Scat, and wolves, and worms, oh my!

About this episode

Zach Muniz discusses his research on Alaskan wolves, focusing on how scat analysis can reveal dietary habits and parasite exposure.

Alaskan wolf populations can have varied diets, likely shaped by the landscape and prey availability. But how can we study these mobile, remote animals and what is the extent of knowledge gained? In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, Zach Muniz explains how wolf scat can reveal not only what wolves are eating, but also the parasites they may be exposed to. Using materials from the Levi Lab, collaborators, and public databases, Zach is developing methods to study helminth parasites in the digestive tracts of Alaskan wolves. Listen to hear more about Zach’s research, the value of noninvasive wildlife science, and his journey to and through grad school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Emilee Lance.

People in this episode

Hosts: Matthew Vaughan, Emilee Lance

Guest: Zach Muniz

Topics covered

• wolf populations
• diet studies
• noninvasive wildlife science
• parasite research
• graduate school journey

Keywords

• wolf scat
• Alaskan wolves
• parasites
• noninvasive research
• wildlife science
• graduate school

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Levi Lab

Places: Alaska

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