Can our findings be used to improve koala population management?
Management of the threat of chlamydia to koalas has been difficult thus far: vaccine development is promising, but still a work in progress , and treatment is effective only in certain koalas or for a limited time . Therefore, although treatment of isolated koala populations can decrease chlamydia prevalence and reverse population decline , in non-isolated populations into which diseased animals may immigrate, maintaining effective treatment will likely require intensive and repeated interventions. Heritability of susceptibility to disease found here might open the door to enhancing adaptation through genetic rescue or artificial selection . Individuals that are the most resilient to disease could be identified and selected for breeding programs and/or translocations into struggling populations . Strategies such as this are not without risk or concerns. In general, these centre around the potential decrease in genetic diversity that can be associated with selection, ethical and moral concerns regarding anthropogenic interference with natural processes, or whether resources might be better allocated to more urgent or productive causes . One also needs to ensure that efficient selection in the face of current challenges does not compromise resilience to uncertain future challenges .
Disease management is one of the greatest challenges of wildlife management. It is hard to gain knowledge of diseases in the wild, although non-invasive methods are promising. For example, surveillance can be enhanced by the use of detection dogs and pathogen detection from scats (for examples with koalas and chlamydia, see ). Ultimately, disease management options must be supported by decision makers and the public, and usually need to balance a multitude of factors – including risk and ethical perception, cost, concern and tolerance about (perceived or real) impacts on wildlife, livestock and human health, values and social acceptability of management actions as well as scientifically expected outcomes and uncertainties. Incorporating information about genetic susceptibility for disease when assessing risk to populations and in conservation planning is therefore important in ensuring we implement effective management strategies.