Aquatic Health and Ecotoxicology

Aquatic Health and Ecotoxicology

Jenessa Gjeltema, DVM, Dipl. ACZM

Research Focus:  Effects of anthropogenic litter (plastic) pollution on animal, human, and ecosystem health.  Application, evaluation, and validation of clinical diagnostics and therapeutics in zoological species.

Affiliated departments:  UC Davis One Health Institute, Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, and Department of Medicine and Epidemiology

As Assistant Professor of Zoological Medicine and Head Veterinarian at the Sacramento Zoo, Dr. Jenessa Gjeltema, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, a board-certified specialist in Zoological MedicineTM, provides both clinical veterinary service and engages in research in the field of Zoological/Wildlife Medicine.

Possible student research projects include:

  • Development, evaluation, and validation of research techniques for the study of environmental microplastic contamination
  • Investigation of the health effects of plastic pollution in animals and ecosystems
  • Application, evaluation, and validation of clinical diagnostics or therapeutics in zoological species
  • Other clinical research in the field of Zoological Medicine

To contact Dr. Gjeltema - jgjeltema@ucdavis.edu


Tien-Chieh Hung, BS, MS, PhD

Director, Fish Conservation and Culture Lab, Discovery Bay, CA

Prof. Hung works in the area of aquacultural engineering including computational fluid dynamics, biomimetic particle filtration system design, recirculating culture system design, cultural technique development, and fish behavior. He has been working with the endangered Delta Smelt since 2008 and is Director of the Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory and manages the refuge population of the Delta Smelt. His current study is focusing on the behavior of Delta Smelt at various environment, culture technique improvement, fish marking, and the effect of domestication on the captive fish. In addition, Dr. Hung also has four year’s working experience as an R&D in a chemical pesticide company responsible for the formula and formulation design.    

For more information, please visit http://fccl.ucdavis.edu or http://faculty.engineering.ucdavis.edu/hung

Prof. Hung can be reached at thung@ucdavis.edu


Michael Ziccardi, DVM, MPVM, PhD

VM: Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center and VM: Medicine & Epidemiology

(See also: Epidemiology, Wildlife/Exotic Animal Medicine/Zoonoses)

Dr. Michael Ziccardi DVM MPVM PhD is Executive Director of the One Health Institute, and Director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) and California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET). His work focuses on global oiled wildlife preparedness, response, and research as well as statewide domestic animal and livestock disaster response. Ziccard's clinical and research areas of expertise are in free-ranging wildlife health, with an emphasis on epidemiology. His current research focus is on the effects of petroleum on marine species.

Please email Dr. Ziccardi for more information at: mhziccardi@ucdavis.edu.