of fine-scale intensity and spatial extent of exposure to outdoor recreation shape wildlife responses and tolerance to human activity. Zenth et al. Biological Conservation 313 (2026). https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.102643
• Sociospatial structure explains marked variation in brucellosis seroprevalence in an Alpine ibex population. Marchand et al. Scientific Reports 7: 15592 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-15803-w
• The ecological impact of humans and dogs on wildlife in protected areas in eastern North America. Parsons et al. Biological Conservation 203 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.09.001
• Contact Rates in Wild Boar Populations: Implications for Disease Transmission. Podgorski et al. Journal of Wildlife Management (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.09.001

Tutor: Prof. Giorgio Marchesini
e-mail address: giorgio.marchesini@unipd.it