Credit: Saskia Keller, National Wildlife Health Center.

Genetic analyses from the U.S. Wildlife Health Center reveal that the fungus associated with the disease symptoms in Florida snakes is Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the previously identified causative agent of snake fungal disease (SFD). But sequencing revealed that all sampled snakes from the Florida epidemic were infected with a genetically distinct strain of O. ophiodiicola, which has never been seen before in the United States. This information cost you 1 week (in NetLogo, click “Advance 1 Week”) and $5000, so adjust your budget accordingly. What do want to do next?

A phyologeny showing how the current pathogen is a new strain of a previously known fungal pathogen

Do this action

Option 1: Run a laboratory experiment to see if the fungus is what is killing the snakes.

Time Cost: 4 Weeks/Ticks

Monetary Cost: $10000

Charisma Effect: Unknown

Do this action

Option 2: Begin a control program.

Time Cost: Depends on which intervention you select

Monetary Cost: Depends on which intervention you select

Charisma Effect: Unknown

Do this action

Option 3: Do nothing; this is a typical mortality event for a new strain of a wildlife pathogen, and it just needs to run its course.

Time Cost: 12 Weeks/Ticks

Monetary Cost: $0

Charisma Effect: Unknown

Credit: Saskia Keller, National Wildlife Health Center.

Educational games increase student engagement and learning. This game was created by S. Hopkins, PhD and is free to adapt and use. The corresponding NetLogo model and student worksheet are available on QUBESHub at http://dx.doi.org/10.25334/1XBQ-M835.