Wildlife health and supplemental feeding: A review and management recommendations

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 204, P. 163 - 174

Published: Nov. 12, 2016

Language: Английский

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Macroimmunology: The drivers and consequences of spatial patterns in wildlife immune defence

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 89(4), P. 972 - 995

Published: Dec. 19, 2019

Abstract The prevalence and intensity of parasites in wild hosts varies across space is a key determinant infection risk humans, domestic animals threatened wildlife. Because the immune system serves as primary barrier to infection, replication transmission following exposure, we here consider environmental drivers immunity. Spatial variation parasite pressure, abiotic biotic conditions, anthropogenic factors can all shape immunity spatial scales. Identifying most important could help pre‐empt infectious disease risks, especially context how large‐scale such urbanization affect defence by changing conditions. We provide synthesis apply macroecological approaches study ecoimmunology (i.e. macroimmunology). first review that generate defence, highlighting need for studies differentiate competing predictors detailing contexts where this approach might be favoured over small‐scale experimental studies. next conduct systematic literature assess frequency classify them according taxa, measures, extent, statistical methods. 210 sampling multiple host populations. show whereas are relatively common, generally low unlikely sufficient or power hypotheses. also highlight biases macroimmunology, few characterize account dependence statistically, potentially affecting inferences relationships between conditions defence. use these findings describe tools from geostatistics modelling improve inference about associations immunological variation. In particular, emphasize exploratory guide greater mixed‐effects models variability while allowing researchers both individual‐ habitat‐level covariates. finally discuss future research priorities including focusing on latitudinal gradients, range expansions being amenable approaches. Methodologically, critical opportunities posed assessing tolerance, using metagenomics quantify coupling field with experiments longitudinal approaches, applying macroecology meta‐analysis identify generalizable patterns. Such work will facilitate scaling insights predict change may alter risk.

Language: Английский

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Reviewing the effects of food provisioning on wildlife immunity

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 373(1745), P. 20170088 - 20170088

Published: March 12, 2018

While urban expansion increasingly encroaches on natural habitats, many wildlife species capitalize anthropogenic food resources, which have the potential to both positively and negatively influence their responses infection. Here we examine how availability key nutrients been reported shape innate adaptive immunity in by drawing from field-based studies, as well captive restriction studies with species. Examples of provisioning enhancing immune function were seen across three study type distinctions, cases trace metals pharmaceuticals impairing More generally, field tended increase certain challenges, whereas patterns less clear studies. Mild often enhanced, severe frequently impaired immunity. However, enable stronger conclusions stress a need for further research, especially highlight importance integrating nutritional manipulation, challenge, functional outcomes. Despite current gaps research this topic, modern high throughput molecular approaches are feasible offer great opportunities better understand human influences health.This article is part theme issue 'Anthropogenic resource subsidies host-parasite dynamics wildlife'.

Language: Английский

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Health hazards to wild birds and risk factors associated with anthropogenic food provisioning

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 373(1745), P. 20170091 - 20170091

Published: March 12, 2018

Provision of supplementary food for wild birds at garden feeding stations is a common, large-scale and year-round practice in multiple countries including Great Britain (GB). While these additional dietary resources can benefit wildlife, there concomitant risk disease transmission, particularly when repeatedly congregate the same place high densities through interactions species that would not normally associate close proximity. Citizen science schemes recording are popular integrate surveillance with population monitoring, offering unique opportunity to explore inter-relationships between feeding, epidemiology dynamics. Here, we present findings from national programme GB note dynamism endemic emerging diseases over 25-year period, focusing on protozoal (finch trichomonosis), viral (Paridae pox) bacterial (passerine salmonellosis) contrasting modes transmission. We also examine occurrence mycotoxin contamination residues bird feeders, which both direct indirect (though immunosuppression) health. Our results inform evidence-based mitigation strategies minimize anthropogenically mediated health hazards, while maintaining benefits providing birds. This article part theme issue ‘Anthropogenic resource subsidies host–parasite dynamics wildlife’.

Language: Английский

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Food supplementation affects gut microbiota and immunological resistance to parasites in a wild bird species

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 57(3), P. 536 - 547

Published: Feb. 3, 2020

Abstract Supplemental feeding can increase the overall health of animals but also have varying consequences for dealing with parasites. Furthermore, mechanism mediating effect food supplementation on host–parasite interactions remains poorly understood. The goal study was to determine host defences against parasitic nest flies and whether gut microbiota, which affect immunity, potentially mediates these relationships. In a fully crossed design, I experimentally manipulated abundance Protocalliphora sialia availability then characterized immune responses parasite nestling eastern bluebirds Sialia sialis . Food supplemented birds had 75% fewer parasites than unsupplemented birds. Parasite decreased throughout breeding season birds, did not change increased fledging success. Parasitism sublethal blood loss, mitigated effects by increasing resistance via IgY antibody response. bacterial diversity in nestlings, negatively related abundance. relative Clostridium spp. positively their response Synthesis applications Overall, results this suggest that supplementation, especially early season, increases parasitism during life stage host, might be mediated microbiota. Wildlife is common pastime humans worldwide therefore it important understand activity animal health. supplemental could induce detrimental (e.g. invasive parasites) hosts when management immediately possible.

Language: Английский

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Livestock abundance predicts vampire bat demography, immune profiles and bacterial infection risk

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 373(1745), P. 20170089 - 20170089

Published: March 12, 2018

Human activities create novel food resources that can alter wildlife–pathogen interactions. If amplify or dampen, pathogen transmission probably depends on both host ecology and biology, but studies measure responses to provisioning across scales are rare. We tested these relationships with a 4-year study of 369 common vampire bats 10 sites in Peru Belize differ the abundance livestock, an important anthropogenic source. quantified innate adaptive immunity from assessed infection two bacteria. predicted abundant livestock could reduce starvation foraging effort, allowing for greater investments immunity. Bats high-livestock had higher microbicidal activity proportions neutrophils lower immunoglobulin G lymphocytes, suggesting more investment relative either chronic stress exposure. This relationship was most pronounced reproductive bats, which were also sites, feedbacks between demographic correlates Infection Bartonella haemoplasmas correlated similar immune profiles, pathogens tended be less prevalent although effects weaker haemoplasmas. These differing might therefore reflect distinct processes. Predicting how alters host–pathogen interactions requires considering within-host processes modes respond resource shifts. article is part theme issue ‘Anthropogenic subsidies host–parasite dynamics wildlife’.

Language: Английский

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The composition of British bird communities is associated with long-term garden bird feeding

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: May 21, 2019

Abstract There is a multi-billion dollar global industry dedicated to feeding wild birds in residential gardens. This extraordinary boost food resources almost certainly reshaping entire bird communities, yet the large-scale, long-term impacts on community ecology remain unknown. Here we reveal 40-year transformation of communities using garden feeders Britain, and provide evidence suggest how this may have contributed national-scale population changes. We find that increases diversity at are associated with increasing evenness, as species previously rarely observed gardens increasingly exploited growing variety foods offer over time. Urban areas Britain consequently nurturing populations feeder-using species, while do not use unchanged. Our findings illustrate on-going, gross impact people can structure across large spatial scales.

Language: Английский

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Promoting urban ecological resilience through the lens of avian biodiversity

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: March 14, 2024

The significance of urban landscapes in safeguarding biodiversity is often disregarded, even though a considerable amount conservation focus directed toward hotspots where land conversion happening at the fastest pace. Maintaining areas not only benefits environment, but along with social, economic, and technological factors can increase stability systems to disturbance, concept known as “urban resilience”. In this synthesis paper, we explore ecological dimension resilience specifically on avian because birds are easy observe, relatively abundant, serve an indicator overall health environments. We first examine discuss role environmental stressors associated urbanization ongoing crisis. then provide overview characteristics environment that may promote birds, associations between social economic resilience. Finally, recommendations future research regarding strategies improve thus, whole, intersections ecology, ecosystem justice, planning. Since 68% world’s population projected live by 2050, it imperative scientists, planners, civil engineers, architects, others consider both cities natural anthropogenic stressors.

Language: Английский

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Positive feedback between parasite infection and poor host body condition reduces host survival in the wild

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 27, 2025

Abstract Host–parasite relationships are ubiquitous on Earth. Although parasites reduce host health, parasite infections also occur due to compromised health. Both causalities could induce positive feedback, in which infected hosts with poor body conditions may suffer further infection. Such feedback increase mortality and finally affect population dynamics. However, both how dynamics has rarely been demonstrated the wild, mainly methodological difficulties. Here, we used a mark‐recapture survey combined structural equation modelling (SEM) examine whether occurred stream salmonid parasitic copepod system. We examined factors affecting apparent survival of during period using Cormack–Jolly–Seber (CJS) model. Our target Salmincola markewitschi is relatively large, attaching mouth cavity white‐spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis , enabled long‐term tracking natural without sacrificing either or parasite. SEM time‐series snapshot data detected simultaneous occurrence causalities, that copepods reduced condition poorer were more likely by parasites, suggesting feedback. Furthermore, negative effects frequently compared opposite causal link (high susceptibility condition), strengths links fluctuated across seasons initial infection statuses. The CJS model revealed survival. mouth‐attaching might have altering foraging behaviour and/or inducing physiological costs such as immunity. High fish was probably caused low resource allocations immunity behavioural defences against parasites. These direct indirect processes should incur strong stresses fish, leading higher mortality. findings provided first empirical evidence between influence wild via reduction Heavily created play important roles spreading, for example, super spreader. Together, would thus be ecological better understand populations. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Diet-induced changes in metabolism influence immune response and viral shedding in Jamaican fruit bats

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 292(2041)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Land-use change may drive viral spillover from bats into humans, partly through dietary shifts caused by decreased availability of native foods and increased cultivated foods. We experimentally manipulated diets Jamaican fruit to investigate whether diet influences shedding. To reflect changes experienced wild during periods nutritional stress, were fed either a standard or putative suboptimal diet, which was deprived protein (suboptimal-sugar diet) and/or supplemented with fat (suboptimal-fat diet). Upon H18N11 influenza A-virus infection, on the suboptimal-sugar shed most RNA for longest period, but suboptimal-fat least shortest period. Bats both ate more food than suggesting alter foraging behaviour. This study serves as an initial step in understanding how influence dynamics bats, alters risk humans.

Language: Английский

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