University of California-Davis · BiologyCoastal Disease Ecology Unit
Karen Shapiro · Davis, California
Research Focus
Dr. Karen Shapiro's lab at UC Davis focuses on understanding how environmental conditions impact the spread of diseases in coastal ecosystems, particularly among marine mammals like sea otters. By studying pathogens that transition from land to sea, the lab aims to reveal how different habitats affect these parasites' transmission and survival. This research is essential for developing strategies to protect wildlife and manage public health threats posed by these infectious diseases.
disease ecologymarine mammalsparasite transmissionenvironmental forcescoastal ecosystemsBayesian modelingpathogen virulence
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how land-sea environmental forces affect the genetic distribution of T. gondii and S. neurona.
AIM 02Determine if submarine habitats like kelp and seagrass are hotspots for pathogen transmission to marine mammals.
AIM 03Analyze the impact of climate dynamics on the ecology of virulent parasites in coastal systems.
Skills the Lab Values
field samplinggenetic sequencingstable isotope analysisBayesian modelingdata analysismicrobiological techniquesecological modelingmarine biologytelemetryGIS mapping
Output against the department
Publications105bottom 36% of dept.655th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.6kbottom 18% of dept.843rd of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.